From overwhelm to self-connection: A transformational journey as a late-diagnosed autistic woman

Coaching client case study - finding her footing after diagnosis and big life change

When Rachel (not her real name) first reached out, she was standing at the threshold of several huge life changes all at once. She had recently received her autism diagnosis, moved to a new country, and was beginning to build a new life in Portugal with her husband.

Amidst all that change, she was feeling overwhelmed and anxious, unsure of how to find her footing in this new chapter. Like many late-diagnosed autistic women, she was trying to make sense of who she was beneath years of masking and survival mode.

She wanted to understand herself better, reconnect with her body, and build a more sustainable, nourishing life that didn’t rely on burnout as a baseline.

The intention: from anxiety to self-connection

When we began coaching together, Rachel set beautiful, heartfelt intentions for our time. She wanted to:

• Learn more about autism and what being autistic means for her personally, exploring her sensory world, energy rhythms and ways of processing so she could understand herself with clarity rather than confusion

• Recognise her neurodivergent traits and meet them with compassion, letting go of old stories of being “too much” or “not enough” and beginning to see her differences as strengths

• Feel more connected to herself both physically and mentally, rebuilding trust with her body, slowing down and finding calm in her own rhythms

• Understand her needs and advocate for them without guilt, learning that boundaries and self-care are acts of kindness, not selfishness

• Communicate with her husband without becoming dysregulated or misunderstood, bringing more clarity, calm and connection into their relationship

• Swap overwhelm and anxiety for rest, curiosity and self-trust, creating space for a gentler, more sustainable way of living and being

At the heart of it all was her dream of building a sustainable homestead life in Portugal – one that reflected her values of simplicity, connection and creativity.

The transformation: cultivating understanding and self-trust

Over our time together, Rachel made remarkable shifts. Through our sessions, she began to see herself with greater clarity and compassion, deepening her understanding of how autism shows up for her day to day.

This growing self-awareness brought tangible changes:

• She learnt how to regulate her nervous system and listen to what her body needed, using simple, consistent practices to find calm and safety within herself

• She began advocating for her needs without guilt or self-judgement, asking for support and setting boundaries with confidence and kindness

• She reconnected with her sense of physical and emotional presence, feeling more at home in her body and able to recognise what truly nourishes her

• Her communication with her husband softened and became easier, opening up space for understanding, mutual care and shared joy in daily life

As her confidence grew, her life began to mirror that inner transformation. She and her husband are now joyfully building their Tinyhouse together – a dream that once felt far out of reach.

Rachel describes her current life as “beautiful, nourishing and enriching” – still a work in progress, but one grounded in self-connection rather than overwhelm.

What Rachel says about the experience

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Sadie. Her knowledge and support have been invaluable over the last few months. She’s helped me go from a lost and confused late-diagnosed autistic adult to thriving and confident in such a short time. I’m hugely grateful.

....her expertise is phenomenal, and she provides such well-rounded support for learning and making changes that really do improve your life.”

Building a life that feels like home

Rachel’s story is such a beautiful example of what can happen when we give ourselves permission to slow down, listen inwards and embrace our neurodivergent selves with compassion.

Late diagnosis can be both liberating and disorientating – a doorway into understanding, but also an invitation to rebuild life from the inside out.

Coaching offers a space to do that with curiosity and care, so you can reconnect with your sense of self and create a life that truly fits.

Curious about starting your own journey?

If Rachel's story resonates with you, you might be ready to begin your own journey towards self-connection and thriving as your authentic neurodivergent self.

You can learn more about my 1:1 coaching for late-diagnosed neurodivergent midlifers or find out about Access to Work funded coaching if you’re in the UK.