Coaching for Living in Autistic Alignment with Gem
Hi, I’m Gem (they/them)
I’m a transformational coach, speaker, and founder of the Queers and Co. podcast. I’m passionate about supporting neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ people in living more aligned, authentic lives.
I love working with Thriving Autistic and over the past few years, I’ve developed and facilitated our 6-week Discovery Programme and have had the joy of supporting hundreds of late-identified Autistic adults – both through TA and in my 1:1 practice.
As a late-identified AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD) adult myself, I believe there’s something really magical about living in alignment with our neurotype, energy levels, gender identity and sexuality, among other things. I love nothing more than helping my clients to figure out ways of living that feel more compatible with who they are and what they need.
My approach is grounded in both professional and lived experience, and a strong commitment to neurodivergent-affirming, inclusive support.I’m also a co-parent to neurodivergent children, and we’ve been an unschooling family for the last 9 years.
Some common themes we explore together include:
- Self-care as an Autistic person – exploring what rest and care actually look like for you, beyond societal expectations
- Masking and exploring unmasking – becoming more connected to who you truly are and navigating from that place
- Emotional regulation, meltdowns and shutdowns – learning how your nervous system responds to overwhelm and what support you might need when you’re emotionally dysregulated
- Sensory regulation – understanding more about the impact of our sensory experience on our wellbeing and what support we might need
- Difficulty identifying emotions / bodily experiences – navigating the challenges of not always being able to identify how you feel or what you need
- Navigating burnout – managing fluctuating energy levels, recognising the signs of burnout, honouring your limits and moving through life in ways that feel more sustainable
- AuDHD – understanding the push/pull experience that is being AuDHD, how to manage our needs when they are in competition with each other, e.g. needing both sameness and novelty, rest and stimulation
- Monotropism – whether it’s the pleasure we take from deep-diving into our passions or the challenge of experiencing repetitive thought loops, learning about monotropism can be life-changing
- Self-advocacy – figuring out what your needs are and how to communicate them to others
- Imposter syndrome – navigating this incredibly common experience for late-identified adults and remembering that you haven’t tricked the psychologist or accidentally met the criteria – you have a home in the Autistic community!
- Internalised ableism – allowing yourself to make adaptations and access accommodations because you deserve to feel supported, despite what your inner critic might tell you
- The intersection of being Autistic and LGBTQIA+ – making space for the truest expression of yourself
What to Expect in a Session
Sessions are neurodivergent-affirming and you are very welcome to stim, take breaks, have your camera on/off, or make use of any other accommodations you might need. I’d love for you to feel as comfortable as possible.
I will follow up our session with some resources you might find helpful based on what we’ve discussed.
My Qualifications
I hold the following qualifications, am a member of the EMCC, and adhere to the Global Code of Ethics:
- Diploma in Transformational Coaching – Animas Centre for Coaching, London (2018)
- Group Coaching & Facilitation – Animas Centre for Coaching
- EFT Level 3 Advanced Practitioner – EFTMRA
- EFT Level 1 & 2 Practitioner – EFTMRA
- Matrix Reimprinting Practitioner – EFTMRA
- FAA Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health
- FAA Level 2 Award in First Aid for Youth Mental Health