Coaching for Living in Autistic Alignment with Gem

Hi, I’m Gem (they/them)

I’m a transformational coach, facilitator, speaker and host of the Queers & Co. podcast. I’m passionate about supporting neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ people in living more aligned, authentic lives.

I’ve been working with Thriving Autistic for several years and have had the joy of supporting hundreds of late-identified Autistic adults, both through TA and in my wider 1:1 practice. I also designed and delivered the TA Discovery Programme, a 6-week group programme for late-identified Autistic adults, which has now reached hundreds of participants internationally.

As a late-identified AuDHD adult myself, I believe there’s something really magical about living in alignment with our neurotype, energy levels, gender identity and sexuality. I love nothing more than helping my clients figure out ways of living that feel more compatible with who they are and what they actually need.

My approach is grounded in both professional and lived experience, and a strong commitment to neurodivergent-affirming, consent-based and inclusive support. I’m also a co-parent to neurodivergent children and we’ve been an unschooling family for over a decade.

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
• Level 2 Advanced Safeguarding Children

If you’d like to book a post-assessment support session, please get in touch. I hope I get to meet you!

Reviews:

“I first started working with Gem just after I’ve been diagnosed as autistic at the age of 55, and the coaching has been nothing short of transformational. Gem has supported me on a journey of self discovery, as I’ve begun to live my life through an authentic autistic lens. Without Gem’s empathetic and knowledgeable understanding of the autistic experience, I would not have been able to process my diagnosis and how I perceive the world around me. Practically, Gem’s coaching has been invaluable in understanding how I approach things like disclosure, masking, interoception and social models of disability. But more importantly, Gem’s coaching has helped me to acknowledge and accept my autistic self with love and compassion. I am so immensely grateful for their work in helping me on this journey.” – Dr Andy Smith

“Working together helped me move from struggling with my neurodivergence to feeling proud of it. I always felt seen and supported in our sessions, and I’ve learned to embrace my strengths instead of trying to fit into a neurotypical box.” – Vanessa

“Gem created a genuinely neuro-affirming space and offered so much warmth, insight, and authenticity that enabled people to feel safe and valued so they could join the group in ways that suited them. Gem really listens, gives space and time, and meets people where they are at. Gem is deeply committed to supporting positive Autistic identity and building spaces that honour authentic Autistic needs and ways of being so people feel better understood and connected.” – Helen Edgar, Autistic Realms