Online therapy for Texas Highly Sensitive Persons (HSP’s)
who are wondering if they are actually Autistic
Helping HSP’s who are wondering if they are actually Autistic find clarity that feels accurate, not just comforting.
Are you a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) who’s wondering if you might also be Autistic?
I work with many clients who identify as highly sensitive, and this question comes up often. There’s a lot of debate about the relationship between HSP and autism. Some people believe that identifying as an HSP is a pipeline toward discovering that you are autistic, while others believe there is very little overlap between the two.
The reality is more nuanced. There is overlap between traits associated with being highly sensitive and autism, particularly around sensory processing, empathy, and emotional responsiveness. However, not all HSPs meet the criteria for autism. Many experience sensory sensitivity without the broader patterns commonly associated with autism, such as differences in social communication and interaction, repetitive behaviors or interests, and distinct cognitive or emotional processing styles.
Some HSPs feel confident that the HSP framework fully explains their experience, while others (myself included) come to realize later in life that they have always been autistic, but lacked the language, understanding, or support to recognize it sooner.
And honestly? It’s not easy to tease apart. Reading endlessly or scrolling through social media rarely brings definitive clarity. Add a history of trauma, masking, or people-pleasing, and it becomes even more complicated.
So…why does it matter?
Why explore whether you’re an HSP, autistic, or both?
I hear this question often, and my honest answer is: it matters a lot.
Identifying as an HSP can be incredibly validating and comforting. It helps you understand your nervous system and realize you’re not alone in feeling things deeply or being more sensitive to the world around you. It gives you language, community, and practical ways to care for your sensory system.
However, if you are #actually autistic, you deserve an explanation that goes beyond sensitivity.
Exploring whether you’re HSP, autistic, or both isn’t about choosing the “right” label. It’s about finding an explanation that actually fits, one that reduces self-blame, brings clarity to long-standing patterns, and helps you build a life that works with your nervous system and the way your brain processes the world.
Clarity that feels accurate, not just comforting, can change everything.
If you are autistic and not just highly sensitive, then the HSP framework explains only part of your experience.
You may understand the sensory challenges but not the deeper lifelong patterns:
why relationships sometimes felt confusing or difficult
why communication sometimes felt like you were speaking a different language
why you carried so much pressure to perform, please, or get it “right”
why you felt different, even when you looked like you were fitting in
why you needed more time to process and respond to information and emotions
For many late-identified adults, especially for women and marginalized individuals —
The signs were there all along, but masking was so effective and often unconscious that even you couldn’t see it. Cultural expectations often teach women to socialize in a very specific way, while men are given more room to be themselves. So it’s no surprise that so many women spend years identifying only with “sensitivity,” never realizing something deeper is happening.
If you are truly autistic, having the correct diagnosis can be liberating.
It gives you permission to unmask, understand yourself more fully, and finally stop trying to force yourself into roles and expectations that have never fit. It offers context, compassion, and a pathway toward building a life that works with your brain, not against it.
FAQ
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No, you do not need a formal autism diagnosis to work with me. Many of my clients are questioning whether they might be autistic, exploring late identification, or trying to make sense of lifelong patterns. Therapy can be a supportive place to sort through these questions at your own pace, without pressure to “prove” anything or pursue a formal assessment.
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I do not provide formal autistic evaluations. I can help you explore the possibility that you may be Autistic, but I do not offer diagnostic assessments. If, during the course of therapy, you decide a formal evaluation would be helpful, I can refer you to professionals who specialize in autism assessment.
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This is a deeply personal decision, and the “right” choice is different for each person. I can help you explore the potential benefits as well as any concerns you may have about seeking a diagnosis.
For many people, diagnosis—whether formal, informal, or self-diagnosed—can be incredibly validating. It can offer a clearer understanding of yourself, help shift long-held negative or critical narratives, and provide language for experiences that may have felt confusing or misunderstood. A diagnosis may also support access to accommodations and help you better understand your needs and how to meet them.
Many clients describe the diagnostic process as life-changing, while others find that self-identification feels more accessible and equally meaningful. Whatever path you choose, we can explore it together at your own pace.
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I work only with Autistic and Highly Sensitive adults because I believe you deserve a space where your experiences are recognized, affirmed, and deeply understood. This is the population I feel most connected to—I get to unmask a bit too and bring my own quirky self to the work. Supporting autistic and highly sensitive clients allows me to show up authentically. I also deeply resonate with the strong sense of justice in this community, the preference for direct communication, and the shared questioning/rejection of rigid gender roles and social hierarchies.
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There is a great deal of debate on this topic. No—being Highly Sensitive and being Autistic aren’t the same, though they can overlap in meaningful ways. Many people relate to both identities. High sensitivity describes how deeply you feel and process the world, while autism reflects a broader neurotype that includes sensory processing, communication patterns, and how you relate to your environment and others.
Many people who initially identify as Highly Sensitive, especially individuals who are high masking, later discover they are actually autistic. Others find that high sensitivity explains their experiences without meeting criteria for an autism diagnosis. If you’re a Highly Sensitive Person who is wondering whether you might also be autistic, we can explore both the overlap and the distinctions together.
Ready to embrace
your true self?
If you’re ready to understand yourself more deeply and move through the world with more clarity and confidence, I’m here to help.