Autistic women often experience invalidation and misdiagnosis, leading to a diminished sense of self. Storytelling and validation can be powerful tools for healing and empowerment. This article explores how clinicians can use these techniques in their practice.

The Impact of Invalidation

Societal invalidation and misdiagnosis can severely impact autistic women's self-esteem. Masking and camouflaging can lead to internalized invalidation, making it difficult to trust their own experiences. The emotional toll of feeling unheard and misunderstood can be significant.

The Power of Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful tool for self-discovery and healing. Sharing narratives creates community and reduces isolation. Validating autistic experiences and emotions is crucial for building trust and fostering self-acceptance.  

The healing, the community support and love that happens in the UnVeiler Community every week is so powerful and rooted in sharing our stories, our experiences and our truth with those who understand.  To belong is life giving.

Clinical Applications

Narrative therapy techniques can be particularly effective with autistic women. Creating a safe space for storytelling facilitates healing and space to step into their Personal Power. Active listening and validating language are essential. Storytelling can help reframe negative experiences and build confidence.

Practical Recommendations for Clinicians

Use journaling, creative writing, improv or art therapy to encourage storytelling. Use validation techniques, such as reflective listening and affirming statements. Be aware of your own biases and assumptions. Help clients identify and challenge internalized invalidation or ableism.

Case Study: Unlocking Emotional Safety Through Journaling

Let me share a secret with you. Nancy* had participated in our Root of Burnout Workshop and learned about her Pepper Level, Degree of Heat, and Root of Burnout—yet, she was still struggling.

One day in January, she reached out in total frustration.

"Carole Jean, I know my burnout profile, but I’m not feeling any better. HELP! What am I missing?"

I knew Nancy from our free events, and her determination to heal was clear. So, we hopped on a video call to uncover what was keeping her stuck in burnout.

She listed everything she had been doing—taking PTO to sleep, staying off social media at night, saying "no" to more social events. Yet, none of it was making a difference.

She had already identified her Root of Burnout as emotional safety. It resonated deeply, yet she didn’t know how to nourish it. Avoiding social events—even ones she wanted to attend—hadn’t helped.

So, I asked her a simple but profound question:

“Nancy, what does emotional safety with others mean to you?”

She answered quickly.

Then I asked, “And what does emotional safety mean within yourself?”

This time, she paused. After a few thoughts, she held up her hands.

“Honestly, I have no idea. I’ve never thought of it as being internal.”

This was a pivotal moment.

I invited her to journal about it:

• What does internal emotional safety feel like in your body?
  
  
• What does it sound like in your thoughts when you don’t feel safe—and when you do?
  
  

She agreed to the experiment.

One Week Later…

When Nancy entered our follow-up Zoom call, something had shifted.

“Oh my gosh!! I can’t believe what that question unlocked! I started asking myself: ‘When do I feel safe with my feelings? When do I not?’ And you know what I realized?

I NEVER feel safe with my feelings.

They scare me. I don’t trust them not to be too big for me to handle, so I shut them down. And that? That is what’s draining my energy all day long—even in my dreams.”

Then, the real breakthrough:

“I’m not broken. I just don’t feel safe with my own feelings.”

She traced it back to childhood: "My mom always told me I was too sensitive, that I was a crybaby."

We both cried.

Through journaling and self-reflection, Nancy unlocked a truth that had been silently driving her burnout for years. She looked at me, wiping tears of relief away.

“Thank you for helping me create space to learn this—and for listening. I feel so seen by me. I’m starting to see myself.”

*Nancy, the name has been changed to protect privacy and her experience was shared with permission.

The Power of Narrative Therapy and The UnVeiling Method

Nancy’s experience highlights why burnout recovery isn’t just about rest—it’s about safety. And safety begins within.

Journaling is one of the first steps we use in The UnVeiling Method to help autistic women uncover what’s draining their energy and why. When combined with our structured burnout recovery framework, this kind of self-discovery becomes life-changing.

Nancy had a powerful breakthrough from a single journaling exercise. Imagine what happens when this process is fully guided, supported, and sustained.

That’s the impact of The UnVeiling Method.

Storytelling and validation are transformative for autistic women. Clinicians practicing neuro-affirming care can incorporate these techniques into their practice, creating safe spaces for autistic women to share their stories and reclaim their narratives. 

Remember, burnout and hopelessness happen when we feel that what we experience isn’t valid, valued or important and that in turn we are not valued or important.  Be the guide who helps an autistic woman reclaim her life story and her truth.

To add tools to your practice toolbox, tune into Beyond Chronic Burnout, episode 194 airing Wednesday, April 2nd.  This episode includes a Meditation, Narrative Reframing exercise with 6 reflection questions to guide your client and takes what they learn in the exercise and expands their growth and self-discovery through strategic journal prompts.

As a special bonus, I've created a downloadable "Storytelling Prompts for Reflection" worksheet. This resource includes prompts to help you explore and articulate your personal narrative. It’s also a great tool for clinicians to use with their clients. 

If you aren’t yet a subscriber to The Recharge and want access to this download and more, sign up HERE to get this week’s bonus along with all the goodness from previous episodes and those to come.