Sophie Longley MSc Psychology (BPS-accredited) - Specialist Autism Mentor (post-diagnostic support)

I am a BPS-accredited autism practitioner, mentor, and researcher specialising in post-diagnostic support for late-identified autistic adults. My integrative, neurodivergent-led approach draws on mentoring, peer support, existential thought, and evidence-based tools from positive psychology coaching, tailored to the lived realities of my clients. My practice centres on facilitating self-understanding, authentic identity development, and values-aligned life choices following a later in life autism diagnosis.

I founded Autistically Untangled in July 2024, in response to the profound lack of post-diagnostic support I experienced after receiving my own autism diagnosis at age 28. Like many late-diagnosed people, I was left with a clinical label but no structured guidance on its implications for my sense of self, career trajectory, or future wellbeing. My work addresses this systemic gap by offering reflective, research-informed, and practically applicable support.

My clients are predominantly autistic adults diagnosed in later life, often navigating the complex transitional space between diagnostic realisation and the (re)construction of a meaningful, self-defined life. I support individuals seeking:

Greater clarity around autistic identity, career, and life direction

Practical self-advocacy strategies across work, relationships, and social contexts

A strengths-based, values-led framework for living authentically

Accessible, neurodivergent-affirming psychoeducation informed by current research

Space to process, contextualise, and reframe the emotional and existential impact of diagnosis

In parallel with my practice, I am engaged in autism research, with current work exploring the dual experiences of grief and relief commonly reported following later-life diagnosis. I have collaborated with academics at the University of Manchester (School of Health Sciences) and University College London (Department of Clinical and Health Psychology) on initiatives aimed at improving healthcare and diagnostic pathways for autistic people.

Despite the growing visibility of autism in adulthood, only 40% of late-diagnosed adults in the UK are offered any form of post-diagnostic support. My work seeks to address this critical disparity, providing structured, compassionate, and empowering guidance that facilitates a deeper understanding of the autistic self.

A diagnosis may not come with a manual – my role is to support individuals in writing their own.

📩 sophie@autisticallyuntangled.com
🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ LGBTQ+ affirming