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Unmasked and Out of the Closet

A Therapy Group for Late-Diagnosed or Self-Identified Autistic Queer Women & Femme Folks

Unmasked and Out of the Closet is an 8-week virtual therapy group offered by Break The Frame Therapy for late-diagnosed or self-identified autistic queer women and femme folks seeking community, understanding, and integration after discovering their neurodivergence later in life.

This neuroaffirming group therapy space is designed for adults who have spent years masking, adapting, and surviving in systems not built for autistic bodies and minds. Together, we explore what it means to develop a positive autistic identity, process grief and relief around late diagnosis, and integrate new self-understanding into relationships, parenting, work, and daily life.

Topics may include:

• Late-diagnosed autism in women and femme folks

• Unmasking and identity development

• Autism and queerness

• Relationships, intimacy, and communication

• Parenting while autistic

• Food, eating, and sensory experiences

• Burnout, boundaries, and nervous system regulation

This group is sensory-friendly and neurodivergent-affirming. Fidgets, movement, needlework, stimming, and other sensory supports are welcomed and encouraged. The goal is not to “fix” autistic traits, but to reduce shame, increase self-trust, and build sustainable ways of living in alignment with your nervous system.

Group Details

• 8-week commitment

• 90-minute sessions

• Starts early 2026

• Day and time determined by participant availability

• Cost: $100 per week

• Superbill available for out-of-network reimbursement

A formal autism diagnosis is not required. This group is open to those who are self-identified, questioning, or newly diagnosed.

Unmasked and Out of the Closet is facilitated by Rachael Stern, LCSW, and reflects Break The Frame Therapy’s commitment to trauma-informed, anti-pathologizing, and liberatory mental health care for autistic and LGBTQIA+ adults in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

So many clients get mislabeled as:
“resistant”
“avoidant”
“unmotivated”
“not trying”
“noncompliant”

Learn More and register here