Coming Soon
Her Face of Autism will be available for purchase on the bookstore shortly.
Publish with FriesenPress
Learn how you can publish your book with the world’s only 100% employee-owned publishing services provider.
Her Face of Autism
A Guide for Late-Diagnosed Women Exploring Identity, Sexuality, and Well-Being
by
Michelle Labine
“You spent a lifetime sensing something was different, but no one saw it. Not even you. Until one day, everything clicked. Now there’s no going back.” Her Face of Autism is a guide for women who have always felt different, misjudged, or like they were constantly working twice as hard to hold it together. Whether you’re self-identifying, newly diagnosed, or still untangling questions, this book offers clarity, context, and a grounded path forward. Written by an Autistic and ADHD psychotherapist this book doesn’t speak about you, it speaks with you. It’s for women who masked their way through school, work, parenting, relationships—without realizing what they were doing was survival. It walks through the doubt, grief, and revelation that often follow late diagnosis or self-recognition. Chapters blend personal narrative, clinical insight, and client stories to explore this experience’s many layers: masking and burnout, misdiagnosis, trauma, identity, psychosexual development, intimacy, and neurodivergent relationships. You’ll also find reflective prompts to help make sense of your story—and rewrite it in your own words. This isn’t a clinical checklist. It’s a neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, real-talk resource for women who are finally seeing themselves clearly—often for the first time. If you’ve ever thought, Why has this always been so hard? Why did no one see me?—this book is for you. You weren’t missed because you were fine. You were missed because you were masking. You were always Autistic. You’ve always been enough. Now you get to understand why—and what’s next.
"This book serves as a guide for women diagnosed with autism later in life, who’ve spent years navigating confusion and isolation without a clear explanation for it. As a psychotherapist, the author blends research, personal reflection, and case vignettes to outline the signs and symptoms of autism. Specifically, it addresses how it may manifest in women, offering tools for self-recognition and coping. She educates her readers on common misconceptions and examines the social politics that contribute to delayed diagnosis, including the infantilization of autistic individuals and the cultural pressure to 'mask.' The result is a comprehensive, accessible, and empathetic resource." —Kirkus Reviews "Her Face of Autism is a humane and encouraging guide for autistic women who want to reframe their personal, social, and sexual identities after diagnosis to be more compassionate with themselves." —Foreword Clarion Reviews “Michelle has written a valuable addition to the literature by and for autistic women/AFAB. Combining her story and that of other autistics, she educates and encourages us to reflect on our thoughts and experiences through a series of insightful questions. Throughout the book, the autistic reader will identify and resonate with what they read, saying ‘Yes, that's me!’ time and time again. Thank you, Michelle, for seeing us and hearing us in this great book.” —Sarah Hendrickx, renowned author, consultant, and speaker specializing in Autism with a particular focus on the experiences of women and girls. “Her Face of Autism is a much-needed guide to navigating relationships, sexuality, and self-concept as a late-diagnosed Autistic woman. Labine delivers both a warm hug and empathetic guidance, and the book is packed with useful prompts and exercises to help late-diagnosed autistic women more deeply accept, understand, and love themselves. It's the tender and insightful guide I wish I had when I was diagnosed in my early thirties, and one I'm excited to be able to point newly diagnosed Autistic women to it moving forward.” —Melanie Deziel, Autistic Author and Speaker, and Creator of The Late Diagnosed Diaries newsletter “As a late-identified Autistic woman who also realized my queerness later-in-life, I can honestly say that Her Face of Autism is both incredibly relatable and affirming. However, what sets it apart is the sex-positive focus on the complex intersections of Autistic identity and sexuality. Through a blend of psychology, reflection questions and exercises, as well as multiple vignettes of Autistic women, and personal stories of her own, Michelle Labine explores how being Autistic in a world that wasn't created for us shapes our experiences of identity, sexuality, and self-trust. If you’re ready to embrace your Autistic identity and explore your sexuality with compassion, this book is a must-read!” —Oralie Loong, a late-identified AuDHDer and Registered Clinical Counsellor offering affirming support for neurodivergent adults across British Columbia Canada
Michelle Labine, PhD, is a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD woman whose lived experience deeply informs her work as a psychotherapist and clinical sexologist. She specializes in trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming care for neurodivergent individuals, couples, and families. Her clinical approach blends humanistic psychology, narrative therapy, and sex therapy, with deep respect for the complexity of identity, mind-body integration, and relational healing. Her personal discovery of autism in midlife, sparked by recognizing herself in her own child’s diagnosis, ignited a transformative journey of unmasking, self-reclamation, and research. Michelle is the founder of a multi-location psychotherapy group practice and nonprofit mental health organization in Nova Scotia, where she has developed a values-driven, mentorship-based model of care. Her work supports early-career clinicians, expands access to inclusive mental health services, and centres neurodivergent and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Michelle is the writer behind Papercranes and Starlight, a blog for late-diagnosed Autistic women, where she shares reflective essays centred on healing, identity, and belonging. She lives and works in Nova Scotia, continuing to build spaces on the page, in the therapy room, and in the community where people feel seen, supported, and free to be fully themselves.
Contributors
- Author
- Michelle Labine