About Gentle Nook

Hello, I'm Katy. I'm a late-diagnosed autistic writer, life coach, and solopreneur who grew up straddling two worlds: weekends working music festivals up and down the East Coast, and weekdays navigating life in a small Appalachian town of 2,000 people. That early experience of never quite fitting anywhere shaped everything that came after.

When I was diagnosed with autism at 37, my life was completely upended. Maybe you know what that's like—the whirlwind of emotions that comes with late diagnosis. Anger, grief, happiness, confusion, and even joy. It's simultaneously the best and hardest thing that can happen to you.

I created Gentle Nook as a space for neurodivergent women navigating life after late diagnosis. This is where I write about the messy, honest, real parts of being autistic and ADHD in a world that wasn't designed for brains like ours.

Here, you'll find:

• Fashion and identity work: Dopamine dressing, sensory-friendly style, and using clothes to express your real self
• Practical self-care: ADHD-friendly routines, executive function hacks, and accommodations that actually work
• Personal stories: Growing up in festival culture, my late diagnosis journey, and learning to stop apologizing for being different
• Authentic living: The small rebellions that come with finally choosing yourself

At 39, I've finally created a life that feels like mine: loud colors, quiet routines, and permission slips to do things my own way. Through these stories, I hope to create space for you to find your own path too.

I'm also a neurodivergent-affirming life coach. After years as a mental health therapist, I left traditional therapy to offer identity-based coaching for late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD adults. If you need more than a blog post—if you need actual support navigating burnout, unmasking, or building a life that fits—let's talk.

I believe the very things that make us different are often our greatest gifts. And that sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is stop trying to fit in.