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John is 18 who lives on the Central Coast, and only recently received a diagnosis of autism. He is somewhat relieved to have a word to describe is nature, even if it doesn't fully encapsulate who he is. Learn more about how we help John understand himself better and manage relationships.
John is driven by a deep need for connection. More than achievement or independence, what matters most to him is belonging—feeling accepted, understood, and valued by the people around him. Relationships aren’t just important to John; they’re central to how he sees himself.
He is highly tuned into social dynamics. John pays attention to tone, body language, timing—often picking up on subtle emotional cues others might miss. He adjusts how he communicates depending on who he’s with, trying to keep conversations smooth and relationships positive. When things feel “off” socially, it can weigh on him more than he lets on.
John values communication as the key to everything. He believes most problems—conflict, distance, misunderstanding—can be solved if people are open and honest with each other. He often takes on the role of mediator in groups, trying to keep the peace or help others feel heard.
At the same time, this focus can come at a cost. John sometimes prioritizes harmony over honesty, holding back his own opinions to avoid conflict or rejection. He can overthink interactions—replaying conversations, wondering if he said the wrong thing, or worrying about how others perceived him.
He’s drawn to close, meaningful relationships rather than superficial ones, but he also wants to be included in the wider group. Feeling left out, ignored, or disconnected can hit him hard, even if he doesn’t openly show it. Reassurance matters to him, though he may not always ask for it directly.
John respects people who are authentic and emotionally aware. He struggles more with those who are blunt, distant, or dismissive of feelings, as it can make communication feel one-sided or unsafe.
Empathetic and emotionally aware
Strong listening and communication skills
Good at building connections
Supportive and relationship focused
Fear of rejection and new environments
Tendency to over-think social interactions
Can be prone to masking
Tries to appease everyone

We listened to John share how his incredible ability to read people's underlying motives & emotional undertones has allowed him to create some great friendships, but it can also at times, be costly to his well-being - his own emotional & mental landscape, his energy levels, and his authentic voice.

We walked through a long list of values, and discuss them in depth. John chose five values that are important to him and he wishes to embody. He also uncovered that this is a boundary for who he would like a relationship with, and who can remain outside his circle.

John found that by journalling the new or uncomfortable social experiences, he was able to relieve some of the rumination that could typically go on for days. We also co-created some scripts for both communicating to others his truth, and an internal script, he can repeat silently to keep his balance.

We introduced John to the concept of a personal Energy Meter, which John could use to track his energy levels throughout the day. It helped him discover the factors that cause him fatigue, and provided him with something concrete to make decisions about future social commitments.

John became increasingly aware at the degree to which he masks his own truth and the amount of energy he invests to keep the dynamics of his friendship group harmonious. He realised that so much of his fatigue was related to this! Over time, John found an increasing amount of peace spending time on his special interests - drawing and creating music. He balances his time with his select friends now.