For Autism Acceptance Month, we’re always looking for resources that feel both affirming and genuinely useful. I’m excited to share a new book by Jamie D. Roberts, Neurodiversity for Teen Girls: Shine Bright as You Embrace Your Brain, Your Emotions, and Your Life.
This past week I had the privilege of meeting Jamie in person and hearing her speak about Autistic teens at a Teen Therapist Conference. She blew me away by sharing her experience of being a teen and young adult who struggled significantly with something that no one could identify, and how her masking made her depressed and suicidal at times. It wasn’t until she was in her 30s that she learned she is Autistic, a diagnosis that could have changed the trajectory of her life if she’d known sooner. She has dedicated her career to helping neurodivergent teens learn the things she wished she knew as a teen.
In our work with teens and families, we often see how easily neurodivergent girls’ experiences can be missed, misunderstood, or explained away, especially during adolescence, when so much is already shifting. Resources that speak directly to those experiences in a clear, respectful, and affirming way can make a meaningful difference.
This book is a strong addition to that space. It’s approachable, developmentally attuned, and grounded in a perspective that supports self-understanding without pushing teens to “fit” a neurotypical mold. We’re excited to share it as a recommendation this month.
If you’re wondering whether this book might resonate with a teen in your life, here’s how it’s described on the Neuropebble website:
The teen years are a delicate balance of self-exploration, managing expectations, and establishing your independent identity. Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world adds a layer of complexity—it may feel like everyone got an instruction manual but you! Plus, the societal pressures of being raised as a girl are often contradictory, dismissive of your experiences, and result in your mental health needs being missed. If you are finding it hard to navigate all these pressures and big changes, this book is for you!
This teen-friendly guide offers clear and direct tools to help you understand your unique experiences, balance the difficulties and the strengths of neurodiversity, feel more confident in your identity, and live authentically. Written by a neurodivergent therapist and expert in teen mental health, you’ll find simple strategies to help you express difficult emotions, manage sensory stuff, and deal with daily social dynamics. You’ll also learn all about neurodiversity, and discover ways to advocate for yourself in neurotypical spaces.
Use this empowering guide to:
- Understand what neurodiversity is—and how it presents for you!
- Gain skills to help you navigate school, friends, and life
- Manage sensory experiences
- Identify masking so you can choose when and how to safely unmask
No matter where you are on your journey—whether you have already been diagnosed, are self-identified, or you suspect you might be neurodivergent—this comprehensive (and fun!) guide has everything you need to understand and embrace who you are, now and into the future.
To grab yourself or a teen in your life a copy, here’s the link to purchase it: Neurodiversity for Teen Girls: Shine Bright as You Embrace Your Brain, Your Emotions, and Your Life
For clinicians seeking neuroaffirming education and resources, check out https://www.neuropebble.com/.