The Complexity of Unmasking Safely with Jade Farrington & Kieran Rose
Come join us on the virtual couch as advocate Kieran Rose, who literally wrote the book on Autistic masking, and therapist Jade Farrington, who recently published an accessible resource on the topic, explore the complexities of unmasking.
Masking isn’t just “pretending to be neurotypical” – it’s a survival response to stigma, trauma, and unsafe environments. In this session, counsellor and community builder Jade Farrington is joined by academic, author, and international public speaker Kieran Rose, The Autistic Advocate, co-author of Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma.
Together, they’ll discuss what masking really is, why it happens, and how to begin unmasking in ways that protect safety and well-being. Participants will gain insights into exploring identity, self-awareness, and authentic expression from two figures at the forefront of Autistic research and practice.
Jade Farrington
Autistic
Jade Farrington is an Autistic counsellor and rewind trauma therapist who blends lived and clinical experience. Jade offers affirming online support for neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+ and home-educating clients from her base in Cornwall in the UK. She supports identity exploration, trauma processing, and self-development through therapy, supervision, and community-building initiatives. Jade curates the free monthly neuroaffirming event and resource round up, Jade’s Neurodiversity Newsletter on Substack, and created the popular free ebooks, A Community Guide to a Happy Neurodivergent Christmas & Do You Think You May Be Autistic or ADHD? A Neuroaffirming Guide to Exploring Your Neurotype. Jade lifts up and celebrates other neurodivergent creators and services through her Facebook Page of the Week, and was nominated for the Positive Role Model for Disability category at the 2025 National Diversity Awards. Jade is committed to helping neurokin understand their neurotype and supporting her community through individual counselling, accessible resources, and social media.
Jade Farrington: Neurodivergent Counsellor & Therapist
Kieran Rose
he/him
Autistic
Kieran Rose is an Autistic trainer and consultant, who focuses on supporting professionals across the world to critically reflect, challenge stigma, deconstruct the autism narrative, and reframe their understanding of Autistic experience through an intersectional lens. An academic researcher specialising in Autistic Masking, identity development, stigma, interpersonal victimisation, mental health frameworks, and transforming care practice.
Kieran delivers training and consultancy across health (Notably within the NHS in England and HSC Northern Ireland), mental health, education, and social care; and guest-lectures on multiple university programmes, including 5 teaching streams at the leading mental health research, training and clinical practice charity, the Anna Freud Centre. He clinically supervises professionals from the UK and North and South America from a range of fields, including psychiatry, mental health and education, supporting critically reflective, affirming practice. Kieran is a faculty member of the STAR Institute, a leading US-based Occupational Therapy research, teaching and clinical practice organisation; and, along with Dr Amy Pearson, he is the co-author of the highly acclaimed book: ‘Autistic Masking: Understanding Identity Management and the Role of Stigma’.
Outside of work, Kieran enjoys reading and watching Science Fiction and Horror, researching the Paranormal, cooking, stargazing with his children, and occasionally finding the brain space to write for his platform, The Autistic Advocate, which since launching in 2017, has been read by millions worldwide.
The Autistic Advocate
Linda Tuxford-Adams
She / They
AuDHD, C-PTSD
Linda Tuxford-Adams is an integrative counsellor & educator with lived experience, with a background in psychology, education, group facilitation, research and counselling.
She is a late-identified AuDHD adult with Complex PTSD, passionate about providing neuro-affirming, trauma-sensitive, accessible, affordable support for late-identified Autistic adults.
She founded Neurokindred in 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology (Honours) and Education, a Graduate Certificate in Autism & Neurodivergent Studies, and is pursuing a Master’s in Counselling & Psychotherapy. She also holds certifications as a Certified Autism Clinical Specialist (ASDCS), ADHD Clinical Service Provider (ADHD-CSP), and Trauma Treatment Professional (CTTP I & II).
Her therapeutic approach draws from many modalities, including parts work, narrative therapy, trauma coaching & psychoeducation, sensori-motor practice, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, therapeutic art, bibliotherapy, scriptotherapy. She emphasises honouring neurodivergent neurology, self-exploration, and connection to neurokin.
Neurokindred
Melody Edwardson
she/her
Autistic
Melody Edwardson is a late-identified Autistic mental health specialist and EFT Tapping Practitioner. She integrates lived experience with professional expertise to provide supportive, neuro-affirming spaces for healing and wellbeing. Melody’s work focuses on empowering Autistic people through self-regulation, resilience, and compassionate approaches to mental health.