About me

Hi, my name is Carol and I have been working with clients that have an autism diagnosis or want to explore their possible neurodiversity for 11 years, as part of a specialist autism service.  I have an informal style of counselling, which I believe reduces the pressure of talking to a stranger, and makes my clients feel as comfortable as possible.  This can enable individuals to explore and express their feelings, thoughts and concerns.  My aim is to make it possible for you or your loved ones, to have the opportunity to understand the condition and the challenges of living in a mainly neurotypical world.  I support people to learn to manage their neurodivergent traits, their emotional wellbeing and common issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. Other important aspects of therapy include working with low self-esteem, dealing with stress, as well as supporting people with grief, past trauma and the build-up of micro-trauma.  I offer face to face counselling sessions, online webcam sessions, telephone sessions or webchat sessions for neurodivergent individuals, or people questioning or exploring their neurodiversity.   I offer insight, empathy and validation for the experience of being neurodivergent.  My main concern is to understand your needs and differences to enable me to adjust counselling to make it accessible to you.

Ways of Working

I regard myself as an integrative counsellor.  This means that I use a combination of Person-Centred counselling and psychotherapy skills, as well as using psychoeducation, to support individuals to learn about themselves, their traits, their responses and communication styles. 

I offer a safe, non-judgemental and accepting space to help you learn more about yourself and to explore your experiences.

As a counsellor I believe it is important for me to respect your lived experience and way of being.  It is also important that I adjust the environment and my practice for any sensory or communication differences you may have.  My flexible approach will hopefully support you to work through the issues you are experiencing, to create self-awareness and understanding, self-compassion and self-acceptance.  I believe that it is important that we work together in partnership to identify ways you can develop and change.

Counselling sessions can be weekly, fortnightly or booked session by session.

Usually, a counselling session is 50 minutes long, with 10 minutes to close the session down, review the session, or to make arrangements for next time.  Longer sessions can be booked for people who may require a bit more time to process information or to express themselves. 

The Types of Issues I Support Neurodivergent Clients With 

• To question and explore what it means to be neurodivergent and how it is different to being neurotypical.
• To work through the reality of receiving a diagnosis of a neurodiverse condition, the shock and grief it may cause, and the questions that might arise about the past, present and future.
• To support parents and loved ones to better understand your way of being, so they can understand and know how to support you appropriately.
• To learn to understand the impact of neurodiversity on energy levels and the experiences of overload and burn out, so that you can learn to be mindful, adapt, de-stress and self-soothe.
• To explore and understand the masks people wear to protect themselves and fit into different environments.
• To explore and understand experiences of anxiety, depression and emotional dysregulation in relation to being neurodiverse.
• To develop strategies or tools to manage emotions, depression, anxiety and day to day functionality.
• To become more self-aware and compassionate towards yourself, identifying your positive skills, abilities and capabilities, to build a more positive and balanced view of yourself.
• To develop skills of self-compassion, resilience and recognition of strength.
• To learn the language and practice skills relating to assertiveness.
• To learn and understand social skills, as well as practice if required.
• To explore and work through normal life experiences such as bereavement or loss, loneliness, relationship issues, employment or education problems, low confidence or self-esteem.

Qualifications

Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Human Relations

Bachelor of Science Degree in Therapeutic Counselling

I am a professional member of the BACP – British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and am committed to their code of ethics.

Up to date DBS Checked

I receive individual and group supervision, on a monthly basis, to ensure that I am working ethically and in the best interests of my client.

Additional CPD Specific to Neurodiversity

I have worked as part of a specialist autism service for 15 years and as a specialist counsellor for 11 years, working alongside people who are neurodiverse.  This has included working as a support worker and facilitator in therapeutic and independence skills workshops, as well as counselling.  This has involved regular autism specific and mandatory training about autism, social skills, building self-esteem, conflict resolution, travel training and building assertiveness. 

I have become a recent member of Aspire Consultancy, which involves a regular CPD training programme focusing on Neurodiversity.

Completed ‘ADHD in the Therapy Room’ course – Aspire Autism Consultancy