About me

I have been working as a counsellor in private practice for 8 years now, and within that time I have also had the lived experience of recognising that one of my children, now a young adult, is on the autistic spectrum. This has been invaluable in terms of my working relationships with neurodivergent clients, and with clients who are either the parents of or partners of neurodivergent people.

I myself have experienced the ups and downs, stresses and successes of trying to find the best way forward as a parent, and as I have learnt more and more about neurodiversity through continued training, I have learnt the most from my child, and from my neurodivergent clients themselves.

Ways of Working

I initially trained as a Relational Counsellor, with the emphasis placed on the growth of the relationship between client and therapist, and in essence, that is how I still work. I like to make sessions bespoke for each particular person, whilst keeping emotional safety, respect and warmth as core, fundamental givens. I try and establish a sense that we are a team, with the client setting the pace for the work. I have discovered that some clients can easily launch in with the specific topics/concerns that they need to discuss within a session; others will sometimes ask for help in opening up dialogue. So if they are perhaps feeling anxious about what to talk about or say next, between us we can gently ease any pressure they may be feeling, and find another route into finding out what they need that day.

Having worked on the Counselling Team for Students at Craven College in Skipton, I am also very aware of the added difficulties facing neurodivergent individuals within the education system; how draining and demoralising things can become, and how to best navigate and get the most out of education, whilst hopefully managing to enjoy aspects of it. This can also be applied to work settings – I am very interested in people being able to recognise their individual strengths and utilise them fully, whilst also being able to note which areas may cause difficulty and how to find practical ways forward.

I have a special interest in how anxiety and stress impact autism and ADHD, as well as how they impact parents with neurodivergent children and people with neurodivergent partners. It can be a very isolating world for everyone involved, and I am passionate about trying to reduce that sense of isolation and loneliness.

The Types of Issues I Support Neurodivergent Clients With 

• Anxiety
• Loneliness/isolation
• Acceptance of a diagnosis of autism/ADHD
• Gender/sexuality issues
• Exhaustion/burnout – including parental burnout
• School issues
• Emotional regulation
• Confidence/self-acceptance
• Disordered eating
• Relationships
• Sensory overload

Qualifications

Dip HE in Therapeutic Counselling

Northside Training: Transactional Analysis 101 & CBT 101

Mental Health First Aid for Young People

Drawing and Talking

Carolyn Spring training: Trauma and the Body

Deb Dana training: Finding Regulation

Human Givens: Reducing anxiety in students and young people

Additional CPD Specific to Neurodiversity

Best Practice when Supporting Autistic Clients – Aspire Autism Consultancy

Participation in CPD group focusing on neurodivergence

Monthly supervision with Deborah Wortman (Aspire Autism Consultancy)