Counselling that understands your way of experiencing the world
A space where you don’t have to explain, mask or pretend
Living in a world that doesn’t always seem designed for the way you think, feel or experience things can be exhausting.
You may have ADHD or be autistic. You might have recently received a diagnosis, be waiting for an assessment, or perhaps you’ve simply started wondering whether neurodiversity could help explain some of the experiences you’ve had throughout your life.
Whatever has brought you here, you don’t need to have everything figured out before coming to counselling.
I offer neurodiversity-informed counselling for adults and young people in Haywards Heath, with face-to-face and online sessions available.
My aim isn’t to change who you are.
It’s to give you a warm, supportive space where you can explore what’s happening in your life and understand yourself a little better.
[Get in Touch]
You may have spent years feeling different
For some people, discovering they are neurodivergent can make sense of experiences they’ve struggled to understand for a very long time.
Perhaps everyday situations seem to take more energy for you than they appear to for other people.
You might find yourself becoming overwhelmed easily, struggling with relationships or constantly worrying that you’ve said or done the wrong thing.
You may have become very good at appearing fine on the outside while feeling completely different underneath.
Over time, that can affect confidence, relationships and the way you feel about yourself.
Counselling can provide somewhere to explore these experiences without judgement.
How counselling may help
There isn’t one single experience of ADHD, autism or neurodivergence.
Everyone is different.
Some of the things we might explore together include:
- Feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated
- Anxiety and overthinking
- Masking and the exhaustion that can come with it
- Low self-esteem or confidence
- Difficulties understanding or managing emotions
- Relationships and communication
- Feeling misunderstood
- Rejection or sensitivity to criticism
- School, college or workplace pressures
- Burnout and exhaustion
- Difficult past experiences or trauma
- Understanding your needs and boundaries
- Adjusting to a recent diagnosis
- Looking back at your life differently following a diagnosis
- Feeling as though you don’t quite fit in
You may recognise several of these experiences, only one of them, or none at all.
You don’t need to fit a checklist to come to counselling.
We start with what’s important to you.
ADHD and counselling
ADHD can affect far more than concentration.
You may experience a busy mind that feels difficult to switch off, struggle with organisation or motivation, become overwhelmed by everyday demands or find that emotions sometimes feel particularly intense.
There can also be years of criticism behind these experiences.
Perhaps you’ve been told that you’re lazy, disorganised, too sensitive, not trying hard enough or that you simply need to concentrate.
Hearing messages like these repeatedly can have a lasting effect on how you see yourself.
Counselling can give you space to explore those experiences with curiosity rather than criticism.
It’s not about telling you to “try harder”.
It’s about understanding you.
Autism and counselling
Autistic people can experience the world in many different ways.
For some, social situations and relationships can be exhausting. Others may experience sensory overwhelm, anxiety around change or feel under pressure to behave in ways that are expected by other people.
You may also have spent years masking — consciously or unconsciously changing how you behave in order to fit in.
Having somewhere you don’t feel the same pressure to perform or pretend can be incredibly important.
In our sessions, we can explore what life feels like from your perspective, rather than focusing on how somebody else thinks you should experience it.
Late diagnosis or beginning to question whether you’re neurodivergent
Discovering that you may be neurodivergent later in life can bring a mixture of emotions.
There may be relief.
Suddenly, experiences from childhood, school, relationships or work begin to make more sense.
But there can also be sadness, anger or frustration.
You might find yourself wondering:
“Why didn’t anyone notice?”
“What would have been different if I’d known?”
“Who am I if I’ve spent years masking?”
You may even question whether you’re “neurodivergent enough”, particularly if other people don’t recognise the difficulties you’ve experienced.
Counselling can provide somewhere to make sense of those feelings without rushing you towards an answer.
And you don’t need a formal diagnosis before we can talk about them.
Neurodivergent teenagers & young people
Growing up can already feel complicated.
For a neurodivergent young person, school, friendships, expectations, sensory experiences and the pressure to fit in can sometimes make things even harder.
I work with teenagers and young people who may be struggling with things such as:
- Anxiety and overwhelm
- School or college pressures
- Friendships
- Self-esteem
- Masking
- Feeling different from their peers
- Difficulties expressing emotions
- Self-harm
- Family relationships
- Understanding a recent diagnosis
Sometimes a young person doesn’t need another adult telling them what they should be doing.
They need somewhere they can talk honestly and feel heard.
I aim to provide that space.
[Find out about counselling for young people]
My approach
I have additional training and experience in working with neurodivergent clients.
But I also recognise something very important:
Knowing that somebody has ADHD or is autistic doesn’t tell me who they are.
You are still an individual, with your own personality, relationships, experiences, strengths and difficulties.
That’s why I won’t assume I know what you need simply because of a diagnosis.
We’ll work together to understand what counselling needs to look like for you.
My approach is warm, down-to-earth and non-judgemental, and we’ll work at a pace that feels comfortable.
Face-to-face counselling in Haywards Heath
I offer face-to-face counselling at Vinings Natural Health Centre in Haywards Heath, providing a private space away from the demands of everyday life.
Online counselling is also available where appropriate.
We can talk about which option feels most comfortable for you.
Taking the first step
Contacting a counsellor can feel daunting, particularly if you’ve spent a long time feeling misunderstood.
You don’t need to write a long explanation or know exactly what you want from counselling.
You can simply get in touch.
I offer a free initial 50-minute telephone consultation, giving us the opportunity to talk about what’s brought you to counselling, answer any questions you have and see whether working together feels right.
There is no obligation to continue afterwards.
Get in touch
If you’re looking for neurodiversity-informed counselling for yourself or a young person, you’re very welcome to contact me.
Face-to-face counselling in Haywards Heath and online counselling available.
