As a neurodivergent person myself (Autism, ADHD & Dyspraxia) I have personal and professional experience working with neurodivergence. I know how hard it can be to navigate life with it. Each of us have our unique struggles and joys with them. Together we can find ways to cope and to thrive.
I believe each of us are our own unique person. I think labels are really important to help validate our experience and to learn more about ourselves. But sometimes these labels can limit us too. I’ll be focussed on working with you, with your label alongside.
Having said all of that, below is a bunch of information on lots of labels!
A word on labels
For those who don’t fit inside a box.
Autism
For a long time there has been a lot of stigma against autism. Yet, some of my favourite people in the world are autistic, we’re a great bunch! But life can still be really challenging. The world can be overwhelming, social situations can be confusing, emotions can be massive and we can experience huge amounts of anxiety and depression.
But each of us are unique, there are so many wonderful resources out there to help, combined with personal therapy we can start to uncover those masks, understand the real you and understand how you can best exist in the world.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), or Persistent Drive for Autonomy as I prefer it, is a need for control and freedom in our lives. Those of us who have PDA can find therapy very difficult. As a person-centred therapist, I practice non-directivity, which means you have autonomy of the session, because you, after all, are the expert of your life.
PDA
ADHD
There are so many great videos, podcasts, books about ADHD, so many tips and hacks. All of which do make things so much easier and help us realise what we’ve been struggling in silence with for so long. Task paralysis, struggles with organisation, lack of focus, time blindness, poor memory, big emotions and poor memory (sorry I couldn’t resist!) are all things which can be very difficult for us. Whilst therapy can’t take these things away, it can help us to be aware of our difficulties and how to deal with them. And help us to appreciate all the wonderful things about ourselves too!
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) means day to day life can be incredibly painful. With therapy we can learn how to instead of running from the pain, to sit with it and to process it.
“Emotional pain cannot kill you, but running from it can. Allow. Embrace. Let yourself feel. Let yourself heal.” - Vironika Tugaleva
RSD
AuDHD
Once upon a time it was thought someone couldn’t be both autistic and have ADHD. Thankfully, not only is it now recognised, but there is a dawning realisation as to just how common it is. It’s one which often goes unnoticed for such a long time, as the two can mask each other. What can look like neurotypical on the outside, can be a deep conflict on the inside.
With limited AuDHD resources it is crucial to understand what it is you struggle with, we can explore that together in therapy and how you can best cope in this challenging world.
Not diagnosed?
It doesn’t matter if you are diagnosed, self-diagnosed, or even unsure whether you are neurodivergent and it’s just a thought in the back of your mind. We can explore it together, wherever you are at.