Autism & ADHD-Informed Counselling for Adults

People often assume that everyone processes information, communicates, and experiences the world in the same way. Autistic people frequently tell me this assumption is where many of their difficulties begin.

I offer autism-informed counselling that recognises autism as a natural and valid form of neurodiversity, not something that needs to be fixed or changed.

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Alongside my work as a counsellor, I am a former learning disability and mental health nurse and have worked closely with autistic adults across clinical and community settings.

My practice is informed by research, professional training, and years of experience supporting autistic people with emotional regulation, anxiety, trauma, burnout, sensory overload, relationships and navigating systems that are not always designed with neurodivergent needs in mind.

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I understand that autistic people often experience the world more intensely - emotionally, sensory-wise and cognitively - and that this can impact self-esteem, identity, work, friendships and family relationships.

Therapy with me is calm, structured where helpful, and flexible where needed.

I adapt communication style, pacing and therapeutic techniques to suit how you process information, rather than expecting you to adapt to therapy.

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I also live with ADHD myself, which gives me a deeper, lived understanding of overwhelm, masking, emotional intensity and the exhaustion that can come from constantly trying to fit into neurotypical expectations. This allows me to work with authenticity, empathy and realism.

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My aim is to support you to better understand yourself, reduce distress, build on your strengths and develop practical ways of living that honour who you are - not who you feel you “should” be.

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Autistic burnout and masking
Many autistic adults experience burnout after long periods of masking — consciously or unconsciously suppressing their natural ways of thinking, communicating or responding in order to fit in. This can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, shutdown, loss of confidence and a sense of disconnection from self. In therapy, we gently explore the impact of masking, support nervous system regulation, and work towards more sustainable ways of living that reduce pressure and honour your authentic needs.

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Support for late-diagnosed adults
For adults who receive an autism diagnosis later in life, there can be a mix of relief, grief, confusion and re-evaluation of past experiences. I offer a supportive space to make sense of your diagnosis, revisit earlier life events with greater self-compassion, and explore what this new understanding means for your identity, relationships and future choices.

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