In-person counselling in Exeter and online across the UK
Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy
Support that recognises neurodivergence as part of who you are — not something to be fixed
I offer neurodivergent-affirming therapy for adults in-person in Exeter and online across the UK, including support for autistic adults, adults with ADHD and AuDHD. This may include people who have a formal diagnosis, those who identify as neurodivergent without one, or those who are beginning to wonder whether this might apply to them.
Many people arrive in therapy carrying years of pressure to adapt to environments that weren’t designed with their needs in mind. If that resonates, you may recognise some of the experiences below.
Experiences · How I Work · Adapting Therapy · Masking · Strengths · FAQs · Next Steps
Experiences You Might Recognise
Masking & Exhaustion
Feeling drained from constantly adapting your behaviour or trying to meet expectations in environments designed for neurotypical brains.
Late Diagnosis
Navigating complex feelings after discovering you may be neurodivergent — from relief and validation to grief or confusion.
Self-Doubt
Questioning if your diagnosis is correct. Maybe wondering if you’re simply “lazy”, “too sensitive” or “not trying hard enough”.
Feeling Misunderstood
Sensing that no matter how hard you try, you don’t fit the traditional social norms. Feeling isolated because people “don’t get you”.
Sensory Overload
Managing overwhelming emotions, physical discomfort or shutdown whilst others around you appear unaffected.
How I Work in a Neurodivergent Affirming Way
My understanding of neuro-affirmative practice is rooted in the social model of disability rather than a medical one. I see ADHD, autism and AuDHD as part of who someone is, not something that needs to be fixed or shaped into something more acceptable.
In practice that means starting from the assumption that you are the expert on your own neurodivergent experience. My role isn’t to interpret you through a diagnostic lens, but to understand how your mind works, the environments you’ve had to navigate, and the adaptations you’ve developed over time.
Many neurodivergent adults carry a long history of feeling “too much”, “not enough”, or as though they’ve spent years working twice as hard just to keep up. Bullying, masking and repeated experiences of being misunderstood can have a real impact on self-worth, identity and nervous system safety.
Therapy can be a space to gently unpack those experiences, separate yourself from the messages you may have absorbed about who you “should” be, and explore what feels authentic and sustainable for you.
Adapting Therapy to You
Neurodivergent-affirming therapy also means adapting the therapeutic space to suit your needs and preferences rather than expecting you to adapt to therapy.
Energy can fluctuate. Focus can disappear. Emotions can be hard to name. Some weeks you may feel articulate and full of ideas; other weeks, your thoughts may feel completely out of reach.
There’s no expectation or need to suppress stimming, force eye contact, or present yourself as calm, clear or “together”. If typical approaches don’t fit, we can adjust the way we work so therapy supports your mind and nervous system rather than pushing against it.
Masking and Unmasking
Many neurodivergent adults talk about masking — the ways they’ve adapted their behaviour to fit expectations or avoid standing out.
Unmasking isn’t always simple. It can involve exploring identity, safety and relationships, and finding places where it feels possible to show up more authentically. In therapy, this process can happen gradually and at a pace that feels safe for you.
A Strengths-Based Perspective
Neurodivergence is often framed only in terms of difficulty or deficit. A strengths-based perspective recognises the creativity, insight, sensitivity and unique ways of thinking that many neurodivergent people bring to the world.
Therapy isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about understanding how your mind works, recognising the adaptations that have helped you navigate life so far, and deciding what still serves you and what you’d like to do differently. From there, therapy can support you to build confidence in who you are and empower you to feel more able to advocate for your needs in different areas of your life.
Common Questions
You may still have some questions about neurodivergent-affirming therapy or about working together. The questions below cover things people often wonder about before reaching out.
Do I need a diagnosis to work with you?
No. You’re welcome whether you have a formal diagnosis, identify as neurodivergent without one, or are simply beginning to wonder whether this might apply to you.
Many people come to therapy before pursuing an assessment, or choose not to seek one at all. Access to diagnosis can be difficult, and the process itself doesn’t feel accessible or helpful for everyone.
Therapy can still provide space to explore your experiences and better understand what support might be helpful for you.
What if I think I might be neurodivergent but I'm not sure?
That’s completely okay. Many adults begin questioning their experiences long before seeking a formal assessment, and some never pursue one at all.
Therapy can be a space to explore the patterns in your experiences, reflect on what resonates for you, and think about what support might help — without pressure to arrive at a particular label. While I don’t provide diagnostic assessments, we can talk about what a diagnosis might mean for you and whether it feels helpful to pursue one.
Whether you have a diagnosis or are still exploring this, I work from a neurodivergent-affirming perspective and adapt therapy to your experiences and needs.
What kinds of neurodivergence do you work with?
At the moment my work focuses on supporting adults with ADHD, autism and AuDHD. These are the areas where I currently have the most training and experience, and it’s important to me that I can offer support that feels informed and appropriate.
Other forms of neurodivergence — such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia or Tourette syndrome — can bring different experiences and support needs. If this is your main area of concern, it may be helpful to work with a therapist who has specialist training in that area.
If you’re unsure whether working together might still feel helpful, you’re very welcome to get in touch and we can briefly discuss this during a consultation.
Do you work with adults who were diagnosed later in life?
Absolutely. Many neurodivergent adults discover or receive a diagnosis much later in life. This can bring a mix of feelings — from relief and validation to grief, confusion, or rethinking past experiences. Therapy can offer space to make sense of those feelings and explore what this understanding means for you now.
What if I’m neurodivergent but the reason I’m coming to therapy isn’t related to that?
That’s absolutely okay. Being neurodivergent is only one part of who you are, and therapy doesn’t have to focus on it unless that feels relevant to you.
If you’re comfortable sharing that you’re neurodivergent, it can help me understand your experiences and support you in ways that work for you. At the same time, not everything we feel or experience is because of neurodivergence. Rather than making assumptions, we can stay curious together about what might be influencing things and focus on whatever feels most important for you.
Do you identify as neurodivergent, and how does that influence your work?
Yes. I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life and have also recently been exploring some possible autistic traits.
My experiences have reinforced how important it is to practise in a genuinely neurodivergent-affirming way. I’ve completed additional training in this area and continue to build my knowledge so that I can offer holistic and informed support.
My own experiences also mean I understand how complex it can be to navigate things like masking, feeling misunderstood, or questioning aspects of your identity. At the same time, every person’s experience of neurodivergence is different, so I approach each client with curiosity rather than assumptions.
You can read a little more about my background and approach on my About page.
What support is available before the first session if I need it?
You’re very welcome to email me before the first session if you have questions or concerns, and I’ll do my best to respond.
Some clients find it helpful to have a clearer outline of how the first session will work, or to ask for practical details about the room if we’re meeting in person. You’re also welcome to let me know if there are any adjustments or accommodations that might help you feel more comfortable.
While I can’t always guarantee I’ll be able to meet every request, I’ll always be glad you asked and will work with you to see whether we can find an approach that feels workable for both of us.
What kinds of adjustments can you offer in sessions?
Different things help different people feel more comfortable in therapy, so I’m happy to adapt where possible.
For example, some clients find it helpful to take short breaks, move around, or bring fidget items, a notebook, or something to doodle with while we talk. We can also adjust practical things such as seating arrangements, the structure of sessions, or how we begin and end our time together.
If something in the room feels distracting or uncomfortable — for example lighting, background noise, or other sensory factors — I’ll do my best to adjust what I can. We can also talk about things like appointment reminders or communication preferences if that would be helpful.
I may not always be able to meet every request, but you’re very welcome to ask and we can work together to find what feels most supportive.
Is online therapy suitable for neurodivergent clients?
For many neurodivergent people, online therapy can work very well. Being in your own environment can reduce sensory demands and make it easier to focus on the conversation.
At the same time, everyone is different. Some people prefer the structure of meeting in person, while others find online sessions more comfortable. We can talk together about what might work best for you.
You can read more about how online sessions work on my Online Counselling page.
Considering neurodivergent affirming therapy?
If what you’ve read here resonates with you, you’re very welcome to get in touch to arrange a free 20-minute consultation. This gives us a chance to briefly talk about what has brought you to therapy, answer any questions you might have, and see whether working together feels like a good fit.
If you’d prefer, you’re also welcome to use the contact form to ask questions first — there’s no pressure to book a consultation until you feel ready.