Have you ever wondered whether the way you experience the world is down to something that  happened to you, or something that is simply part of how you are wired? It is a question I hear  often in my practice, and it matters far more than most people realise. The truth is that trauma and  neurodivergence can look strikingly similar on the surface. Both can leave a person feeling  overwhelmed, disconnected and chronically misunderstood, and for a significant number of  people, both are present simultaneously. 

In this article, I want to explore what trauma and neurodivergence actually look like in daily life,  where they overlap and where ...

Continue reading...

Friendship is one of life’s greatest sources of comfort and connection; yet, for many people diagnosed with neurodivergence, it can also be one of the most challenging areas to navigate. You may crave closeness but feel drained by socialising, or doubt whether you’re ‘doing friendship right’. You may find yourself masking, overthinking every interaction, or struggling to maintain consistency when your energy levels dip.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. As an integrative psychotherapist and neurodiversity coach,  I’ve seen how friendship can bring both healing and hurt for neurodiverg...

Continue reading...

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, so there’s never a better time to talk about neurodivergence and  romantic relationships. Neurodivergent people often experience love deeply and intensely, but  romantic relationships can bring unique challenges. Whether you are dating, in a long-term  relationship or navigating a breakup, your neurodivergence can influence communication, intimacy,  emotional regulation and connection. This article explores why romantic relationships can feel harder  for neurodivergent people and how relationships can be shaped in ways that honour who you are  rather than asking you to mask or adapt endlessly. 

Have you ever found yourself wondering why relationships seem to take so much more effort...

Continue reading...

Have you ever noticed how a single problem can make your whole life feel like it’s falling apart? One setback and suddenly work feels overwhelming, relationships feel fragile and even getting out of bed seems monumental. After more than twelve years as a Neurodiversity Coach and Therapist, supporting neurodivergent people, and through my own experience as someone who is AuDHD, I have learned that this sense of total collapse is often a perception of the experience, rather than the reality. Yes, the challenge that you’re facing may be real. Yes, it may be painful. But, most of you are functioning ...

Continue reading...

New Year’s Eve is often marketed as the night of all nights.  A night of joy, celebration, and fresh starts. Loud music. Crowded rooms. Fireworks. Booze. The promise that this is the night that matters.

For many neurodivergent individuals, this night does not feel expansive or hopeful. It feels demanding. What is presented as celebration can quickly become an exercise in endurance, as sensory overload, social performance, financial pressure and disrupted routines converge in a single evening. 

In my work as a neurodiversity coach and therapist, I meet many individuals who dread New Year’s Eve ...

Continue reading...

If you have clicked on this article, chances are you are already feeling it, that creeping sense of dread as Christmas approaches. The weight of expectations about what the festive season should look like. The mental rehearsal of family dynamics, sensory overwhelm, small talk with distant relatives, and the pressure to appear joyful when you are actually counting down the hours until you can retreat back to your own space. 

I have always found it strange how, on Christmas Day, people suddenly behave differently, and no one ever mentions it. It becomes a sort of social murder mystery: who is genuine, and who is performing?

Here’s the truth: if part of you doesn’t want to follo...

Continue reading...

The holiday season arrives with sparkle, anticipation, and a fair share of chaos. For many, this time of year brings joy, celebration, and a sense of connection. But for others, and perhaps especially if you’re neurodivergent, the festive season can feel very different. Sensory overload, disrupted routines, social expectations, financial pressures, and family dynamics can add up to an incredibly stressful time.

As an integrative psychotherapist offering neurodiversity coaching in London, I often support clients through the many pressures of the season. In this article, I’ll walk you through why the festive period can feel particularly inten...

Continue reading...

Every so often, a new term takes the stage in neurodiversity discourse. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. Revenge Bedtime Procrastination. Pathological Demand Avoidance. Time Agnosia.

And every time, the same debate erupts: Are we creating helpful frameworks for understanding, or are we just pathologising normal human experiences? Are we giving people language to describe their reality, or are we encouraging them to pathologise themselves? And don’t we have enough words already for the exact same things?

I think ...

Continue reading...

I’ve been exploring personality tests and considering the potential bias against neurodivergent job applicants.  Traditional tests often fail to accurately assess neurodivergent individuals. Our brains function differently and process information uniquely, which can lead to skewed outcomes. However, with some adjustments and careful consideration, we can modify these tests to benefit us instead of hindering us.

But those traditional tests? They’re riddled with biases. The questions often don’t account for the way neurodivergent minds function. They’re built on these “typical” social norms, which, let’s face it, don’t always apply. And the testing environment itself? It can be a minefield of anxiety for ...

Continue reading...

I think I’ve heard this statement (it’s never meant as a question) in every possible format now: on the socials, from personal contacts, in the backlash from the recent Panorama investigation into how clinics are diagnosing the condition (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001m0f9) and in workplaces.

Most uncomfortably and personally, I endured a version of it in the form of a 30 minute verbal attack by my Uber driver whose starting and finishing position on the subject pretty much boiled down to: “You don’t have ADHD, you just say you do because it looks good for your clients – ‘Oh, look I can be like her. She has it’”.

I sometimes wish people wou...

Continue reading...