Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD
Are you struggling with sensory or emotional overload?
Perhaps you’re newly diagnosed and looking for support and ways to understand yourself better after a lifetime of masking?
Do you constantly feel like life could be much easier if only …?
Everyone has a unique experience of life and their own set of challenges; for neurodiverse individuals, this is especially true. That’s why I offer a range of therapies, including hypnotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, and neurodiversity-affirming counselling. These therapies can be incredibly beneficial for neurodiverse clients who are looking to learn tools and skills to better help them navigate the world, communicate more effectively, regulate their emotions, and reduce the discomfort that their heightened sensory perceptions can cause. As a neurodiverse individual myself, I have a deep understanding and empathy for my clients, and I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive and live their best life.
Ultimately, neurodiversity-friendly therapy aims to help individuals lead fulfilling and productive lives. By understanding their unique needs and providing them with the support they require, we can work together to support you in achieving your full potential and contributing to society in meaningful ways.
Truly bespoke therapy meets you where you’re comfortable. We can work face-to-face, side-by-side, in person or online, by voice or via text. The choice is yours.
ADHD
Neurodiversity-affirming therapy can be incredibly beneficial for individuals with ADHD, especially those who struggle with emotional regulation and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is a common symptom experienced by many with ADHD, where individuals have an extreme emotional response to perceived rejection or criticism. This can lead to feelings of intense sadness, anger, or anxiety, which can make it difficult to navigate social situations or maintain healthy relationships.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness practices can teach clients how to observe and accept their emotions and behaviours without judgment, reducing the negative impact that RSD can have on their daily lives, while EMDR can be helpful to release some of the shame and intense emotional reactions to events that have happened in the past.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Personally I prefer to call this ‘Autism Spectrum Condition’. Neurodiversity friendly therapy can help autistic people to communicate better, regulate their emotions more easily, and feel more confident navigating the world around them; integrative therapy can provide valuable support to those with autism. Neurodiversity friendly therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy can help individuals with autism feel more confident in navigating the world around them. This can involve building social skills, improving self-esteem, and developing a sense of self-awareness. By working with a skilled neurodiversity friendly and informed therapist, autistic people can develop a greater sense of self-understanding and build the skills necessary to confidently navigate social situations, interact with others, and achieve their goals.
Hypnotherapy, ACT and DBT can support communication in autistic individuals by helping to reduce anxiety and stress levels. These emotions can often make it difficult for individuals with autism to effectively communicate with others, leading to social isolation and frustration. Hypnotherapy techniques such as deep relaxation and guided visualisation can help to remove the anxiety and fear, as well as remove some of the sensory overwhelm from social situations facilitating easier communication. EMDR can help remove some of the past trauma around social interactions, allowing you to approach situations in the future feeling more confident and in control, assured that events from the past don’t need to repeat themselves.
In addition to improving communication skills, neurodiversity-friendly therapy can also be used to help regulate emotions in those with autism. Individuals with autism often struggle with sensory overload, which can lead to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. Integrative therapy can provide tools to help manage these emotions. By learning to better regulate their emotions, autistic people can feel more in control of their own experiences, leading to improved well-being and quality of life.
While there’s no magic wand which will enable you to suddenly learn the skills to filter out sensory stimuli, there are tools and techniques which can support you to experience the world more comfortably. Many autistic people regularly experience sensory overwhelm and it causes them to withdraw, needing to reset themselves. Together we can explore a range of tools, adaptation and psychosensory techniques to help you better filter your experience of the world helping you to feel calmer and more capable.
As a AuDHD individual, I understand many of the challenges that other autistic people face and I have deep empathy and compassion for those experiences that I haven’t faced myself. Our goals for therapy could be as diverse as building and improving communication skills, learning to better understand and regulate emotions or manage ‘meltdowns’, building self-confidence, or learning how to manage your sensory sensitivities. Neurodiversity informed therapy can help autistic people to lead more fulfilling and rewarding lives. If you or someone you know is struggling with issues related to their autism, consider booking a free exploratory phone chat or send me an email to have a chat.