MY services
Neurodiverse Therapist
As a Neurodiverse Therapist, I work in a way that adapts to my clients, not the other way around. A lot of traditional therapy expects people to communicate, process, and reflect in very specific ways. That can feel frustrating or even alienating if you’re autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or otherwise neurodivergent.
So we slow that down and reshape it together.
You might want structure, or you might not. You might think out loud, go off on tangents, need pauses, or prefer something more visual or practical. All of that is welcome. We can use whiteboards, map things out, sit with one thread, or follow where your mind naturally goes.
I pay attention to things like:
masking and the cost of it
sensory overwhelm and burnout
rejection sensitivity, shame, or “feeling too much”
black-and-white thinking or feeling stuck
the pressure to appear “fine” or “functional”
identity, especially if you’ve come to neurodivergence later in life in terms of a diagnosis or a curiosity.
Relationally, I also notice what’s happening between us. If something feels off, unclear, too much, or not enough, we can talk about it. That’s often where the meaningful work is.
This isn’t about teaching you to behave more “neurotypically”. It’s about understanding your patterns, reducing unnecessary distress, and building a way of being that actually fits you.
My style
I’m warm, empathetic and approachable, but I’m also direct and ask challenging questions. I pride myself on being an active listener and on taking the time to truly get to know my clients, ensuring that I remember all the details of their inner lives.
One-to-one therapy
At my private practice in the centre of Manchester, I provide a private and comfortable space for therapy sessions. It’s a lovely, welcoming environment where you can feel at ease and open up about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Online therapy
In addition to face-to-face sessions, I provide online sessions and sessions over the phone. This allows you to access therapy from the comfort of your own space or when you are unable to attend in person. Whether it's through video calls or phone conversations, I am committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for your healing and growth journey.
FAQs
What is a neurodiverse therapist?
Usually people mean a neurodivergent therapist (someone who is themselves neurodivergent) or a neuro-affirming therapist.
A neuro-affirming therapist understands neurodivergence as a difference, not a disorder to be fixed. They work with your brain, not against it, and avoid trying to normalise you into neurotypical standards.
What is the best therapy for neurodivergence?
The best therapy for neurodivergent individuals is one where you don’t feel like you have to mask.
A therapy that is collaborative, respectful of your pace, and adapts to your needs tends to be the most effective. It should support your wellbeing without trying to erase your differences.
What are the 4 types of neurodiversity?
When people refer to: neurodiversity they usually are talking about Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalulia or Dyspraxia
We are all neurodiverse as everyone’s brain is different, however, neurodivergent individuals have types of brains (neurotype) that function and process information in an atypical way,. Neurodivergence is very broad. It includes a wide range of ways brains can differ, there isn’t a fixed or limited list and one type of neurodivergence usually is accompanied and is very rarely alone.
What kind of therapy is best for neurodivergent people?
There isn’t one “best” type as it really depends on you.
What tends to matter more is whether the therapist is flexible, collaborative, and neuro-affirming. Approaches like person-centred, relational, and adapted CBT or somatic work can all be helpful if they’re fit how you process and experience the world.
The relationship is key and at the heart of everything, feeling understood often matters more than the modalities.
What type of therapy is best for autism?
Therapy that is autism-informed and neuro-affirming.
The key is that it respects autistic ways of communicating, processing, and relating, rather than trying to change them.
What do they do in therapy for autism?
It’s less about “doing to” and more about working with.
That might include:
understanding sensory needs and overwhelm
exploring masking and burnout
making sense of relationships and communication
processing past experiences of being misunderstood or excluded
building self-trust and self-acceptance
We always go at your pace, and shape the space around what actually helps you.
How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?
It’s less about getting it “right” and more about how it feels.
Do you feel able to be a bit more yourself, even slightly? Do you feel understood, or at least like I’m trying to understand you rather than fitting you into a box?
We can also have an initial call to get a sense of each other. You don’t need to have the right words, just a sense of whether it feels like a place you could be heard and understood.
Do you work with self-diagnosed clients?
Yes, I do work with self-diagnosed and diagnosis-curious clients.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to work with me. A lot of people come with a sense of their neurodivergence but without any paperwork, maybe because of barriers, cost, or past experiences of not being taken seriously.
We can explore that with care and curiosity, without needing to prove anything.
What if I struggle to talk or don’t know what to say?
That’s really welcome here.
You don’t have to arrive with a clear story or agenda. We can sit in silence, start somewhere small, or use prompts, visuals, or questions to get going.
Sometimes the work is in not knowing and we can take our time with that.
Can sessions be more structured or more flexible?
We can shape sessions together.
Some people want a bit more direction or focus, others need space to wander and think out loud. Most people move between both depending on the day.
I’ll keep checking in so it feels supportive rather than restrictive or overwhelming or prescriptive
Do you offer practical strategies as well as space to talk?
Yes, when it feels useful.
My core way of working is relational and exploratory, but I can also bring in practical tools, things like mapping patterns, thinking about energy levels, or finding ways to manage overwhelm.
It’s not about giving you a list of fixes, but about finding what actually works for you.
What if I mask in sessions without meaning to?
Masking often happens automatically, especially in new relationships. We don’t need to force it away. Instead, we can gently notice it together, when it shows up, what it’s protecting, and what it might be like to loosen it, bit by bit.
There’s no pressure to “be unmasked” straight away.
How do you support burnout or overwhelm?
I notice it, show curiosity about it, and we slow things down.
That might mean reducing pressure, looking at what’s actually going on, and understanding the patterns that led to burnout in the first place, things like masking, overcommitment, sensory overload, or not having needs met, including sensory needs.
From there, we look at what support, boundaries, and ways of being might feel more nourishing for you at your pace, not my pace and not forced.it,