ADHD counselling and psychotherapy brimingham

Unraveling your experience with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): how counselling and psychotherapy can support you on your journey

Living with ADHD poses unique challenges and I say that from personal experience. As well as being an integrative therapeutic counsellor who works with ADHD and autistic clients (as well as neurotypical clients), I came to realise I am ADHD just a few years ago and this was followed by a the realisation that I am also autistic. There has been a huge shift in the amount of people talking about ADHD, autism and other neurodivergent experiences in recent years. There is more understanding about the ways that ADHD presents differently in adults, especially women and those socialised as women. This increased understanding and visibility has led to a whole wave of people getting insight into the things they struggle with, which can be a really powerful experience. It can also come with a significant amount of grief as we connect with and understand the struggles of our past selves.

Additionally, many people with ADHD struggle with poor mental health, addiction, relationship issues and other psychological issues that are impacted by their ADHD experience. ADHD doesn’t happen in isolation and it can impact every aspect of our lives.

Neurodiversity-affirming counselling and therapy for ADHD

Counselling for ADHD can be a really helpful space to explore, process and understand your experience. Sadly, for those of us who are neurodivergent seeking therapy means navigating a world that’s designed for neurotypical people. Everything we know about psychology is rooted in western-centric, neuro-normative and pathologising perspectives. The essentially means we base our understanding of psychology on the the white, western and non-disabled experience. This can mean not being understood by therapists and counsellors who don’t have a grounding in the ADHD experience.

I’ve lived through this myself with some past therapists making judgements about my way of experiencing the world. Before I realised I was ADHD I felt misunderstood in the therapy room and I was made to feel like my experience was wrong.

This is where neurodiversity-affirming counselling can be really empowering. By helping us to understand our experience, we can be more accepting of the way our brains and nervous systems work. ADHD is a disability, yes, but like any disability it’s only disabling because society doesn’t accommodate us.

From ADHD client to ADHD counsellor

My work as a counsellor and therapist has involved working with a lot of ADHD and autistic clients. It’s always fascinating to me how many clients you end up working with that mirror your own journey. I’m incredibly grateful to be able support my clients to explore this part of themselves and their experiences. I have experienced being an ADHD and Autistic client who wasn’t ‘seen’ in the therapy room and because of this I’m passionate about creating a safe and secure space for my ADHD and autistic clients to explore their unique experiences as neurodivergent people. ADHD may or may not be your main reason for combining to counselling but it impacts your experience in the world.

Counselling and psychotherapy for ADHD: safety and the relationship

Whether you’re neurodivergent or neurotypical, there are two key things that support any counselling relationship; trust and safety. I work collaboratively with my clients because every single one of us is different and we all have different needs and experience. Meeting the needs of each client means checking in, making accommodations and supporting you to use the therapeutic space in a way that works best for you. This is an ongoing process. As ADHD people our needs and sensitivities can change from day to day.

While you don’t need to work with a neurodivergent counsellor to find a neurodiversity affirming therapy, my own lived experience of ADHD and Autism gives me perspective that neurotypical therapists might not have. For this same reason, I work with a neurodivergent supervisor (regular supervision is a requirement of ethical counselling and psychotherapy practice) because their lived experience of neurodiversity helps them to support me and the work I do with my clients, whether neurodivergent or neurotypical, as they have a deeper understanding of my experience.

ADHD counselling and psychotherapy: the process

The process of ADHD therapy will be different for every client. ADHD might be at the forefront of your decision to come to counselling or you may be wishing to explore other issues, alongside your experience of ADHD. I talk about the ways I support my counselling clients here.

I work in an integrative way that combines person-centered therapy, gestalt therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. I’m also a licensed mindfulness and meditation teacher and I incorporate meditation and neuroscience-based approaches. These practices not only provide support during therapy but also give you tools to use in your everyday life. My approach is always responsive to the person sitting in front of me and we’ll explore this process together. Counselling is not something I do to you, or that you do alone with me as a facilitator. It’s a collaboration and we’re in it together.

Working with me as your counsellor

You’ll find everything you need to know about working with me as your counsellor and therapist here. As well as supporting you to explore your struggles around ADHD, I work with grief, life transitions, relationships, relationship patterns and relationship dynamics, depression and low mood, anxiety and anxiety disorders and trauma. I currently work in person from Stirchley, Birmingham or I offer online counselling via Zoom.

I offer a 15 minute, no obligation introductory call where you can tell me about your reasons for coming to therapy and I can tell you a little bit more about my counselling approach and how we might work together. Please do get in touch here for a chat.