To introduce myself – I’m a counsellor specialising in working with ADHD clients and the challenges which come with navigating diagnosis, whether that be the emotional impact, the difficulty in reframing your past, present and future, and the difficult and often drawn-out experience of waiting for assessment, assessment itself, diagnosis, treatment, and medication. I am diagnosed combined-type ADHD and have found my own process of diagnosis enormously beneficial to my work and sense of self.
Trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, my practice has developed to emphasise the relationship between therapist and client to create a safe and understanding environment free from judgement, in which your presenting issues can be explored and better understood. My training allows me to work with ADHD and non-ADHD clients alike, and I work extensively with clients with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, self-esteem, addiction, and repeating patterns of behaviour you’d like to change.
In thousands of hours across individual sessions, group and couples sessions, and running my own ADHD-specialist website, I have developed an effective way of working with ADHD people which doesn’t pathologise the condition, and considers their entire selves rather than working symptomatically or reducing people to a set of stereotypes. I endeavour to work in a way which does not pathologise any protected characteristic such as sexuality, race, religion, disability, or gender identity or expression.
In response to overwhelming client demand, I offer limited engagement couples counselling, designed to help foster communication between neurodiverse couples through psychoeducation, mediation, and the establishment of structures which offer a platform for couples going forward.
In addition to my counselling work, I am currently writing a book about the emotional experience of adult ADHD diagnosis, and I can be found talking about the condition in numerous magazine articles and podcasts. Outside of my client work, I edit and publish my own mental health magazine ‘The Frame’, and spend my spare time cooking and walking my dog Oakleigh.
I work from my home in Whetstone, London and offer sessions five days a week either in-person or online via Zoom, Skype, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. My standard fee for individual sessions is £85, and sessions with couples start from £150, payable by bank transfer, credit or debit card, or Apple or Google Pay.
Other projects and media appearances:
About the sessions:
- I am trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, which emphasises the foundations of thoughts and behaviours in earlier life experiences.
- The sessions are guided by you as a client. You do not need my permission to discuss a different topic, nor is there an expectation from me of progress, success or particular content from you.
- The pace and content of the session(s) are individualised. If you feel uncomfortable approaching a topic of discussion, or would like more direction towards a particular topic of instruction, you are free to inform me.
- I do not set ‘homework’. It might be that as a natural part of our work, tools or books may naturally come up in conversation but their incorporation into our work is entirely at your discretion.
- I am open to feedback at all times, and may periodically ask you for feedback directly, and our approach to the work may alter as a result.
- Its possible that issues may arise in our therapeutic relationship. These are not unusual and working on resolving those can be an important part of the therapeutic process.
- You may at times have some uncomfortable feelings about therapy, or me as a therapist. These can be brought to our sessions and will be heard without judgement.
- I sometimes find it useful to draw on lived experience to highlight a point of discussion, commonly referred to as ‘self-disclosure’. Self-disclosure is opt-in, not opt-out. Please inform me if you feel I am using this too much, not enough, or if you have found it helpful or otherwise.
- Clients are welcome to contact me by email, text or WhatsApp outside of the sessions. Where possible, I will read and acknowledge what is sent, but will address its content in our sessions where appropriate.
As a member of the BACP, I am committed to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
Additionally, I make the following commitment to my clients:
- I will give your needs my full attention.
- I will ensure I work within my competence, and ensure the continual development and relevance of my skills and knowledge.
- I will value and not pathologise presenting issues.
- I will ensure confidentiality, appropriate boundaries, and privacy.
- I will demonstrate accountability by discussing known risks with the work, and will clearly communicate benefits, commitments, risk to safety or wellbeing, and identify appropriate avenues of referral where appropriate.
- I will ensure oversight through regular supervision, and monitoring how clients experience our work.
