Neurodiversity focused therapy
One of my areas of focus and interest is working with neurodiverse people, specifically ADHD and Autism.
ADHD is a common mental health disorder that starts during child development, but frequently persists throughout adolescence, and into the adult years.
Common symptoms include inattention, distractibility, disorganisation, over activity, restlessness, impulsiveness and mood lability; and these may lead to considerable clinical and psychosocial impairments.
ADHD is often seen at a high rate in people with other significant clinical problems including substance abuse, unstable mood states, anxiety, depression, forensic cases and emerging or developed personality disorder.
ADHD is often associated with specific learning difficulties, and is a common problem in higher education.As awareness and understanding of neurodivergence grows, so does the need for help and support in a world that is created and maintained for neurotypical people.
Autism influences how people experience and interact with the world. It is a lifelong neurodivergence and disability. Autistic people are different from each other, but for a diagnosis they must share differences from non-autistic people in how they think, feel and communicate.
Being autistic means you may feel things and react to them differently to non-autistic people. You may find socialising confusing or tiring, and you may become overwhelmed in loud or busy places. You may have intense interests, prefer order and routine, and use repeated movements or actions to calm yourself or express joy. You might mask your discomfort to fit in, which can lead to struggles with your mental health.
Nowadays, it is generally understood that there is a spectrum, rather than a black and white definition of who is or isn’t autistic and what it does or doesn’t mean. Autistic people can be very different to each other, with different sets of strengths and challenges. The presence or visibility of characteristics can vary a lot between autistic people.
As a qualified assessor for both ADHD and Autism, I understand that living with neurodiversity can be incredibly hard. It can feel impossible to read social cues, and emotions can be overwhelming. Concentration and focus, and finishing tasks, can demand all of our energy. The knowledge, or even sense, of being different can affect our own self concept, and our relationships with others and the world around us.
I offer a space for us to explore those feelings together, both in terms of your condition itself, and how it impacts your day to day life. I understand how ADHD and autism manifests, and can work with you to help support with whatever difficulties you face.
ADHD and Autism can’t be ‘cured’ as such. Neurodivergence focused therapy can help make sense of past experiences, especially pre diagnosis, and one of my passions is helping those with a neurodiversity get as close as possible to equality of outcome. Neurodivergence means different, not worse, and I see you as a whole person, not a list of deficits.
In addition, I am aware of the challenges and difficulties someone who is a carer for, or partner or family member of, someone who is neurodiverse. Having a space to discuss this can be hugely impactful.
If you are neurodiverse, or someone in your life is, and you would like to talk about how therapy can support with that, please get in touch: stephen@thepsychotherapistlondon.com