The number of people seeking referrals to neurodevelopmental services for ADHD and ASD has increased, which could be due to a better understanding of these conditions and how they present differently in males and females.
Counselling can help people with neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD and autism in the following ways:
- Validating the challenges of living with a neurodivergent condition whilst seeing the individual and not a label, increasing self awareness and self esteem
- Creating therapy goals to suit the individual with a flexible approach and adapting sessions to suit (including shorter sessions, breaks in sessions, changes to lighting and temperature, not giving homework etc
- Developing ways to help with organisation and focus issues such as aids, timers and schedules to reduce procrastination and overwhelm
- Learning strategies for hyperactivity and impulse control
- Understanding pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and adapting interventions to the individual
- Recognising and replacing unhelpful coping strategies such as alcohol use and masking
- Teaching emotional regulation techniques such as mindfulness and DBT skills to manage intense stress and frustration
- Adapting and developing social skills, reducing social anxiety, learning assertive skills and boundary setting
- Recognising and reducing triggers to sensory overload and burnout
- Understanding the impact that hormones can have on day to day living and learning to manage and track hormone changes
Working with other mental health issues that frequently run alongside ADHD and autism (Comorbidity) such as OCD, anxiety, depression, hypersexuality, hyposexuality, PDA and addictions to name a few.
Counsellors can help clients move towards an authentic life, following personal values and using states such as flow and hyper focus to work for and not against them, such as managing energy levels. Counselling can help a client recognise their unique abilities whilst managing tasks that aren't so engaging.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions about how counselling works or to arrange an initial appointment. You can also contact me or leave a message on 07432008511.