Counselling for Neurodivergent & Highly Sensitive Adults
When the world feels too much — and you’re tired of pushing through
You might find yourself feeling overwhelmed by noise, demands, or busy environments — needing more time to recover than others seem to. You may pick up easily on changes in tone, mood, or atmosphere, even when nothing has been said, and find it hard to switch off from what’s happening around you.
Many neurodivergent and highly sensitive adults describe feeling misunderstood or out of step with a world that often values speed, confidence, and constant output. You might have been told you’re “too sensitive,” that you overthink, or that you should try harder to be more resilient — even though you’re already doing your best.
You may:
☑︎ Feel emotionally or mentally exhausted after social or work interactions
☑︎ Mask parts of yourself to fit in, especially in professional settings
☑︎ Struggle with meetings, small talk, or being “on show,” even when well-prepared
☑︎ Be thoughtful, capable, and conscientious — yet still feel overlooked or unsure of yourself
☑︎ Carry a rich inner world that rarely has space to be fully seen
If this resonates, there’s nothing wrong with you. Often, it’s a sign that you’ve been working hard to adapt.
Therapy with me offers a calm, reflective space where you don’t have to justify how your mind works. Together, we can explore how your high sensitivity or neurodivergence shows up in your life now — and what you need in order to feel more grounded, regulated, and connected to yourself.
For some people, these experiences are connected to neurodivergence — such as ADHD, autism, or related ways of processing — sometimes recognised later in life. For others, sensitivity has been present all along but never named or understood.
Living for years without language or support for how your mind and nervous system work can quietly shape your self-esteem, relationships, and sense of identity. You may have learned to mask, overcompensate, or doubt yourself, especially in environments that weren’t designed with you in mind.
I’m mindful of this both professionally and personally. As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, I understand how powerful — and sometimes unsettling — it can be to begin reinterpreting your life through a more compassionate lens.
Making sense of neurodivergence and sensitivity
How therapy can support you
My work isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about helping you understand yourself more fully, reduce the impact of overwhelm and self-doubt, and find ways of living and relating that feel sustainable rather than depleting.
This might include:
☑︎ Making sense of your emotional and sensory responses
☑︎ Reducing burnout and chronic overwhelm
☑︎ Unpicking years of masking or self-criticism
☑︎ Building self-trust and a steadier sense of identity
☑︎ Finding relief in being understood, without having to perform
I hold deep respect for the ways you’ve adapted and coped. Therapy can be a place to soften that effort — and begin relating to yourself with more clarity, kindness, and confidence.
If you’re neurodivergent, highly sensitive, or exploring whether this may be part of your experience, therapy might offer a supportive place to begin. You’re welcome to get in touch to see whether working together feels right.
Neurodivergent & Highly Sensitive (HSP) Adults: Common Questions
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No. You don’t need a formal diagnosis — or to be certain how you identify — to come to therapy.
Many people I work with are late-diagnosed, self-identified, or simply questioning whether neurodivergence or high sensitivity might help explain their experiences. Therapy can be a space to explore this gently, without pressure to label yourself or reach conclusions before you’re ready.
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That’s very common, especially for adults who weren’t recognised or supported earlier in life.
Masking, over-functioning, or staying constantly “on” are often ways of adapting to environments that didn’t feel safe or accommodating. In therapy, we can explore how these patterns developed, what they’ve cost you, and how to begin softening them — without taking away the parts of you that help you navigate the world.
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Yes. Burnout and overwhelm are often signs of sustained effort rather than personal failure.
Therapy can offer space to understand what’s draining you, how your energy is affected, and what support, boundaries, or changes might help things feel more sustainable. We work at a pace that respects your capacity, rather than pushing for change when you’re already depleted.
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You’re not alone in that experience.
Many neurodivergent and highly sensitive adults describe a long-standing sense of being out of step, misunderstood, or unsure where they fit. Therapy doesn’t require you to explain or justify that feeling — it can be a place to explore it with curiosity and care, and to begin making sense of your experience in a way that feels affirming rather than reducing.
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You can find more detail about how I work, the kinds of difficulties I support, and what to expect from therapy here.
If you have practical questions about starting therapy, session structure, confidentiality, or fees, these are covered here.
You’re also welcome to get in touch if you’d prefer to ask a question directly or explore whether working together might feel right for you.