ADHD from a Counsellor's Perspective

Over the years I've worked with more and more people who either have ADHD or have spent years wondering whether it might explain why life has often felt harder than it seems to for everyone else.

Many describe growing up feeling "different", being told they had so much potential but never quite understanding why they struggled with everyday things that other people appeared to manage with ease. Others arrive feeling exhausted from years of masking, constantly criticising themselves, or wondering why they can excel in one area of life while feeling completely overwhelmed in another.

Whether ADHD turns out to be part of your story or not, those experiences are real, and they're worth understanding with compassion rather than judgement.

Wondering if you might have ADHD?

Before reading further, you're welcome to complete my free ADHD self-assessment (available from the menu above). It uses a widely recognised screening questionnaire and can be a useful first step if you're curious about whether ADHD traits resonate with your experiences.

If you're considering a formal diagnosis, I've also written a practical guide to private ADHD assessments in the UK, including ways of making the process more affordable and understanding what to expect.

I'm also currently developing an online course called Understanding Yourself Beyond the Label, designed for adults who want to better understand how their brain works, reduce self-criticism, and build a life that fits them. If you'd like to hear when it's available, you can join the mailing list from the assessment page.

ADHD is usually described as a condition affecting attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. While those traits are certainly part of the picture, I don't think they tell the whole story.

In the therapy room I often see something deeper. I meet people who have spent years believing they're lazy, disorganised, inconsistent or somehow "not enough". By the time many people arrive for counselling, they're not simply struggling with ADHD traits—they're carrying years of shame, frustration and self-doubt.

For me, therapy isn't about trying to make someone with ADHD think more like everyone else. It's about understanding how their mind works, recognising both the challenges and the strengths, and helping them build a life that works with their brain rather than constantly fighting against it.

That doesn't mean pretending ADHD is a superpower. It can be genuinely difficult. Executive functioning, emotional regulation, relationships, work, organisation and self-esteem can all be affected. But alongside those challenges, many people also bring curiosity, creativity, empathy, humour and an ability to see connections that others miss.

Therapy provides a space to make sense of all of that—not to squeeze yourself into someone else's idea of "normal", but to understand yourself more fully.

Whether we work together online anywhere in the UK or in person in Cheltenham, my aim is always the same: to offer a warm, professional space where you can understand yourself with more compassion and less criticism.