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EMMA BENNETT OF MEADOWBROOK COUNSELLING ADHD, AUTISM, AND NEURODIVERSITY SPECIALIST
Meadowbrook Counselling is a calm, compassionate space for adults who are questioning whether they may be neurodivergent, going through diagnosis, or trying to understand themselves after diagnosis. Many of the people I work with are exploring ADHD, autism, or other aspects of neurodiversity.
They may arrive feeling confused, overwhelmed or ashamed. There can be relief, a sense of,“ Finally, this explains so much.” But relief can sit alongside fear.“ Does this mean I’ m broken?”“ Will life always feel this hard?”
My aim is to offer a space where clients can take off the mask and be honest, without fear of judgment.
Why is this work so important to you personally? I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2012. When I looked for support, I was often met with disbelief and misunderstanding. I heard things like,“ You can’ t have ADHD, you’ re too smart,”“ women don’ t have ADHD,” and“ you grow out of ADHD.” Sometimes, those comments came from professionals, too.
At the time, I was a stay-at-home mother of three neurodivergent children, drowning in overwhelm and trying so hard to cope. I felt alone, frightened and broken. Like many parents, I was scared that if I admitted how much I was struggling, I would be judged.
That experience stayed with me. In 2020, I began asking what I wanted to do in the world. I trained as a counsellor because I wanted to become the support I had needed.
What difference does lived experience make in counselling? Lived experience is not a replacement for professional training, but it can bring a particular kind of understanding. About five years ago, I met a professional who was also neurodivergent, and the difference was immediate. There was an“ I get it” energy in the room that could not be learned from a textbook. I did not have to explain every detail or defend my experience. I felt understood.
Many neurodivergent people have spent years being told to try harder, be more organised, build better habits, or follow strategies that do not fit the way their brain works. Even well-meant advice can leave people feeling more ashamed. Most of my clients already judge themselves plenty. I do not believe they need more judgment.
What might someone be able to say in a session with you? They might say,“ It has been a terrible week. I have tried so hard, but feel like I haven’ t achieved anything.” They might say,“ I wish I could wake up normal and just do things like everyone else.”
They might say,“ I know what I’ m supposed to do, but I still can’ t seem to do it.”
Those are not shocking things to me. They are real human things. Counselling is a place to bring the honest version of yourself, including the parts you hide.
What do you hope clients begin to discover about themselves? Think about the difference between a horse and a zebra. If a zebra spends its whole life trying to be a good horse, it may end up feeling like a failure. But the zebra was never broken. It was measuring itself against the wrong expectations.
I hope clients begin to wonder,“ What if I’ m not broken?”“ What if I’ ve been fighting a battle without the right equipment?”“ What if life could be different?”
Counselling can help people explore their needs, strengths, limits and patterns. It can help them let go of shame and begin to make accommodations without seeing them as failures.
Maybe hiring a cleaner is not a weakness. Maybe needing quiet time is not selfish. Maybe struggling with boring, repetitive tasks does not mean you are lazy. Maybe there are ways to build a life that fits you better.
What is the counselling space like? I wanted Meadowbrook Counselling to feel like a small oasis from life. The room is calm, welcoming and sensory-aware, with plants, soft light and birdsong outside.
What would you say to someone wondering whether to reach out? You do not need to have the right words. You do not need to know exactly what you want to say. You do not need to be“ coping badly enough” to deserve support.
If part of you wonders whether life might not have to feel like a constant battle, that is enough of a place to begin. Give me a call...
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