my story
From a young age, I thought and felt deeply but often felt that I didn’t "get it", or was too slow. Struggling to "just get on with it" I went through many different jobs—from NHS psychology work to gardening and school maintenance—until, at age 45, I discovered the root cause: my neurodivergence.
Coaching helped me decide to become a coach myself, but I soon realized that before getting stuck into strategies for growing executive functions, clients often needed help with the emotional toll of lifelong executive function challenges, which often result in a sense of failure, self-criticism and anger.
Frustrated with traditional CBT, I found effective solutions in Compassion Focussed Therapy. My journey taught me that executive functions such as focus and impulse control improve more comfortably and naturally with self-awareness, self-care, and a deep, compassionate connection to our authentic selves. This is because we are wired to function effectively when we feel safely connected, but threat processing inhibits functioning when we feel rejected or attacked.
After some painful experiences I learned that I am part of the 20% of the population that is termed "highly sensitive" (HSP) and that this trait is in fact useful when you are able to care for it so that you can harness its benefits of increased empathy, insight, creativity etc. HSP can occur with or without ADHD and when I realised I had both, things began to make sense.
A group of exceptional people guided me to discover and develop these Sensitivity Skills, within a community which valued insight, ethical conduct and gentleness where previously I had mostly experienced a world that rewarded only the kind of high speed productivity for which I was poorly equipped.
It is my honour and pleasure to facilitate, through the dual lenses of executive functions and compassionate mind training, a journey towards functional balance and emotional wellbeing for anyone identifying with ADHD or HSP traits, or just feeling like it is time to get to know themselves and prioritise their own needs.
My Approach
Sensitivity Coaching blends evidence based psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Compassion Focussed Therapy with Executive Functions Coaching techniques designed to improve areas of brain functioning (the executive functions) that can be challenged in ADHDers. Highly sensitive people (HSPs) can also benefit from the techniques used in Compassion Focussed Therapy as they are helpful for empathic distress and sensory overwhelm.
the difference
Rather than simply teaching strategies in a structured program, sensitivity coaching focuses on guiding the development of understanding and awareness, which naturally unlocks intrinsic motivation. Increased motivation enables us to naturally make changes, supported by specific coaching and therapy techniques which grow our wisdom, strength and commitment to our wellbeing and success.
The benefits
increased awareness of the mechanics of your mind, emotions and physical sensations, and
a greater understanding of and commitment to compassion for yourself.
Which leads naturally to:
shame and blame being resolved,
focus and motivation being sharpened,
improved functioning and wellbeing.