KATHY
ADHD COUNSELLOR
SCHOOL EXCLUSION SUPPORT

Kathy sees clients face-to-face in Kings Langley, near Watford Hertfordshire. She also sees clients online.

SIBLING, PARTNER AND PARENT OF ADHD

Kathy is quite unique in our world because she isn’t diagnosed ADHD herself but she has more experience than most of ADHD. She was raised as the sister of an undiagnosed hyperactive brother. She has an ADHD son of her own and her partner is ADHD! So she has lived experience as a sibling, partner and parent of ADHD. Kathy therefore has incredibly relevant experience living with ADHD, dyslexia, rejection sense of dysphoria and a lot of the other ADHD comorbidities.

As a child she grew up in a whirlwind household and saw for herself the frustrations, anxiety and hopelessness that having ADHD can sometimes bring. She also saw how loving that person, understanding them, seeking common ground and celebrating their uniqueness could hugely improve and enhance the ADHD person’s life.

When her eldest children were at primary school, Kathy helped to set up an ‘Inner city school garden’ with other parents. Children who were hyperactive or distracting others in class could be sent to the garden to calm down. These children were made Class Head Gardeners and given responsibilities. Kathy saw immediately the change in them. As soon as they had some responsibility and respect – their behaviour changed, they enjoyed sharing their skills with their classmates and they thrived.

Kathy is now a fully qualified integrative therapeutic counsellor and is studying further in psychodynamic and attachment theory. She works professionally in a schools network team, helping both the children and parents, when children are struggling or have been excluded from main stream school. She is passionate about working holistically and supporting the whole family. She has seen how often ADHD and ASD, mostly undiagnosed, are often at the heart of family issues.

Kathy has seen that when working with these parents, so many are often dealing with undiagnosed mental health conditions of their own including ADHD. She has worked in many situations where domestic violence, abuse and addiction were present.

Previous to her counselling career Kathy was a Listening Volunteer for the Samaritans for five years and gave assemblies and workshops to primary age children sharing the message that “it’s good to talk” and that mental well-being is just as important as physical health.

Kathy also worked for a national disabled and disadvantaged charity supporting adults to access training, work and life skills. She was in this role for eight years and ended up as a Quality Manager. She worked with clients who had severe and enduring mental health conditions and those who were battling depression and anxiety. She also worked with recovering addicts and people with physical disabilities.

Qualifications

• Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling CPCAB Level 5 2021
• Diploma Intergrative Therapeutic Counselling CPCAB Level 4 2020
• Diploma in Counselling Studies CPCAB Level 3 2018
• Diploma In Counselling Skills CPCAB Level 2 2017
• Foundation Introduction to Art Therapy, BAAT, 2014
• BA Hons Degree Product Design 1995

See what Kathy’s previous clients have said …

KATHY

ADHD COUNSELLOR

SCHOOL EXCLUSION SUPPORT

Kathy sees clients face-to-face in Kings Langley, near Watford Hertfordshire. She also sees clients online.

SIBLING, PARTNER AND PARENT OF ADHD

Kathy is quite unique in our world because she isn’t diagnosed ADHD herself but she has more experience than most of ADHD. She was raised as the sister of an undiagnosed hyperactive brother. She has an ADHD son of her own and her partner is ADHD! So she has lived experience as a sibling, partner and parent of ADHD. Kathy therefore has incredibly relevant experience living with ADHD, dyslexia, rejection sense of dysphoria and a lot of the other ADHD comorbidities.

As a child she grew up in a whirlwind household and saw for herself the frustrations, anxiety and hopelessness that having ADHD can sometimes bring. She also saw how loving that person, understanding them, seeking common ground and celebrating their uniqueness could hugely improve and enhance the ADHD person’s life.

When her eldest children were at primary school, Kathy helped to set up an ‘Inner city school garden’ with other parents. Children who were hyperactive or distracting others in class could be sent to the garden to calm down. These children were made Class Head Gardeners and given responsibilities. Kathy saw immediately the change in them. As soon as they had some responsibility and respect – their behaviour changed, they enjoyed sharing their skills with their classmates and they thrived.

Kathy is now a fully qualified integrative therapeutic counsellor and is studying further in psychodynamic and attachment theory. She works professionally in a schools network team, helping both the children and parents, when children are struggling or have been excluded from main stream school. She is passionate about working holistically and supporting the whole family. She has seen how often ADHD and ASD, mostly undiagnosed, are often at the heart of family issues.

Kathy has seen that when working with these parents, so many are often dealing with undiagnosed mental health conditions of their own including ADHD. She has worked in many situations where domestic violence, abuse and addiction were present.

Previous to her counselling career Kathy was a Listening Volunteer for the Samaritans for five years and gave assemblies and workshops to primary age children sharing the message that “it’s good to talk” and that mental well-being is just as important as physical health.

Kathy also worked for a national disabled and disadvantaged charity supporting adults to access training, work and life skills. She was in this role for eight years and ended up as a Quality Manager. She worked with clients who had severe and enduring mental health conditions and those who were battling depression and anxiety. She also worked with recovering addicts and people with physical disabilities.

Qualifications

• Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling CPCAB Level 5 2021
• Diploma Intergrative Therapeutic Counselling CPCAB Level 4 2020
• Diploma in Counselling Studies CPCAB Level 3 2018
• Diploma In Counselling Skills CPCAB Level 2 2017
• Foundation Introduction to Art Therapy, BAAT, 2014
• BA Hons Degree Product Design 1995

See what Kathy’s previous clients have said …