Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between counselling and mentoring?

Counselling offers space to explore emotional distress, past experiences, relationships and patterns that may be affecting you now. Mentoring is usually more focused on a particular goal, decision, creative idea or area of development, with more direct guidance and practical input.

How do I know whether I need counselling or mentoring?

You do not need to decide before contacting me. If you want to explore how you feel or understand something that keeps happening, counselling may be the better starting point. If you want guidance with a particular goal or project, mentoring may be more suitable. We can think this through together.

What does SEND stand for, and why is it sometimes criticised?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The term is widely used within education and public services, and it can be important when accessing support, services and legal protections. However, some people feel the word "special" can suggest that disabled or neurodivergent people are separate from everyone else. Others feel the term can focus too heavily on perceived difficulties rather than considering the barriers created by environments, systems and inaccessible communication. We recognise that different people prefer different language and that established terms may still be necessary in some settings.

What term does Glad We Talked® use instead of SEND?

Where appropriate, we use language such as neurodivergent people, disabled people, people with additional communication needs and people with individual access needs. No single term will feel right for everyone. We aim to use respectful, specific language and follow the preferences of the person, family or community we are working with.

What happens in a first session?

We begin with what has brought you here and what you would like from the session. I may ask some questions to understand your circumstances, but you will not be expected to tell your whole story or arrive with everything organised. We will also discuss confidentiality, how I work and what might happen next.

When we say "family", what do we mean?

Family can mean many different things. It may include biological relatives, chosen family, foster families, adoptive families, blended families, carers, close friends or other important support relationships. You decide who family means to you.

Are sessions in person, online or both?

One-to-one counselling and mentoring sessions are currently offered online, allowing you to join from a private space that feels comfortable and accessible to you.

How long is each session, and how many will I need?

Sessions are 60 or 90 minutes, online by Zoom. Each session can focus on one concern, decision or situation. You may choose one session or continue with further appointments. There is no required number—we can review what feels useful as the work develops.

What does "trauma-informed and beyond" mean?

Trauma-informed practice recognises that difficult past and present experiences can affect safety, trust, behaviour, relationships and communication. Going beyond trauma-informed practice means looking at the whole person rather than viewing everything through trauma alone. We also consider neurodivergence, identity, culture, discrimination, sensory experiences, access needs, relationships, strengths, creativity and joy.

What does it cost, and are reduced-cost options available?

Current fees are shown clearly before you book. You can pay by card or Apple Pay through Stripe, by Revolut, or by bank transfer. If funded, free or reduced-cost places are available, they will be listed on the website.

How do we reduce trauma through communication?

Communication cannot prevent every painful or difficult experience. However, accessible information, clear expectations, meaningful choices, respectful boundaries and opportunities for repair can reduce unnecessary distress. People are more likely to feel safe when they understand what is happening, have different ways to express themselves and are treated with dignity when communication becomes difficult.

Why do we prefer "steady" over "calm" at Glad We Talked®?

Being told to calm down can feel like being asked to hide distress, become quiet or make other people feel more comfortable. Steady means something different. You can still feel angry, anxious, sad, excited or uncertain while finding a little more support for your next step. The aim is not to remove emotion. It is to help you find enough safety, space or capacity to move through the moment.

How do I book, and is there a waiting list?

Choose a session on this page and pick a time that suits you. If you cannot find a suitable time, message me through the app (My Account, then Support) to ask about future availability. You will receive a confirmation email, with a copy of the client contract, and appointment reminders.

Why is the mind-body connection important?

Stress and overwhelm do not only affect our thoughts. They can also affect our breathing, movement, speech, memory, attention, digestion, sensory processing and ability to access words. Understanding the mind-body connection can help us recognise what the nervous system is communicating, especially when spoken language becomes difficult.

Can I bring my child or partner, or come on my own?

I work with individuals aged 16 and over, adults, couples, parents and caregivers. Please book the session that reflects who will be attending. Parenting support may take place with the parent or caregiver alone. If you would like a partner, teenager or another family member to join, please discuss this with me beforehand.

Is what I share kept confidential?

What you share is treated confidentially. There are some limits—for example, if there is a serious risk of harm, a safeguarding concern or a legal requirement to disclose information. I also attend professional supervision. Confidentiality and its limits will be explained clearly at the beginning so that you can make an informed choice.

What are somatic practices, and how can they help?

Somatic practices are approaches that involve noticing and working with the body. They may include movement, breathing, rhythm, sound, grounding, posture, sensory support or paying attention to physical sensations. At Glad We Talked®, somatic practices are offered as invitations rather than instructions. You can choose what feels comfortable, accessible and appropriate for your body.

What qualifications and experience do you have?

I'm a BACP-accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with more than 2,000 hours of post-qualifying experience. My training includes therapeutic counselling, advanced CBT, trauma, online therapy and neurodivergent support. I'm also a Creative Health Practitioner and multidisciplinary artist. Also training with the Trauma Research Foundation and submitting my research posters to the Polyvagal Institute. My work is informed by professional and lived experience, including late-diagnosed ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia, and personal experience of child parental loss and bereavement by suicide.

What is Creative Health?

Creative Health is the use of creative and expressive activities to support health, emotional wellbeing, communication and connection. This might include storytelling, writing, drawing, music, movement, play, imagery, conversation or reflective activities. At Glad We Talked®, creativity is not used to judge artistic ability or produce a perfect final result. It gives people additional ways to explore feelings, make sense of experiences and communicate when ordinary conversation feels difficult.

What if I'm not sure counselling is right for me?

You are welcome to send an enquiry before booking. You can explain as much or as little as you feel able to, and I can help you consider whether counselling, mentoring or another form of support may be the most appropriate next step.

But I am not creative. Can I still take part?

Yes. You do not need to be artistic, imaginative or confident with creative activities. Creativity can be as simple as choosing a word, arranging cards, noticing a colour, making a mark on paper, moving your hands, completing a sentence or finding a different way to explain something. There is no right or wrong result, and nothing needs to look impressive. The activities are tools for reflection and communication, not tests of talent.

What does "neuroaffirming communication that works for you" mean?

Neuroaffirming communication respects different ways of thinking, processing, feeling and expressing yourself. Glad We Talked® does not ask you to communicate in one particular way, force yourself to appear calm or hide distress to make other people comfortable. Instead, the programme helps you understand your communication preferences, recognise what makes conversations harder and explore practical tools that can be adapted to your needs. You can engage through spoken language, writing, visuals, movement, reflection, audio and other forms of communication.

Who is one-to-one support for?

I work online with young people aged 16 and over, emerging adults, adults, couples, parents and caregivers. You do not need a formal neurodivergence diagnosis to seek support.

Who is the programme for?

Glad We Talked® is designed for neurodivergent people, the people who support them and mixed-neurotype households and communities. It may be helpful for: - Neurodivergent individuals - Parents and carers - Couples and partners - Families and chosen families - Educators and home educators - Counsellors, coaches and support professionals - Teams, community groups and organisations You do not need a formal diagnosis to take part.

Do I need to be in crisis to reach out?

No. You might want support with something happening now, a recurring pattern, a relationship, a loss or something you are only beginning to understand. This is not a crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent mental health support in England, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.

How is this different from therapy through the NHS or elsewhere?

Private one-to-one work gives you more choice over who you work with, the focus of the sessions and whether you attend once or continue. My approach is particularly shaped by neurodivergence, relationships, nervous-system understanding, lived experience and Creative Health. NHS services remain important and may offer assessments, medical treatment or specialist care that I cannot provide. Private counselling can be used separately or, where appropriate, alongside other support.

Can I complete the programme with my family?

Yes. You can work through the programme independently, with a partner, as a family or alongside a trusted friend. You are welcome to watch the lessons and explore the activities together using the purchaser's account. Separate logins are not currently included with the household programme. The programme is not about identifying one person as the problem. It supports everyone involved to develop a shared understanding of overwhelm, communication needs, boundaries, connection and repair.

How is the programme delivered?

Glad We Talked® is delivered as a five-module online programme. You can choose from two ways to take part: **Self-Paced Online Programme** Work through the five modules in your own time and return to the lessons and resources whenever you need them. **Glad We Talked® Together** Complete the online programme with additional group support, including weekly mentoring sessions, live conversations and access to a supportive online community. Glad We Talked® Together runs at selected times during the year.

Is the programme suitable for nonspeaking people and households?

Yes. Glad We Talked® is based on the understanding that communication is about much more than spoken words. People may communicate through behaviour, movement, facial expression, gestures, writing, visuals, assistive communication, sound, sensory responses or changes in nervous-system state. The programme explores connection, co-regulation, overwhelm, rupture and repair in ways that can be adapted to different communication preferences. Every person is different, so activities should be adjusted to meet individual access, sensory and communication needs.

What are some of the things I will learn?

Across the five modules, you will explore how to: - Understand the deeper layers of communication - Recognise when stress and overwhelm are building - Notice how the nervous system affects communication - Identify your needs, boundaries and communication preferences - Understand different responses to pressure - Use practical tools when words are difficult to find - Prepare for difficult or emotionally charged conversations - Support regulation and co-regulation - Respond to misunderstandings, meltdowns and shutdowns - Reconnect and repair after difficult moments - Reduce avoidable communication pressure - Protect your capacity and support burnout prevention The aim is not perfect communication. It is to help communication feel more accessible, less stressful and more connected.