Areas of support ADHD and neurodiversity

What neurodiversity means

Neurodiversity, a term usually credited to Australian sociologist Judy Singer, describes the natural variation in how human brains work. People whose brains work differently from what is considered typical may describe themselves as neurodivergent, and neurodivergence takes in ADHD, autism, dyslexia and more.

ADHD involves differences in how attention and activity are regulated, which can make it hard to direct focus towards tasks that feel dull. Autism involves differences in social communication and sensory processing, and many autistic people value routine and have deep, focused interests. The two often overlap, and people with the same diagnosis can have very different strengths and difficulties. Jess uses whichever language you prefer, identity-first (autistic person) or person-first (person with autism).

How it can feel day to day

Much of what people notice relates to executive function, the mental skills involved in planning, starting tasks, tracking time and switching between activities. When these work differently, a phone call can be hard to begin, or an afternoon can disappear into one absorbing task (hyperfocus). None of this reflects a lack of effort or intelligence, although many people were told otherwise growing up.

For some neurodivergent people, bright light, background noise or clothing textures feel far more intense, and a busy shopping centre or open-plan office can be exhausting. Others seek out movement or firm pressure because it helps them feel settled. Many neurodivergent people also mask, hiding or toning down their natural ways of being to fit in. When masking and other demands build up over months without enough rest or support, some people reach what autistic adults call autistic burnout, a prolonged exhaustion in which everyday skills slip for a time. People with ADHD sometimes describe something similar.

What therapy can focus on

Therapy starts by exploring your history, strengths and current difficulties, including any anxiety or depression that has built up after years of feeling out of step with others. This leads to a treatment plan agreed with you, based on a formulation of what makes day-to-day life harder. Early work often focuses on your patterns of attention and energy and on strategies that suit how you think, such as very small first steps or planned recovery time.

Learning you have ADHD or are autistic as an adult can bring relief that the past makes sense, and grief for a younger self who struggled without an explanation. Therapy offers room to revisit those experiences and question harsh beliefs about yourself that grew out of being misunderstood.

How Jess works

Jess adapts sessions when something isn't working, for example by explaining an idea another way, drawing it on paper or using more concrete language, and reviews the treatment plan with you as you both learn what suits you. Sessions are available in person or by telehealth. Some people find it easier to talk from home, where they control the lighting and noise, and others prefer a separate place to go.