AuDHD counselling
Counselling for adults with autism and ADHD (AuDHD)
So what if you have both?
I offer counselling for adults who are both autistic and ADHD, often called AuDHD, whether you have been diagnosed or are still making sense of it. Sessions are online across the UK, or in person near Clapham Junction in south-west London. Counselling can help you understand the push and pull between your needs and live with more balance, while still being yourself.
- Fee
- £75 per session
- Where
- Online, or in south-west London
- First step
- Free 15-minute call
On this page
Autism and ADHD together
Until 2013, the main diagnostic manual (the DSM) did not allow someone to be diagnosed with both autism and ADHD. Since then, research has shown that many people live with both. One research review estimates that 50 to 70% of autistic people also have ADHD.
There are overlaps between the two, such as difficulties with emotional regulation, sensory needs and higher levels of anxiety. But autism and ADHD often pull in different directions: autism seeks quiet, predictability and deep understanding, while ADHD seeks novelty and spontaneous connection. It is this constant push and pull of needs that can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
You might recognise some of these thoughts
- “I thought I was broken.”
- “I always thought there was something terribly wrong with me.”
- “I felt like an outsider.”
- “I have felt different all my life.”
- “I have been looking for ways to fix myself.”
- “I think I can be too much for others, even my family.”
A different wiring, not a flaw
Autism and ADHD are differences in the way your brain is wired and works. They create different ways of being that often bring great creativity, lateral thinking and a huge passion for particular subjects. It is just that the world is set up for neurotypical brains and expectations, which can leave people with AuDHD feeling that they fall short, or becoming the subject of criticism and even rejection.
How counselling can help
AuDHD looks different for each person. Therapy can help you explore your own patterns of thinking and behaving, find acceptance, and develop strategies to live with greater balance while still being authentically yourself. As anxiety and shame reduce, they can give way to greater self-compassion.
Counselling with Nadia
Working with me
I'm a BACP-registered counsellor and an HCPC-registered Educational Psychologist. I worked in education and mental health for over 20 years before training as a counsellor. More about me.
Sessions are 50 minutes, weekly or fortnightly, at £75 per session. I offer a limited number of reduced-fee places for students and people on low incomes.
I work online via Zoom with adults (18+) anywhere in the UK on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am to 8.30pm, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 5pm. Face-to-face sessions are available near Clapham Junction in south-west London on Mondays at 1pm or 2pm.
The first step is a free, no-obligation 15-minute conversation, so you can tell me a little about what's bringing you to counselling, ask any questions, and see whether we're a good fit.
Common questions about AuDHD counselling
What is AuDHD?
AuDHD is an informal term for being both autistic and ADHD. The two often occur together, and the combination can feel contradictory: needing routine and also craving novelty, or wanting structure and struggling to stick to it.
Do I need both diagnoses to have counselling?
No. Some people have one diagnosis and suspect the other, some have both, and some have neither yet. Counselling can help you make sense of your experience wherever you are in that process.
Why does AuDHD feel so exhausting?
Autistic and ADHD needs often pull in opposite directions, so you can spend a lot of energy managing the tension between them, often while masking both. Counselling can help you notice that pattern and find a balance that costs you less.