Service categories: Counselling and therapies

Service URL: https://www.internetcounselling.co.uk/

Secondary URL: https://www.internetcounselling.co.uk/diversity__neurodiversity.html

I am a fully qualified and very experienced neurodivergent counsellor and psychotherapist. UK-based, I work with people from all parts online or over the phone.

Since 2001, I have been helping a wide range of people with an even wider range of concerns and life challenges. About 80% of my work is with people who identify as neurodivergent (including ADHD, AuDHD, Autism Spectrum, Sensory Processing, ...) or who may be going through the process of diagnosis.

I discovered in 2021, in middle-age, that I am neurodivergent myself and I am neurodivergence affirming in the way that I work. This means that I believe that while neurodivergence, including my own, can present very real challenges in life, it is also an important part of our identities. This deserves respect whether or not it is always seen as 'positive' in wider society. Frequently, though, it involves an ability to see, feel and experience things from other valuable perspectives. This is something I try to foster in my work as a counsellor, psychotherapist and coach.

In terms of how I work:

• I will talk to you about your needs and any adjustments that might be helpful. We can then agree together what to put in place to help you feel comfortable working with me
• I will work with you, as you are, including your neurology or any other aspect of your identity, not against you
• The main area of much of my work is neurodiversity, but this principle of respect extends to all of the aspects of your identity that are important to you
• Your own experience, history and your sense of yourself are more important than labels or assumptions about the issues you may come to me with
• ADHD, autistic, or other neurodivergent traits are understood as differences - not disorders to "fix"
• Your ways of thinking and communicating will be respected, whether direct, tangential, or non-linear
• Sensory needs are accommodated (stimming, movement, camera-off are all fine)
• Counselling and therapy can sometimes be experienced as 'challenging'. For instance, we may become aware of things that feel difficult. My aim, when things feel challenging, is to work in a way that feels helpful to the person, their well-being and their own chosen path forward

I provide a safe and confidential space for people of all sorts to move towards solutions and ways forward that work best for them, both personally and professionally.

Professionally accredited with BACP, I am also a registered and recognized practitioner with several UK medical insurance companies, such as AXA and BUPA.

John Mackessy, MA, Adv Dip Couns, Dip Supervision, MBACP Accred.

Aimed at: Adult , Adult sibling, Anyone with an Association to Autism, Businesses, Parent/carer of a child, Parent/carer of a young person, Parent/carer of an adult, Parents or carers, families, adults, Partner, Professional, Students, Volunteer

Referral Sources: Private Only, Yourself

Specialisms: Autism, Autism and Neurodivergent , Generic, Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: My initial training as a therapist was Integrative. So, I draw upon a wide array of resources to address the specific needs of my clients.