ADHD-informed coaching to calm your busy brain

You're a passionate creative.

You feel that creativity deep in your bones and you love it.

You can be relied upon to pull it out of the bag in a tight situation, you excel at finding alternative ways round a problem, and your clear thinking in crisis mode is a thing of legend.

In the moment, you might even amaze yourself.

But day-to-day your confidence can be a bit shaky, and your attention is often pulled in all directions.

You’ve got more ideas than there are hours in the day but somehow you hardly ever seem to finish any of them.
You're often All or Nothing, either flatout sprinting or utterly depleted.
The business side can be a challenge, and sometimes it's a bit... dull.
There's a nagging, critical voice on your shoulder that just won't shut up.

So, you just assume you’re not working hard enough, and if you could only be a bit more organised, you really could do it all.

I know what it's like to feel overwhelmed and overloaded, constantly working yet feeling like you're never doing enough and convinced that this new notebook, a fresh To-Do list, and simply trying harder will fix it all.

That's why I work with brilliant people in the creative industries like you to slow down that busy brain chatter, create some essential breathing space, and help you see what's really going on a little more clearly.

You know the line that directors sometimes give to a voiceover - can you shave a couple of seconds off that but make it sound slower? It's time to apply those magical skills to the rest of your life!

Natalie - a white woman wearing a green t shirt- is sitting on a bench, looking peaceful.

I love this work because I get it.

After a lifetime of never feeling quite good enough, of people-pleasing, procrastination, and perfectionism, I received a diagnosis of (combined-type) ADHD a week before my 49th birthday.

While I'd never want to give up my ability to conjure up creative solutions or make links where others don't see them, learning to slow down my speedy brain has (mostly) put an end to regrettable emails, and saying yes when I mean no.

I'm now far more likely to look for my strengths in a difficult situation and much more forgiving and self-compassionate when things feel impossibly hard.

I've learned to reduce the noise of my negative self-talk, pause long enough to notice and appreciate my emotions, and I'm continuing to work on my unhelpful and deeply-held beliefs that time is infinite, and productivity equals success.

What does coaching with me involve?

As your coach I'm here to create a safe space to allow you to really hear yourself and, if you have ADHD, help support you in an exploration of what ADHD means for you.

I can draw on evidence-based coaching models, research from Positive Psychology, mindfulness and meditation training, and EFT (aka 'tapping'), but I will always be guided by you.

As your coach, I'm here to create an environment for you to do your own best thinking. This is an opportunity for you to get curious about the way your brain works.

As you deepen your understanding of who you really are, you'll feel empowered to make the most of whichever version of you shows up each day, building confidence that you can find your own solutions to put your needs first.

There's no one-size-fits-all programme, and I'm not here to dish out tips and tricks. Productivity hacks are not my jam. If you're looking for someone to tell you what to do, a mentor might be a better option right now.

Unlike therapy, coaching is designed to be a finite experience. Most clients will work with their coach for 6 to 12 months; if I'm doing my job well, I'll make myself redundant.

What do I bring to the table?

I'm a life-long learner, and hold an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology with expertise in Hope Theory and Imagination. Getting really stuck into the literature on the Default Mode Network (DMN), the part of the brain that engages in mind-wandering, was my first clue that my brain is not neurotypical!

After 15 months study, I'll complete my training with Gold Mind Academy in early 2025, graduating with a 65-hour, ICF-accredited Certificate in ADHD-informed Coaching. Along with 10 hours of mentor coaching, this marks the start of my ICF AAC accreditation process.