About Liz:
Counselling for Neurodivergent Women in Leeds
Hello I'm Liz
I'm a counsellor, therapist, clinical supervisor and hypnotherapist based in Leeds, working with adults and young people both in person and online.
I’m passionate about supporting people to feel heard, understood and accepted, especially during the times when life feels difficult, overwhelming or uncertain.
My approach is down-to-earth, compassionate and curious. I won’t expect you to have the right words, know where to begin or fit neatly into a particular way of doing therapy.
A lot of the people I work with are neurodivergent women or young people who have experienced anxiety, trauma, overwhelm or the impact of being neurodivergent, some are questioning being neurodivergent. You may have spent years trying to cope, fit in, keep going or be what other people needed you to be — sometimes without really having the space to understand what you need.
My personal and professional experience has shaped the way I work: calmly, openly, collaboratively and without being frightened by difficult conversations. You won't be a burden or too much.
You don't have to keep carrying this on your own and
you don't need to have it all figured out.
Starting counselling can feel daunting, especially if you’re not quite sure what is wrong, where to begin or how to put what you’re experiencing into words.
You don’t need to arrive with a neat explanation. We can begin with whatever feels most important, confusing or difficult right now.
Together, we can start making sense of what has been happening and what might help things feel a little more manageable.
What it might be like working with me
Curious, not judgemental
I’ll be genuinely interested in understanding your experience rather than making assumptions about it.
Flexible,
not one-size-fits-all
We might use talking, creative approaches, practical tools, nervous-system understanding or hypnotherapy depending on what works for you.
Compassionate and
down-to-earth
You don’t need to be perfect, have the right words or do therapy in a particular way.
How I work
There isn't one right way to do therapy, because there isn't one right way to be a person.
I work integratively, which simply means I can draw on different therapeutic approaches rather than expecting you to fit into one particular way of working.
Our sessions might involve talking and reflection, practical strategies, creative approaches, understanding what is happening in your nervous system, or exploring how past experiences may be affecting you now. I can also incorporate clinical hypnotherapy when this feels appropriate and is something you would like to explore.
My work is trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming. That means I want to understand what makes sense for you— including how you communicate, process information, experience emotions and sensory input, and what helps you feel comfortable enough to engage with therapy.
You don't need to adapt yourself to therapy. We can adapt therapy around you.
A little about why this work
matters to me
Like many people, I've experienced difficult things in my own life. My own experiences have helped shape the kind of counsellor I want to be. I know how powerful it can be to have somewhere you don't need to pretend, perform or have everything neatly worked out.
I have always wanted to help people. As a teenager I wanted to train as a physiotherapist, but undiagnosed dyscalculia meant I couldn't do the science courses I needed, and that door closed before I'd really had a chance to open it.
So when I was able to I trained as a clinical hypnotherapist instead, then went on to other holistic therapy training.
Everything shifted when my daughter lost most of her sight. I felt lost alongside her, and someone told me I'd make a good counsellor. That course gave me a way through my own grief as a parent, and a sense of purpose I badly needed at the time.
During my course I volunteered and then worked for a survivor led crisis service, as a Crisis Support Worker supporting people with self harm, suicidal thoughts, feelings and actions. I felt genuinely connected to that work. It gave shape and meaning to my own past trauma and struggles, some of which I now understand came from undiagnosed ADHD.
Its helped shape how I see therapy. For me, it's about understanding yourself with greater compassion, having more choice, and finding ways of moving forward that feel right for you.
People I work with
I mostly work with neurodivergent women, and young people. Often ADHD or questioning, who may be carrying trauma sometimes alongside chronic health conditions.
Many of the women I sit with have spent years holding it all together: work, caring for others, friendships, while quietly convinced that if people really saw them, they'd leave.
Each and every part of you is welcome and we can figure things out together.
Good to know before getting in touch
Finding the right counsellor isn't just about qualifications or experience. It's also about whether you feel comfortable enough with the person you're talking to.
You don't need to know exactly what you want to work on, or even whether counselling is definitely the right next step.
If something you've read here feels familiar, you're welcome to get in touch. We can have an initial conversation and see how it feels from there.
I'm nearly fifty, a bigger build, and loving my grey hair. I'm probably more quirky and motherly than polished. I also have a visual impairment, which means my eyes might look or move a little differently from what you may used to. I mention this because I think it's helpful to be open about these things, particularly when we're getting to know each other.
I identify as having ADHD, and like many people, I've found ways of working that suit how my brain works. I tend to do my admin in the evenings when there are fewer distractions, so you might not always receive an immediate reply. I usually respond within 24–48 hours, and if you haven't heard from me, you're very welcome to send me a gentle reminder.
Cost matters, so I offer flexibility around how often we meet and a supported rate for those who need it. I'm generally available between 10am and 7pm each day.
I know a lot of people come to therapy wanting things to feel better quickly, often at the point they're most distressed, and we might look at things that will support you with that overwhelm first.
Sometimes that overwhelm means people go quiet for a while and come back to sessions later. That's completely fine I'll be here when you're ready. If you do feel able to let me know you need some space, I may be able to provide some strategies for you to try and signpost other services which might feel helpful until you feel able to return.
If any of this sounds like somewhere you could feel able to just be yourself, you're welcome to book a free, no obligation introduction call and see how it feels to talk.
Experience & Qualifications
Should you want to know more about my experience.
My training and experience have developed across counselling, trauma and crisis support, neurodivergence, clinical supervision and hypnotherapy. I continue to undertake professional development as part of my practice.
Experience
Alongside private practice, my experience includes several years working within crisis support services, supporting adults and young people experiencing significant distress, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
I've also worked extensively with neurodivergent adults and young people and now work as a counsellor, clinical supervisor and trainer.
Professional Qualifications
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Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Practice
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Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
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Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision
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Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy
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Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling
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Certificate in Therapeutic Mentoring, Creative Trauma Recovery Skills
Professional Memberships
I am an Accredited Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Further Training & Development
I continue to undertake professional development in areas that are particularly relevant to the people I work with. This has included training and development in:
Trauma & Recovery
Nervous System & Regulation
Polyvagal-informed approaches, regulation, grounding and understanding responses to threat and overwhelm.
Self-Harm, Suicide & Crisis Support
Suicide intervention, working with self-harm, distress, crisis support and safety planning.
Children & Young People
Therapeutic approaches for supporting children and young people, including creative and developmentally appropriate ways of working.
Neurodivergence
ADHD, autism, sensory differences and neurodivergent-affirming ways of working.
Creative & Flexible Therapy
Single-session approaches, creative therapeutic work and adapting therapy around the individual.
