I’m a mum and a coach, and a late-diagnosed autistic adult. I have over twenty years’ experience working with children, as a teacher, a childminder and now as a coach. As a teacher, I was often torn between the targets I was set and what I knew was right for the children in front of me. My professional and personal experience shows me how the systems our children grow up in shape their sense of self and their mental health.

Adults in the media often bandy about the belief that children today lack “resilience”, but resilience is a learnt skill rather than an innate trait. I firmly believe resilience starts from a place of emotional safety, and that safety starts with understanding: when children understand how their brain works and what they need, they are able to choose strategies that work for them. With neurodivergent children, we need to be especially careful, as asking them to show resilience is often a coded request for them to conform to neurotypical expectations.

Coaching supports children and young people in identifying what they need to feel emotionally safe so they can navigate life’s challenges. We work together to identify the challenges that preoccupy them, and explore how their brain works through games, stories, play and conversation that suit their age. Together, we discover strategies and supports that make those challenges feel a bit easier to face.

I am particularly interested in working with neurodivergent children to help them better understand themselves and access the accommodations that work for them.