I've had a late diagnosis as an adult. Is counselling still useful?

Often it's the point at which people find it most useful. A late diagnosis can bring up relief that things finally make sense, and sadness for the years when nobody knew. Counselling can be a form of post-diagnostic support: somewhere to go over it all at your own pace.

I find it hard to sit still or keep track. Will that be a problem?

No. Adjustments are part of how I work. You can take movement breaks, use fidget toys, use a writing pad, record the session, or have half-hour sessions. I can send a reminder email before each session. In the room, the lighting and temperature can be changed straight away, and you don't need to make eye contact.

What happens in the first session?

It starts with a free 15-minute call, where you can ask anything and get a feel for how I work. The first full session is a gentle recap of what's brought you, a first look at what you'd like from counselling, and a bit more time on how you got here. There's no pressure to share more than you feel ready for.

Someone I care about has ADHD. Can you help me?

I can offer you a space of your own, yes, as long as they aren't already a client of mine. Sessions would be about you: how things are for you, what you're finding hard, and what support you need. I work with adults one to one, so I wouldn't see you together.

Can I have sessions online or by phone?

Yes. As well as face to face sessions in Whitefield, I offer online therapy, telephone therapy and walking therapy. You're welcome to try one and change your mind.

What if I'm struggling between sessions?

We'll plan for that together. If things get very hard between sessions, I'll make sure you have key contacts for immediate help, and we can put together a safety plan. I'm not an emergency service. If you need urgent help, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. If your life or someone else's is at risk, call 999 or go to A&E.

ADHD Therapy in Manchester

Q: Do I need a diagnosis to see you?

No. Waiting lists for adult ADHD assessments can be very long, and many people are on one. Others have decided an assessment isn't for them, or just aren't sure it's ADHD. All of these are good enough reasons to come to counselling. Person-centred counselling starts with your experience, not a label.

Q: Can you help me get a diagnosis?

Not directly. I'm a counsellor, and I can't assess or diagnose ADHD. In England, the usual starting point is your GP, who can refer you to an NHS adult ADHD service. Under Right to Choose, you can ask your GP to refer you to a different NHS-funded provider, which can sometimes mean a shorter wait. If you go private, it's worth checking first whether your GP will accept the diagnosis and take over any prescribing.

Q: Can you help me get organised?

Not in the way you might be hoping. This is counselling, for the emotional side of living with ADHD. Practical help with systems and routines is ADHD coaching, which is a different kind of work. What we can look at is why getting organised feels so loaded.

Q: Do you work with autistic people too?

Yes. There's more on my autism counselling page, and you don't need to know which applies to you before you get in touch.

Q: I'm LGBTQ+. Is that relevant?

Only if you'd like it to be. ADHD and being LGBTQIA+ often overlap, and you won't need to lead with either, or explain one to get support with the other.

ADHD can affect your focus, your relationships and how you feel about yourself. You might feel frustrated, misunderstood or overwhelmed by how your mind works, especially if you've had to mask or push through for years. Therapy can offer a space to pause, reflect and feel understood.

As a BACP-registered counsellor, I offer one-to-one, neuro-affirming counselling in Manchester, for adults with ADHD. That includes people with a late diagnosis, people who are self-identified or waiting for an assessment, and people who aren't sure yet. Our sessions are shaped around your needs and the way you experience the world. Together, we'll look at what's been working, what hasn't, and how things might feel more manageable.

If you'd like to talk about whether counselling could help, I'm here.

Request a call

Counselling for adults with ADHD

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is about more than focus. For many adults, the harder part is the overwhelm, burnout or shame that builds up over years of feeling like you're getting basic things wrong. Whether you've been diagnosed, are self-identifying, or are still wondering, you're welcome here.

Living with ADHD can mean years of being misunderstood by teachers, employers, and sometimes friends or family. You may have learned to mask, push through or criticise yourself just to keep up. In our sessions, you won't have to do any of that. You can show up exactly as you are.

My approach is person-centred, which means you're the expert on your own life, and sessions are shaped around what's happening for you now. I won't set unrealistic goals or expect you to become more "productive". Instead, we'll look at how to make life more manageable on your terms.

My room is quiet and warm, and I've set it up with neurodiversity in mind. There's more about the adjustments I offer in the FAQs below.

The focus is always on what works for you, not what works for someone else.

What people with ADHD often bring to counselling

ADHD affects people in different ways, and so do the reasons people come to counselling. The cards below cover some of the things people bring: masking and burnout, strong emotions, finding demands hard, being ADHD and LGBTQ+, and wondering about autism. They aren't a checklist. They're here so you know you won't need to explain it all from scratch.

Masking & Burnout

For many people with ADHD, masking starts early: being told to sit still, corrected for interrupting, and slowly learning to hide those things. Over years, keeping your body still and looking interested when you've lost the thread takes a lot of energy, and it can lead to burnout. Here, you don't need to sit still. You can take a movement break whenever you need one, and we can look at what masking has cost you.

Emotional Dysregulation

Many adults with ADHD find their emotions arrive quickly and strongly, and take a long time to settle. Frustration can turn into anger before you've noticed it, and small setbacks can feel enormous. It's often the part of ADHD people are least likely to have been told about. If it would help, I can share some ideas from CBT or Transactional Analysis, and we can look at how they fit your own patterns.

Demands & Pressure

Some people with ADHD react strongly to being told what to do. Instructions can feel like pressure, and you might dig in over things that don't matter to you, then feel ashamed of it afterwards. In counselling, there's no set agenda and no homework. If I suggest something you could try between sessions, it's optional, and I won't check up on it.

Time & Organisation

Many adults with ADHD have spent years being called careless or lazy for forgetting things or running late. You might lose track of time completely, which some people call time blindness, or spend a whole day dreading one small task. Counselling won't fix your diary, but it can be a place to look at the shame that's built up around it. If remembering appointments is hard, I can send you a reminder email beforehand.

ADHD & LGBTQ+

ADHD and being LGBTQIA+ often overlap. Masking your neurodivergence and masking your sexuality or gender at the same time can be exhausting. For some people, thinking about ADHD only became possible after coming out. You won't need to explain one to get support with the other, and I keep up to date with the laws and political changes affecting LGBTQIA+ people.

ADHD & Autism

Some people find ADHD only explains part of their experience. You might want stimulation and then feel overwhelmed by it, or find some social situations easy and others exhausting. If that sounds familiar, autism might be part of the picture too, and some people call this AuDHD. My room is set up with that in mind, so the lighting can be dimmed or brightened and the temperature changed straight away.

Ready to begin?

If you're an adult wit ADHD, think you might be, or are simply looking for a counsellor who won't judge you, I'm here when you feel ready. I offer a free 15-minute call so you can ask questions, share what's on your mind or just see how it feels to talk. You are welcome here, exactly as you are.

Get in touch

Why work with me?

I'm a Level 4 BACP-registered, trauma-informed counsellor. My training includes the Self-Determination Model of Therapeutic Support for Adults with ADHD with BACP, and Neurodiversity and Trauma with PESI. You can see my full credentials.

I understand that ADHD is more than distraction or impulsivity. For many people, it's a lifelong experience of feeling misunderstood or dismissed. You won't need to explain everything from scratch or prove that your struggles are valid.

Getting started begins with a free 15-minute phone call. We'll talk about what's brought you, and whether you've had counselling before, including what helped and what didn't. I'll explain how I work, so you can decide whether it feels right. If it doesn't, I'll help you find someone who might be a better fit.

There's no pressure, just a chance to connect and decide whether this feels like the right space for you.

Flexible ways to access support

I provide a range of counselling services to accommodate your unique needs and preferences.

All interactions are available in 25-minute and 50-minute clinical sessions, with prices from £32.50.

learn more about face to face counselling sessions

In Person Counselling:

Face to Face sessions at my comfortable and welcoming therapy rooms in Manchester.

learn more about zoom/video counselling sessions

Online Therapy

Connect with me from the comfort of your own home, maintaining privacy and flexibility.

learn more about telephone based counselling sessions

Telephone sessions:

Receive support and guidance via telephone sessions, ideal for those with limited internet access or who prefer a voice-only interaction.

Book your free consultation

Based in North Manchester, here to support you

I’m based in North Manchester and work with clients from all across the surrounding areas, including Whitefield, Prestwich, Bury, Radcliffe, Crumpsall, Blackley, Middleton, Salford, and many more local communities. Wherever you're from, if you're looking for support with your mental health, you're welcome here.

Finding me

I offer in-person counselling sessions at my therapy room in Whitefield, North Manchester. It’s a calm, private space that’s easy to reach from across the city and surrounding areas.

Address: 229 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 8GW. Find me with W3W or via Google

Getting here:

By car: Free on-street parking is usually available nearby.
By tram: About a 30-second walk from the Whitefield Metrolink stop.
By bus: Local buses stop just a short walk away.

If you’re unsure about directions or access, feel free to get in touch - I’m happy to help you plan your visit.

Not local?

If you're not based near North Manchester - or simply prefer not to travel - I also offer counselling sessions by telephone or secure video call. This can be a helpful option if you're juggling a busy schedule, live further away, or feel more comfortable accessing support from home.

Reviews and testimonials

You might be looking for reviews, especially if you're thinking about talking to someone new. I don't use testimonials. Counselling should feel confidential from the very beginning, and I wouldn't want anyone to feel they ought to say something personal in public in order to recommend me.

If it would help to know more about me before you get in touch, you can see my qualifications on my credentials page, and I'm registered with the BACP (register certificate no. 403698), which you can check on their website. The free 15-minute call is also there for exactly this: to ask whatever you'd like to ask, without any pressure to book afterwards.

Credentials

ADHD

Do I need a diagnosis to see you?

No, and this is probably the thing I'd most want you to know before you get in touch.Some of the people I work with are on a waiting list that may take years. Some have looked at the assessment process and decided it isn't for them, or isn't for them right now. Others have recognised themselves in something they've read or watched and aren't sure what to do with that. All of these are good enough reasons to come to counselling.Person-centred counselling suits this situation well, because it starts with your experience rather than with a label. We don't need to settle what to call it before we can look at how things have been for you. Some people find, through the work, that they'd like to pursue an assessment. Others decide it doesn't matter much to them. Either is fine, and I won't steer you towards one or the other.

I've just been diagnosed. Is counselling still useful?

Often it's the point at which people find it most useful.Being diagnosed as an adult can bring up more than people expect. There can be relief, and a sense of things finally making sense. Alongside that there's often sadness for the years when nobody knew, and for how differently school, work or relationships might have gone with the right support. Some people feel angry, at the people who didn't notice or at themselves for not pushing harder. And most people find themselves looking back over their lives with the diagnosis in mind and seeing things differently, which can be a lot to take in.Counselling can give you room to work through all of that without needing it to be tidy. There's no expectation that a diagnosis should feel like good news, or that you should have made your peace with it by a certain point.

What if I'm not sure it's ADHD?

That's fine, and it's a very common place to start from.We can talk about what's actually going on for you, and the question of what to call it can wait. Sometimes it becomes clearer through the work. Sometimes it stops feeling like the important question, because what you needed was somewhere to talk about how hard things have felt, and that doesn't depend on a label.I'm not able to tell you whether you have ADHD, and I'd be wary of anyone who offered to on the basis of a conversation. What I can do is help you think about your own experience and about whether you'd like to find out more formally.

Can you help me get a diagnosis?

Not directly. I'm a counsellor, not a clinician, and I can't assess or diagnose ADHD. But I can help you think about whether you want to, and what it might mean for you either way, and I can tell you what the routes are.In England, the usual starting point is your GP. They can refer you to an NHS ADHD service, though waiting times vary a great deal by area and can be long. You also have a right, under what's called Right to Choose, to ask your GP to refer you to a different NHS-commissioned provider, which in some cases means a shorter wait. Not everyone knows this exists, and GPs don't always mention it, so it's worth asking about. The NHS website has a clear explanation of what an adult ADHD assessment involves.There are also private assessments. They're quicker but they cost, and it's worth checking in advance whether your GP will accept the diagnosis and take over any prescribing afterwards, because not all practices will.If you're weighing this up, it's something we can talk through.

Can you help me get organised?

Not in the way you might be hoping, and I'd rather be clear about that from the start.This is counselling, and it's for the emotional side of living with ADHD. If what you're looking for is practical help with systems, routines and getting things done, that's ADHD coaching, which is a different kind of work. It can be very useful, but it isn't what I do. If it's what you need, look for a coach with ADHD-specific training and a coaching agreement rather than a therapy one.What we might do instead is look at why organising yourself feels so loaded. For a lot of people it isn't really about the diary. It's about years of being told you're careless, and the dread that comes up every time you try to get on top of things. That's counselling work, and it often makes the practical side feel less impossible.Some people have a coach and a counsellor at the same time, and find they help with different things.

How is counselling different from coaching?

Coaching is mostly about what you do and how to do it: structure, habits, tools, accountability. Counselling is about how you feel about what you do, and where those feelings came from. Coaching tends to look forward. Counselling often needs to look back first.If you're not sure which you need, that's a good thing to raise on the free call. I'll tell you what I think, including if I think a coach would serve you better.

Do you work with autistic people too?

Yes. Some of the people I see are autistic, some have ADHD, and a number are both. There's an autism counselling page if you would like to explore further, and a card above on what it can be like when it might be both. You don't need to know which applies to you before you get in touch.

I'm on medication. Does that matter?

Not for our work. Medication is between you and your prescriber, and I won't have a view on whether you should or shouldn't take it.Some people find counselling helps them make sense of what medication does and doesn't change for them. It can be quite disorienting to find that the attention side of things is easier and the emotional side isn't, or that you're suddenly aware of things you used to be able to ignore. We can talk about that if it's useful.

I'm LGBTQ+. Is that relevant?

Only if you'd like it to be. Being neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ often overlap, and I work with a good number of people in that position. You don't need to lead with either, and you won't need to explain one in order to get support with the other. There's more on my LGBTQIA+ counselling page.

I've had therapy before and it didn't help. Would this be different?

It might not be, and I'd rather say that than promise otherwise.What I can say is that many people with ADHD have had therapy that wasn't designed with them in mind. Homework they couldn't keep up with. Worksheets. Goals that became one more thing to fall short on. Being asked to notice their thoughts when noticing anything for long is the difficulty. If that was your experience, it doesn't mean therapy doesn't work for you. It may mean that kind didn't.That isn't how I work. There's nothing to complete between sessions, and the pace is yours. If something isn't working, we'll talk about it and change it, and if I think you'd be better served by someone else, I'll say so.

How long does therapy take?

It varies, and I'd be cautious of anyone who gave you a fixed answer.Some people come for a few months around something specific, such as a recent diagnosis or a particular relationship. Others stay longer because the work continues to be useful and they want somewhere to keep thinking. We review as we go, and you can stop whenever you choose. There's no minimum commitment.

Can we work online?

Yes. I see people in person in Whitefield, and by video or telephone. Some people with ADHD find video easier because there's no travel to remember and nowhere to be late to. Others find being in the room helps them stay present. You're welcome to try one and change your mind.

What does it cost, and how do I start?

Sessions are £65 for 50 minutes or £32.50 for 25 minutes. The first step is a free 15-minute call, where you can ask anything you like and get a sense of whether this feels right. There's no pressure to book afterwards.

ADHD Counselling FAQs

Ask a Question

Related Therapies

ADHD often overlaps with other things people come to counselling for. If one of these sounds closer to what's going on for you, you're welcome to start there.

Useful Resources

I understand that taking the first step towards seeking help for ADHD can be incredibly challenging. I want you to know that you're not alone, and there are many resources available to support you on your journey towards healing. If you're not quite ready to get in touch with us, I encourage you to explore these external resources that may provide valuable insights, coping strategies, and comfort during this time:

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ADHD Therapy in Manchester

Counselling for adults with ADHD

What people with ADHD often bring to counselling

Masking & Burnout

Emotional Dysregulation

Demands & Pressure

Time & Organisation

ADHD & LGBTQ+

ADHD & Autism

Ready to begin?

Why work with me?

Flexible ways to access support

In Person Counselling:

Online Therapy

Telephone sessions:

Based in North Manchester, here to support you

Finding me

Getting here:

Not local?

Reviews and testimonials

Do I need a diagnosis to see you?

I've just been diagnosed. Is counselling still useful?

What if I'm not sure it's ADHD?

Can you help me get a diagnosis?

Can you help me get organised?

How is counselling different from coaching?

Do you work with autistic people too?

I'm on medication. Does that matter?

I'm LGBTQ+. Is that relevant?

I've had therapy before and it didn't help. Would this be different?

How long does therapy take?

Can we work online?

What does it cost, and how do I start?

ADHD Counselling FAQs

Related Therapies

Useful Resources

ADHD Help, Support & Guidance View all Neurodiversity articles

Rejection sensitivity in adults: why criticism can hit so hard

When it's hard to know what you feel: alexithymia and autism

Sensory overwhelm in everyday life: when noise, light and crowds feel like too much

Neurodivergent burnout: when rest doesn't seem to help

Diagnosed as an Adult: Relief, Grief and Making Sense of the Past

Masking in autism and ADHD: why it happens and what it costs

ADHD Help, Support & Guidance
View all Neurodiversity articles