In-person or Online

Hi, I’m Anna — a counsellor specialising in autism, ADHD & chronic illness

An autistic & ADHD person myself, I’m a different kind of counsellor for a different kind of client. Online counselling is accessible from wherever you are, via phone, tablet or laptop.

Contact Me

Read my FAQ →

Anna Hayward MNCPS Accred.

(Pronouns: she/her)

About Me

I founded Not Like the Others Counselling out of my belief that autistic and ADHD people need a different kind of counselling: One that adapts to their differences rather than forcing a round peg into a square hole. I wasn’t diagnosed autistic and ADHD until my 30s, so I know myself how important it is that people ‘get you’. It’s not about ‘curing’ your autism or ADHD, or coaching you how to ‘mask’ more – it’s about learning to accept yourself as you are, and working with what you’ve got, whether you’re diagnosed or not.

Life with a neurodivergence can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be miserable.

Living with health conditions myself, I also have a particular interest in working with people experiencing chronic ill-health and physical disability, which is much more common in our community. My experiences (among others) include hypomobility/EDS, autoimmune disorders, chronic pain and fatigue, and cancer.

As a cisgender late-coming-out lesbian with a gender expansive family and social group, I am inclusive of all sexualities and genders. My pronouns are she/her. I work with individuals and with couples.

I also offer supervision to counsellors and social care workers.

Services

Counselling for Autism/ADHD &
Chronic Illness

Working mostly online, my approach is integrative and Humanistic, based on my belief that you are the expert of your own experience. I will work collaboratively with you, using whatever techniques and approaches seem to best suit your needs.

It is my job to help you figure yourself out and start finding ways to live that embrace your differences rather than dismissing them.

Sessions are typically relaxed and conversational, although I will provide structure to clients who need it.

The majority of my work is with individuals, but I do work with couples on request, so please ask.

I am able to offer limited in-person sessions, so please ask if that would suit you better. Please let me know if you require a wheelchair accessible room.

Supervision & Mentoring

As a qualified counselling supervisor, I can support your practice, ensuring you give your clients your best. I support your professional development, and ensure you are working safely, for both yourself and your client.

My approach is Humanistic, with a person-centred base, so I’m happy to work with counsellors using different methodologies under the Humanistic umbrella.

My specialism is neurodivergence, so I mostly I work with neurodivergent, counselling professionals, but occasionally neurotypical professionals seek insights into their autistic or ADHD clients.

I can also provide mentoring where formal supervision is not required.

Training

I regularly provide training workshops to ‘helping’ professionals (counsellors, trainers or social care workers), neurodivergent individuals and their families, who want to know more about autism and ADHD.

Training is based on my extensive lived and lifelong experience, in addition to my professional training as a counsellor.

Online or in-person, I present engaging, informative workshops to help you feel more confident in understanding yourself, your loved ones or your service users.

Training can be as short as a ‘TED-talk’ style presentation, or a whole day training day. Each training course is tailored to your needs, so let me know if you require a short ‘introduction to autism’ or a professional training day for staff who already know a lot.