I support neurodifferent people with real conversations. Are you experiencing a complex or fragmented situation at work or in your life? Are you getting exhausted trying to navigate the systems you live and work in?
Sometimes it’s too tough, and no one should have to go it alone. Often, we need a skilled, impartial person to reflect with or consult with, without hurry or judgement. We all certainly need compassion and understanding – it’s the human condition.
Many of our clients arrive highly self-aware, intellectually sophisticated and emotionally articulate, yet still caught in recurring patterns of disconnection, overthinking or internal conflict. You might perceive this from time to time, but deep understanding and knowing what to do requires outside help.
I specialise in Neurodiversity & Autism Coaching – people who think, feel, sense, and process differently than most – and know there’s more to life than exhaustion and masking.
What happens in Coaching?
Through an enquiring conversation and thinking together, I will help you build new confidence, gain clarity on important decisions, perhaps create a vision, identify any blocks, and then invite you to take the next steps to make the changes you want and need – on your path to thriving, wellbeing and success. I’ll stay around to help you celebrate your achievements, too, if you want.
I provide real quality time to confidently and safely explore what really matters to you. Over a few hourly sessions (weekly or fortnightly), using a wide range of skills and modalities grounded in neuroscience, creativity, and counselling, my aim is to help you revitalise your journey, unlock your creativity, and reach your goals.
My unique Autism Dialogue Approach is for
- Understanding the pros and cons of Autism, ADHD, AuDHD and Neurodiversity
- Stress, anxiety and trauma
- How to fit in better, and still be yourself
- Conversation techniques and social expectations
- Pre-diagnosis and newly-diagnosed support
- Curiosity and pre-assessment (“Am I Autistic?”)
- Increasing self-compassion
- Having more fun
- And if you just want someone to talk to.
At work
- Attention blocks and improvements
- Monotropism, flow and focus
- Tolerating people and work environments
- Getting reasonable adjustments met
- Access to Work claims
- Time and task management
- Input/output balance
- Working effectively with healthy productivity
- Business plans, vision fulfilment and great ideas
In personal matters
- Going through a rough time
- Family, relationships and personal problems
- Working out who you are and what you want to be
- Emotional regulation
- Interoception, alexythemia and other awareness
- Mindfulness and somatic (body) relaxation techniques
- Avoiding meltdowns, shutdowns and depression
As a unique individual, you can unlock the power to transform your own life. Yes, it can be done.
What is a coach?
A good coach knows how the mind and communication works. I have a range of skills and approaches as well as tons of life experience, and do ongoing autism research (it’s my main interest in life!). I have training in coaching, therapy and counselling. I bring all this to our time together, and provide quality time to listen, talk and think with you, in confidence. I will help you take the right action – for YOU, and to make the changes you want and need. I will walk with you every step of the way, including helping you celebrate your changes and new life!
How many coaching sessions do I need?
On average, people come for autism coaching weekly or fortnightly, for between three and five months, before they feel ready to move on. I recommend a minimum of six one-hour sessions (weekly or fortnightly) but there are no rules or limits – that’s mostly up to you. I have had clients who’ve stayed with me for 30 sessions over a year.
Why work with me?
Increasing your self-awareness can be scary and take time, but with proper help and support, it can be done. I know because I’ve done it! I know what it is to be at the lowest points with Autism and ADHD, but also the highest.
With a super-clear grasp of strengths-focussed approaches, as an Autism coach I help Autistic and ADHD people to recover and thrive. I can show you how to use your power to transform your own life. I’ve worked for many years for national and international organisations and I’ve helped hundreds of people (see testimonials and read more about me below).
I am currently accepting new appointments.
Book a free call now
Listed by the
National Autistic Society
More questions…
Why Coaching?
People come to me for coaching for many reasons. Having someone to talk to who listens without judgement and, importantly, knows Autism and ADHD from the inside can be very powerful in achieving what you want. Many have tried standard therapy and counselling and been disappointed, often feeling “unseen” and “unheard”. You may also use me as a mentor; we can discuss the differences.
I provide gentle recovery and genuine support for a while along your journey, and help you reframe all of your experiences.
How does it work?
By talking carefully together, I will guide you to take action toward understanding yourself, improving your happiness and realising your visions, goals or desires. I use techniques to improve self-awareness and discovery and to clarify what you really want to achieve, then we develop a specific action plan for achieving your desired outcomes and create a follow-through for you to achieve success. This process may end with the achievement of a specific goal, or it may continue as you realise the next step to being fully successful.
What’s unique about your style?
I want your mental health to improve and your life to get better. I have a holistic coaching style, focussing on a relationship of trust, care and sense-making, through carefully guided dialogue between us. I call it the Autism Dialogue Approach but it’s really just a name. The approach is integrative (a combination of recovery modalities in the areas of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness), drawing on the relational, (recognising that our interconnectedness at all levels is the key agent for change), existential, non-dual and transpersonal. This is done by us both acknowledging and embodying the reality of neuro-difference. I am trained in basic counselling, coaching and autism, I receive regular supervision and am fully insured.
What now?
I recommend that you book a free 30 minute discover call to help decide if we would like to work together.
After that you are free to book in as many sessions as you need.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.
Fees: From £60-90 per hour (depends on your income/funding). £150 for workplace and executive coaching.
When:
Monday to Friday and I offer some evening and Saturday appointments.
Where: Zoom (video or just audio) and phone, or in-person in Bakewell, Derbyshire
Currently I work on the phone and video (Zoom, Skype, Teams) and by email, or in-person at Aldern House in Bakewell. We can also use audio only on video calls if you prefer.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jonny
Coaching Fact!
The original meaning of the word coach is ‘to carry’ (from the Hungarian kocsi , the German kotsche and Middle French coche). The meaning for a coach as an instructor or trainer first came about in approximately 1830; it was used as slang at Oxford University for a tutor who “carries” a student through an exam.
Drop me a line to book a free 30 minute consultation.
This will give us an opportunity to decide if we would like to work together, before a commitment is made.
Email me
My Experience
- Decades of self-development work
- 9 years of coaching with individuals and groups
- 15 years facilitating Dialogue support groups
- Trainer of trainers for National Autism Training Project (NHS/Anna Freud Centre/AT-Autism)
- Founder of the Autism Dialogue Approach (ADA)
- Founder of Mindfulness for Autism (M4A)
Affiliations
- Associate Member European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC)
- Senior Member of Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists & Hypnotherapists (AACPH)
- DBS, Insured & Supervised
Education & Training
- PG Cert Coaching & Mentoring
- PG Cert Autism Spectrum
- Counselling Skills Level 3
- NeuroMindfulness Practitioner Certified
- Women & Girls on the Autistic Spectrum (NAS)
- Mindfulness-Based Life Enhancement (MBLE)
- Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator Training (UHRI)
- BA (Hons) Contemporary Fine Art
- Certificates in healthcare, business and conflict mediation
Testimonials
“Our early rapport contributed towards the confidence I felt in the sessions, and Jonny’s use of incisive questions helped me focus on the issues I wanted to concentrate on, and also resulted in several moments of epiphany when I realised what I truly wanted, rather than what I thought I did. ‘Purpose’ is more important to me than ‘image’.” – MC
“The time I spent in coaching with you has allowed me to put aside all of the negative ‘realities’“ (anon)
“I feel that Jonny listened closely to me from the outset and throughout, created an atmosphere that enabled me to make the most of our time together, and enabled me to achieve my aims. I would strongly recommend his Coaching to anyone who has an unresolved or recurrent issue that they would like to address in a positive and assistive environment.” – GJ
“Having been used to counselling/therapy session where the counsellor/therapist leaves everything to the client, I was surprised – and delighted – that Jonny was willing to share his personal impression of me. This was probably the most helpful thing from the whole series of sessions and it has taken me off into a whole new area of investigation.” – LG
“I just want to tell you how much I appreciate our sessions – you help me see things in a different way and accept myself, and I feel like it’s exactly what I need.” – anon