Ali Press - neurodivergence affirming coaching - in person and online

Name: Ali Press - neurodivergence affirming coaching - in person and online
Address: 33 Alexandra Avenue, City of London, Greater London, SM1 2PA, United Kingdom
Telephone: 07704439662

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Coaches and Hypnotherapists

About the Therapist

About the therapist:

Are you tired of feeling stuck and misunderstood, like you don't fit, and exhausted by the effort of trying to? Do you feel like your difference - not being like the others - gets in the way of living well, and being authentically you?

I’m Ali, a warm, empathic, neurodivergent counsellor and coach offering neurodivergence affirming counselling in-person and online. I am passionate about supporting neurodivergent people to embrace their authenticity and live well.

I am a fully qualified integrative counsellor, insured and BACP-registered, and offer sessions in person in central London, SE1 Waterloo area, and online to both UK and international clients.

Regardless of whether you have a formal neurodivergence diagnosis or not, or how long you have wondered about the impacts of your neurodivergence, I offer a compassionate, personalised space to work through what troubles you.

Through my lived and professional experience of neurodivergence neurodivergent people, I understand well that life doesn't begin and end at neurodivergence. Certainly neurodivergence itself can impactful, and bring a range of complex feelings and emotions. And then on top, life can present its own challenges, which need careful, sensitive exploration in ways that affirm your neurodivergence and uniqueness. I wholeheartedly believe in embracing all aspects of who you are and supporting you in navigating the unique challenges that shape your neurodivergent life.

The heart of my approach to neurodivergence affirming counselling is rooted in a deep commitment to building genuine, meaningful relationships that celebrate your individual uniqueness and difference. From the safety of this secure base we can explore what troubles you, and discover new pathways towards healing and growth.

If you are looking for neurodivergence affirming counselling in central London, or online, please feel free to get in touch. My central London location for face to face sessions, at the Flame Centre in SE1, is easily accessible from Waterloo, Elephant and Castle, Borough, Southwark, Lambeth, the City of London and Westminster.

Areas of expertise

- Neurodivergence and how it can impact living well

- Navigating life as a neurodivergent person

- Later-life diagnosis of ADHD, autism, and AuDHD (ADHD and autism together)

- Changing unhelpful coping mechanisms (drink, drugs, behaviours etc)

Difference-affirming counselling

Neurodivergence can make us feel different from others, bringing up complex and conflicting emotions. These emotions vary from person to person, influenced by individual traits and circumstances. Finding the right support can be hard, especially when we fear professionals may not understand our experiences.

You may find yourself feeling isolated, sensing a disconnect between yourself and those around you, which can make it difficult to find a sense of belonging. Loneliness can follow, even in the company of others, as though no one truly understands your experience.

Perhaps you're questioning your own value, skills, or identity, especially if you don’t align with societal norms. This self-doubt can lead to feelings of insecurity, where heightened awareness of your differences makes you feel vulnerable or inadequate.

Confusion might have become a familiar feeling as you struggle to understand why you feel different and how to reconcile your uniqueness with societal expectations.

You might also experience frustration, anger, or irritation from being misunderstood or from the challenges of fitting in. Sadness could emerge as well, stemming from feeling like an outsider or facing exclusion.

A sense of overwhelm might be part of your day to day, draining your energy, eroding your confidence, and leaving you emotionally and mentally exhausted.

Anxiety may set in as you worry about being judged, rejected, or not being accepted by others.

Later-life diagnosis of neurodivergence - particularly ADHD and autism - might lead you to questioning your life experiences, and lead to struggles around understanding how and where neurodivergence has impacted you.

You might be neurodivergent, queer, non-monogamous or any combination of these and more. Regardless of how you live or love, I offer an accepting, compassionate, and judgment-free space to work through what troubles you.

Once we truly feel seen, heard and accepted for who we are, amazing things can unfold.

Sexual identity:

Gay
Kink - BDSM
Lesbian
Queer

Gender identity: Non-binary

Gender history: Not as assigned at birth

Non-monogamy: Yes

Intersex: No

Trans: Yes

Neurodivergent: Yes

Personal pronouns: they / them

Qualifications - Links to websites:

Here's my website, where you can read more about what I do - alipress.uk And here's a link to my member profile on the BACP website - Ali Press, MBACP

My qualifications

- Professional Diploma in Integrative Counselling

- Foundation Certificate in LGBTQ+ Affirmative Counselling

- Diploma in Coaching and Positive Psychology

- Certificate in Alcohol-Free Performance Coaching

- Alcohol Assessment and Brief Intervention

- MA History of Art with Photography

- MSc Digital Education

- PGCE Post-Compulsory Education and Training

Qualifications - Additional:

My core training is underpinned by Dr Petrūska Clarkson's 5-Stage Relationship Model, an integrative approach to counselling with psychodynamic leanings. I have also trained in LGBTQ+ Affirmative Counselling with ELOP, and hold a Diploma in Coaching and Positive Psychology. In addition to my private work I volunteer one day a week as a counsellor with London Friend, a London-based LGBTQ+ mental health charity.

Passionate about supporting people through periods of change, I have been helping people rethinking their drinking habits since 2017. Throughout this time I have been active in supporting online communities, and have volunteered at various mindful drinking-themed events for the LGBTQ+ community.

Before training in counselling and coaching, I spent nearly twenty years working in further and higher education. I supported colleagues in integrating technology into their teaching and learning practices, and taught others how to teach and support students effectively.

For relaxation I like growing food and flowers (especially for the pollinators!), swimming, practicing tai chi, reading, and hanging out with my family.

Experience and approach:

I blend techniques from both counselling and coaching when appropriate. Both share a core belief in each person's ability to create a fulfilling life, given the right circumstances and support.

Integrating counselling and coaching equips me with an authentic and ethical way to work safely at emotional depth and be able to sit with the process when needed, and inject forward momentum, opening our horizons to the future when appropriate.

My clients often find the freedom of movement between forward motion and exploration of the past energising and refreshing. Whilst we may well be looking at the past through a lens of what was missing and what went wrong, we will also be looking to the future, and working out the extent to which solutions already exist in the present. And where they don't, we can spend some time looking at how to find them.

Essentially, my work incorporates past, present and future, and my belief that we all have the ability, given the right support and circumstances, to change. Having an eye on the future means we can build better lives in real time, rather than having to excavate ourselves and/or the past in order to find the 'magic key' that's going to unlock everything for us.

If this sounds like what you're looking for, get in touch for a confidential, judgement- and shame-free chat about what you're looking for from counselling

Approaches: