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Monday 9am - 8pm Tuesday 9am - 8pm Wednesday 9am - 7pm Thursday 9am - 7pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 1pm

Audhd Forward, Richmond (2026)

12/02/2026

I just saw a glossy, curated post for a slick solution focussed approach to ensuring you are always successfully productive.
Or something like that. I didn’t actually read it as I don’t buy into any of that.. ‘you just need this…’. approach.

My approach is more organic /messy.

For me there’s 3 approaches to getting things done. And I use all of them.

1. Stress, pressure, deadlines - we’re all familiar with that - and allthe negative side effects - stress, exhaustion/melt down, need to decompress afterwards. Results can be effective. But impact can be destructive . Works for emergencies not good as a geverdl long term ‘go to’ plan.

2. Dopamine fuelled … either I feel in flow, because it’s an act of joy or because I’m working towards a long term goal which brings me joy/excitement to think of (although not too much otherwise I get overwhelmed and have to stop 🥴). The risk here is that the task may be a bit left field, impulsive, perhaps not as much a priority as my attention suggests. But can leadto unexpected results.

3. This is when I’m in balance … ticking over nicely - all the safe care is in place, I’m checking and ticking off (sometimes) my to do list; I can be productive on a measured, calm way. I’ve had a lot more of those days since I invested in a new work space and I am reaping the words in terms of business and other (although not all) holistic goals around health and well being and being mum.

But - what I’ve experienced this week is when I’m in that regulated place ie feeling good suddenly I think I’m Wonder Woman - suddenly I moved the parameters which had been working nicely do that I could do more (be more). It’s not that I’m advocating staying static, I am adhd after all but trying to triple my exercise routine and start getting up at 6am and going to ed late obviously was never going to work. Not all in one go.

I can reflect now that I’ve been pushing myself too much.

Spoons theory is always relevant - I’ve been getting up early, going to bed late and increased my exercise count.

Today I’ve flaked. I’ve still been functioning but allowed myself to be distracted- I kept 2 appointments but the other tasks were not on my to do list.

I could - kind of was - be cross with myself because those extra tasks have been social media posts (3 today 🫣) and I’d promised myself social media would take a back step.

But I also recognise the role social media has - posting is my go to as an ‘unhealthy’ calming strategy when I’m too ‘far gone’ to remember to choose the healthier options.

And even though I’m thinking of my unloved to do list - it’s ok. This is my reminder that wanting something to be possible isn’t enough.

And it’s my reminder that I need to be soconscious about the choices I make.

That’s the main take away i just needed reminding of today.

As someone who is neurodivergent I think it’s inevitable that every day is a school day. And how can that be anything other than a good thing?

12/02/2026

‘Through our sesssions I’ve learnt to advocate for myself’

Working as a DSA approved specialist mentor for students with Autism, ADHD and dyslexia is something I’m so grateful to be able to do.

There’s no asking clients to pay for what they need.

I’m in a position where I can be flexible and accommodate individual needs around things and frequency of sessions.

We work on camera, off camera, occasional check ins, accountability, reminders via WhatsApp.

I work with students straight from A levels, late diagnosed mums juggling everything, mature students starting a new phase of life.

I work with undergraduates and postgraduates.

I respond to whatever’s needed - I offer body doubling within a session, we plan the week ahead and how to balance the energy and social demands, health and wellbeing…

I ask questions which help students clarify their priorities and notice their own assumptions. I call out (gently) negative self talk. I pre-empt RSD - it’s ok - what is that telling you?

Sometimes it’s about the studies, the planning, organisation, the starting, the editing and the finishing of assignments

Sometimes it’s about the celebrations, the achievent - why are we all so reluctant to do that?

And so my favourite moment of this week was a mum telling me how she had advocated for her son and arranged for him to have his hair cut when the salon would be closed to any other customers.

That followed a hair appointment in which for the first time, after years struggling she wore ear buds, explained she found conversation and touch stressful, opted out of conversation and head massage and had a much more manageable experience.

There’s the ripple effect of this type of work. People learning it’s ok to meet their own needs, advocate for themselves rather than pushing through and then model self advocacy, self acceptance and self worth to others - teaching younger generations to do the same.

‘Self advocacy’ was never a target in any of our sessions, but self worth and self compassion are integral and woven through them all.

And this is why this work is a privilege 🫶

09/02/2026

It’s never too late…

4 days before I hit 54 and I’m a world away from the tears I shed at 40 where I just felt lost and overwhelmed.

Understanding, accepting and showing yourself compassion - however much effort that may be is important for everyone and for me identifying as autistic and adhd gave me permission to stop apologising for who and how I was and still am has been a massive step to take, but it was only ever me that could gift myself that new thinking

It’s true you don’t need a diagnosis but start giving back to yourself, it’s ok to tend to your own needs first - work out what lights you up, what makes you feel like running for cover, triggers your anxiety and make changes. They don’t have to be huge things in themselves … just a shift in balance and a few more boundaries to protect but you can’t do that until you can say out loud ‘I matter too’ and that can feel huge.

Still work to do - still got changes I’m working on but in general … I’m feeling good.

And it’s good to be you 🫶

05/02/2026

📣Online support for neurodivergent university students is a big part of what I do.

These days when the universe prompts me I take action.

I just saw post with someone asking whether support for neurodivergent university students was a thing.

And people who have interacted with me on here responded with no I don’t think so, but it’s a good idea 🥴

So yes it is a thing and I provide it. I’m a registered practitioner with Disability Student Allowance(DSA) and Student Loans Company.

If a student has a diagnosis then they are assessed and allocated necessary support - usually a mix of equipment, apps and specialist support by someone like me as a mentor and/or a study skills practitioner. And it’s all funded.

If you have someone in mind you would like to support you as a student and they are registered then you can ask your DSA assessor to name them on the awards letter.

I’ve updated my profile accordingly. Keep the prompts coming universe - I’m listening ☺️

05/02/2026

These findings surprise me - not that there is an apparent equal number of women diagnosed as men but that the numbers were found to be almost equal by the age of 20. Sweden is obviously ahead of the game compared to most other countries and definitely compared to here.

I don’t think I would have been diagnosed at school even now - I know I wouldn’t because I was a ‘good girl’ and that trumped everything. But I was also a secretly very unhappy girl.

No one was looking for that and I had no idea feeling that way was anything more than a ‘failing’ on my part.

Now I have my diagnosis I feel whole in terms of understanding myself and loving who I am. Self acceptance and self love has taken me over 50 years so do labels/diagnosis matter? I think so - that’s my personal opinion and experience, though I respect and understand people who don’t seek or feel they need them. If you have that level of self assurance, awareness and acceptance then the need to label is reduced.

And that’s the aim isn’t it a world where people who are living good lives, the best lives they can - just are and are just accepted as who and how they are by themselves and others?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/04/autism-women-men-diagnosis-childhood-adulthood?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

31/01/2026

Noticing changes in my life as I approach 54 in a couple of weeks. My life, circumstances, self awareness and how I see myself has changed in so many ways.

This morning I ran for over 2 hours. This afternoon I’m on my way to Leeds for a fascia release treatment with Mariesa . Movement and healing energy are non negotiables for me now and it shows in the way I feel calmer, more focused and positive - not just about the world outside my head but the world inside it too.

This morning I cancelled my upcoming birthday haircut because I have too many clients to see that day and can’t make the time! That is definitely a first since setting up my business in Sept 21. And doing that work brings me joy and feels like a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday- that’s a definite first … ever!

After 4.5 years in business snd drastic changes in my personal life I feel I’m turning a corner.

I think it’s probably inevitable when people decide to set up a business that it coincides with some dramatic shift in life… so it’s obvious that it will take time to work out. People should point that out more I think - over promising magical solutions. You can’t really rush the process.

In my business I really feel like I’m covering what I need to right now but with clear ideas of next steps which I’m excited about: Breathwork, yoga, EFT and happy to take the time it takes to get there.

And all this shows up in small ways like no tears, no overwhelm when my train was delayed this afternoon … it might sound daft but in the past that’s been the reality - tears on the platform, at the ticket office, on the train … thankfully always found someone to help me.

Looking forward to this afternoon - forcing myself not to work … I have so much to work on at the moment especially as I’m still establishing my in person business but I know down time is important so the weeks are as productive as possible- I have to remind myself of that - luckily I have people in my life to remind me.

Happy weekend from me and Charlie 🐾🫶

30/01/2026

My brain is …

“Colourful”

One favourite moment from coaching children this week.

There’s lots more I could say … there’s so much work to be done in raising awareness, understanding and ensuring schools create psychologically safe learning experiences … but today Friday afternoon after a week of recouping my own supply of ‘spoons’, I’m going to leave with that joyful reflection.

27/01/2026

Sitting with a feeling …

Sometimes supporting yourself … and others … with their emotions doesn’t involve anything other than allowing acceptance and therefore permission and space for them to exist.

External expression may be nothing more than ‘I’m feeling something big.’

Yes I could give it a label or a name, I have lots of words at my disposal - i can try to describe it - I can convince you how ‘on point’ I am with any such description - convince myself too. That scenario has lead to all sorts of unwise decisions and choices in the past.

But the likelihood is such a description wouldn’t resonate 20 mins later. And you would be confused as to why my actions no longer seemed in keeping with the afore mentioned ‘emotional state’.

Eventually I’ll get there but it won’t be a time sensitive response. I’ll learn from it - store the information should a future identical scenario appear another time in my life… unlikely … but the insight will drop long after the event.

So the best thing for me is to just say I have a big emotion. Today I can tell it’s something positive and exciting, almost overwhelming but I’m just going to sit with that and enjoy it. This slide sums up a lot of what’s contributing to that feeling right now. And I think there’s an outcome on the horizon but I’m not quite sure what it is yet. My growth is that feels ok ☺️.

Maybe this makes sense to some and for others you can think of it as an example of Alexithymia perhaps… not being able to process emotions clearly or promptly.

And for senco’s out there writing EHCP targets for children perhaps consider helping a child with their emotions not through smily and sad faces, or a choice of words but with the acknowledgement that emotions can be hard to understand or to label and that’s ok.

Help them allow themselves space to notice how their body responds, yo a heaviness or tightness in their chest - the grey cloud they can almost touch, give them the opportunity to run and squeal when the excitement is bursting out of them.

Teach them the tools breathwork and movement and explore sensory strategies to help them regulate the feelings do they don’t become too big.

Help them accept not being able to match emotions to a word because what is that teaching, masking, compliance … fitting in? Give them emotional and physical space to just be. … perhaps.

I think that would have helped me.

24/01/2026

Settling in….

“Can I take my shoes off?”

Lots of lovely moments settling in to the second week in my new workspace in Darlington.

I’m more focused … it’s like a version of body doubling knowing I’m based in a building where others are working even if I don’t see anyone.

And I feel I’m getting back to a version of myself I thought had lost for ever …

Excited, motivated, determined … producing frameworks in which my learning, knowledge and experience can slot … not for anyone else … just for me. Making sense of it all as a whole.

It’s a new pace, new way of working which feels healthy.

This week I had my first real sense of working in hyperfocused way since my autism diagnosis in Sept 2024 … I worked until after 1am not because I was manically lost in what I was doing and unable to stop due to a driven and all consuming out of control energy, but because I wanted to get a time sensitive piece of work finished and I wanted the openess of a whole night to complete it over the time constraints of a day with other commitments to work around. That would have felt like pressure. And switching between tasks would have interrupted my flow. And I was in flow, I enjoyed the process because I felt like I was creating. Creating my business. Creating a way to reach more children and families.

I made a conscious choice.

It felt like a positive choice based on self awareness.

But I know I have to keep an eye on these choices - make sure I keep a balance and don’t become all consumed in the excitement and joy of creating something I truly believe in and know will grow as I do - as a person, as a practitioner.

There have been lots of lovely moments this week -new clients, families, returning and existing clients… Charlie (the dog) is much more settled … but my favourite moment was today when a 12 year old who is really struggling to manage the school environment asked me if he could take his shoes off.

Possibly the ultimate seal of approval.

Backed by Charlie. 🫶🐾

DM for in person and online services or email

marie@audhdforward.com

Audhd Forward

12/02/2026

12/02/2026

09/02/2026

05/02/2026

05/02/2026

31/01/2026

30/01/2026

27/01/2026

24/01/2026

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Monday	9am - 8pm
Tuesday	9am - 8pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 1pm