Neuro Coral Psychology

07/06/2024

We recognise that diagnosis is just the start of the journey for many people. That’s why we also offer support sessions for both children and adults, in addition to parenting support.

These sessions can be used in lots of different ways, e.g. to learn more about neurodivergence, to support adjustment to diagnosis, to help with emotional wellbeing, to explore tricky parenting dilemmas, or to think about reasonable adjustments that can be made at school or college.

Sessions can be offered either online or face to face, depending on your preference. We will always try to be as adaptive as possible, for example by adjusting the environment in line with sensory preferences, incorporating creative approaches, or bringing movement and preferred interests into sessions.

Our sessions are offered by an experienced Clinical Psychologist and can be booked on an ad-hoc basis, as and when required.

Whatever your need, contact us to find out how we can support you 🪸🪸

https://www.neurocoralpsychology.com/support-sessions

07/06/2024

A great visual representation of masking. We often see this pattern and it’s so important to increase understanding about this. Limited evidence of a child’s differences at school does not mean they are not neurodivergent. Exploring what is happening after school when the “mask” comes off is just as important ♾️

What Masking Looks Like In School...

[Image of a perfectly folded origami creation made of blue paper. Text reads, 'In school: Perfectly put together, well behaved'. Below is a crumpled ball of blue paper. Text reads, 'At home: Upset, anger, unable to cope.']

Credit: Lucy Roth (Educational Mental Health Practitioner)

26/05/2024

I often recommend Different not Less by Chloé Hayden to older teenagers, young adults and parents that I work with. Chloe shares her experiences both before and after her discovery that she is autistic and has ADHD. She combines her personal reflections with useful advice about things that can be helpful, all whilst strongly advocating for a move to a neuroaffirming society. It’s a great read, both for neurodivergent people early on in their journey, and for friends/ family/ professionals wanting to learn and understand more ♾️

18/05/2024

Did you know that up to 80% of neurodivergent people experience at least one co-occurring mental health related condition?

This rate is much higher than in the neurotypical population and there are lots of possible reasons for this:
- Many neurodivergent people experience stigma, discrimination and/or bullying, all of which are risk factors for the development of mental health difficulties
- There may be differences in recognising, expressing and regulating emotions and sensory experiences
- Living in a world which is often not accommodating of differences can be extremely stressful and lead to feelings of isolation and reduced self-esteem
- Lots of neurodivergent people refer to masking their behaviour- suppressing or changing their behaviour in order to “fit in” or go unnoticed. This can be very fatiguing and stressful over time
- There are high rates of misdiagnosis, or of neurodivergence being missed until later life
- Neurodivergent people are statistically more likely to experience traumatic life events

These reasons are all related in some way to the wider systems around neurodivergent people. That means schools, colleges, workplaces, health providers, benefits systems etc. We undoubtedly need huge changes that need to come from the government.

But change can also come from all of us! We all need to do what we can to educate ourselves about neurodiversity; to listen and learn from neurodivergent people; to be open minded about differences; to educate our children about neurodiversity; and to adapt and support adjustments in line with people’s needs.

It’s also really important that mental health related difficulties are fully assessed as part of all Autism and ADHD assessments. A simple yes or no to diagnosis is not enough. A thorough assessment should support people to explore their life experiences and any mental health related concerns, and to understand what may be helpful moving forwards.

05/05/2024

Here’s our lovely clinic room at Brook House in St Neots. It’s in the town centre so easily accessible by walking, car or public transport, and there is parking on site. It’s a calm and quiet setting, with plenty of space to move around 😊

We know that coming to a new place can be stressful so we provide more information on what to expect in advance. We also recognise that everybody has different communication and sensory preferences. We will always try to be as accommodating as possible so contact us to discuss your individual needs 🪸

🪸 Autism, ADHD, and Learning Disability diagnostic assessments and post diagnostic support sessions

🪸 For children, young people and adults

🪸 In Cambridgeshire and beyond

30/04/2024

There are lots of potential benefits to having an Autism and/ or ADHD assessment. Neuroaffirmative assessments can lead to increased understanding, both for the person themselves and people around them. Good quality assessments also help to identify strengths and areas of need, so that there are clear ideas and recommendations about what might be useful moving forward. Many individuals and families come for assessment feeling quite stuck, and leave feeling more confident about taking the next steps. The assessment process should be much more than just a “yes” or “no”; it should be meaningful, useful and empowering.

However, it is important to recognise that diagnostic assessment might not be the right path for everyone. That’s why we always complete an initial appointment to explore whether it’s the right approach for you, with no commitment to move forwards if it isn’t. If this is something you’re thinking about exploring, feel free to get in touch 🪸🪸

24/04/2024

Hi! 👋 I’m Dr Lisa Weston, a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience in supporting neurodivergent people, both professionally and in my personal life. I have always loved working in this area, and became aware early on in my career about the need for more understanding, support and services for autistic people and those with ADHD.

In my most recent NHS post, I worked within a children and young people’s Autism and ADHD diagnostic assessment service. This work really helped me to recognise the need for access to prompt, thorough and supportive assessment, in addition to more support following diagnosis.

I am enthusiastic about offering both of these services in a neuroaffirmative way. To
me, this means working collaboratively with people, supporting them to explore and understand their differences, and to celebrate their strengths.

In my spare time, I love spending time with my family, reading, running and anything Disney or Harry Potter related!

🪸🪸 Website coming soon 🪸🪸

24/04/2024

🪸 We view people and families as experts in their own experiences

🪸 We want people to feel heard and seen, as they share their story

🪸 We support people to explore their own profile of strengths and needs, and to move towards their own goals

🪸🪸 Website coming soon 🪸🪸

24/04/2024

COMING SOON!

🪸 Autism, ADHD, and Learning Disability diagnostic assessments and post diagnostic support sessions

🪸 For children, young people and adults

🪸 In Cambridgeshire and beyond