NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
This is the short version (TL:DR)
One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "How do I know whether I need counselling or coaching?"
The honest answer is that many people don't know, and that's completely okay.
You may simply know that something isn't working anymore. Perhaps you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, exhausted or disconnected from yourself. Maybe you've received an autism or ADHD diagnosis, you're questioning your career, or you're struggling to balance the demands of everyday life.
Counselling and coaching are both supportive conversations, but they have different purposes. Understanding the difference can help you decide where to begin, although many people naturally move between the two as their needs change.
Scroll down for more detail....
What is counselling?
Counselling offers a safe, confidential space to explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences without judgement.
Sometimes our present difficulties are influenced by experiences from the past. We may find ourselves repeating familiar patterns, struggling with relationships, feeling overwhelmed, or carrying beliefs about ourselves that no longer serve us. Counselling gives you the opportunity to understand where these patterns have come from and how they continue to affect your life today.
It isn't about dwelling on the past. It's about making sense of it so you can move forward with greater self-awareness, self-compassion and choice.
Counselling might be right for you if...
- You're experiencing anxiety or low mood.
- You feel emotionally overwhelmed.
- You're struggling with relationships.
- You've experienced trauma or difficult life events.
- You're navigating an autism or ADHD diagnosis.
- You want to understand yourself more deeply.
- You notice patterns that keep repeating in your life.
- You'd like space simply to be heard without pressure to fix everything immediately.
What is coaching?
Coaching focuses less on understanding where you've been and more on where you'd like to go.
Together we'll identify what's getting in your way, clarify what matters most to you, and develop practical strategies that help you move towards meaningful goals.
Coaching isn't about someone telling you what to do. Instead, it's a collaborative process that helps you recognise your strengths, build confidence and take realistic, achievable steps forward.
While we may briefly explore barriers or beliefs that are holding you back, coaching is primarily future-focused and action-oriented.
Coaching might be for you if...
- You feel stuck but don't know how to move forward.
- You have goals but struggle to follow through.
- Executive functioning challenges make everyday life difficult.
- You're building a business or changing career.
- You'd like more confidence.
- You want accountability alongside encouragement.
- You're ready to make changes but need structure and support.
Can counselling and coaching overlap?
Although counselling and coaching have different aims, they aren't completely separate.
Many people begin counselling to better understand themselves and process difficult experiences. As they gain confidence and clarity, they naturally reach a point where coaching becomes more helpful, allowing them to focus on goals, growth and creating the life they want.
Equally, someone may begin coaching and discover that deeper emotional work would be beneficial before moving forward.
There isn't a right or wrong place to start. The important thing is finding the support that's right for you at this moment in your life.
If you're thinking....
Counselling
Coaching
Moving from stuck and overwhelmed to clearer and more supported
ADHD coaching is not about becoming a perfectly organised person. It is about creating more clarity, reducing shame around inconsistency, and finding ways of doing things that feel more possible.
That might mean building systems that fit your brain, creating realistic routines, breaking tasks into manageable steps, improving boundaries, managing overwhelm, developing self-trust, or turning ideas into action.
My ADHD coaching is especially suited to ADHD and AuDHD adults who have tried generic advice and been left feeling worse. We work with your brain, your life, your energy and your needs, rather than trying to squeeze you into an approach that was never designed for you.
You may also find my Coaching pages helpful if you are interested in broader support around confidence, self-employment, imposter syndrome or personal development.
Send me a message
You do not have to arrive with a clear plan, a perfect goal, or a neatly organised explanation. You are welcome to get in touch even if all you know is that things feel messy, overwhelming or harder than they need to be.
A simple message is enough.
I offer autism, ADHD and AuDHD counselling and coaching in person in Kingsbridge, Devon, and online across the UK.
