Hi, I’m Helen! My job role at 3SC is Neurodiversity Coach for the MoJ Thames Valley Autism Programme. This means I spend time with people on probation who have a diagnosis (or symptoms) of autism, ADHD, acquired neurodiversity (e.g. through brain injury), any other neurodiverse conditions, or more than one.

What a great role! My clients are unique, talented, different (in a good way) and courageous in the way they navigate their challenges through coaching. They keep me on my toes, and I learn something new every single day.

My Background

The seeds for my coaching practice grew out of my own need to understand myself, especially the difficult bits. A zig-zag career path led me to complete my (accredited) Advanced Diploma in Professional Coaching in 2021, along with several certificates in Process Oriented Psychology, and to launch myself into coaching professionally. This followed a 12-year role in sustainable business, culminating in an MSc in Sustainability, which brought an end to the sustainable business chapter for me. I chose to focus on personal development as my contribution to sustainable living instead. Prior to all this I had been a semi-professional artist, while raising my children, and taught art to people with mental health challenges. When I realised that my earnings as an artist weren’t going to cut it, and I had to get a ‘proper’ job, I embarked upon a deep personal exploration in the form of 6 years of Jungian psychoanalysis.

Neurodiversity and me

I was born in 1970, and my early experience of neurodiversity among family and friends was neither easy, nor well understood. I have witnessed family members, and friends, experience acute needs in childhood, and/or significant challenges later in life because of autism, diagnosed and undiagnosed. I only wish all of our understanding had been better, sooner.

Among my children’s generation (now in their late 20s), things are a little different. A new, inclusive and positive vocabulary is emerging, and neurodiversity is better recognised, tolerated and, even, appreciated, although we are far from reaping the full benefits of a neurodiverse world.

What I hope for

My style of coaching has always been to try and engage creatively with whatever circumstances are presenting, and to support my clients to do the same. I find it particularly helpful to pay attention to what might otherwise be overlooked or marginalised. There is frequently gold in what we miss, or dismiss, and/or in what presents as a disturbance or ‘symptom.’

With neurodiversity (and probation) coaching this aspect is further emphasised and the potential for learning, on all sides, is vast. I feel sure that helping my clients to understand and value their own unique selves and minds will benefit not just them but will have a knock-on effect for all of us.

Creativity

I still love, and make, art, and enjoy developing my writing practice too.
Last year, I finally illustrated the children’s picture book I wrote decades ago, all about a character who felt he didn’t fit in. It’s not published, but I include it here because the people I am coaching also often express the wish to fit in. Like the character in the book, it would be great if they (and we all) could find a way to deeper inner confidence and find a way to bring their (our) unique talents to a waiting world.

If you have 3 minutes and need a little gentle inspiration set to wonderful music, please take some time out to enjoy it. (Link to Youtube Video)

Finally

If that all sounds highfalutin, it is the engaging with real people, in their real, and often very challenging circumstances, that motivates me. I frequently ask myself, ‘am I up to the job?’ Sometimes, of course, I feel I could have done something better, which shows I am at the creative edge of my own learning, a valuable place to be. My intention is to keep learning to support all my clients to the best of my ability and training, making the most of my colleagues and 3SC’s very robust CPD programme.