Ali Press

Are you a neurodivergent person interested in building a life that works for you, plays to your strengths, and accommodates your unique way of being? Hire me as your neuro-affirming counsellor for concrete steps to improve communication, understanding, accommodation and fulfilment. Free consults at alipress.uk

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 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, I offer a compassionate, personalised space to work through what troubles you.

Diagnosis and realisations of neurodivergence 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.

If you are looking for neurodivergence affirming counselling in central London, or online, please feel free to get in touch. My peaceful, calm 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.

Neurodivergence affirming counselling

I specialise in supporting neurodivergent people to navigate areas in their lives that cause distress, with an emphasis on centring your unique difference.

I also support people with later-life realisations and diagnosis of neurodivergence, including ADHD, autism, and both together (AuDHD).

Our sessions are a safe place to explore what's happening for you, whether that's themes from your past that trouble you, or things that are happening in your life right now.

I blend techniques from both my counselling and coaching training, as appropriate for each, which provides 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.

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.

What can you bring to counselling?

Anything you want. Our work together - where we go, what we bring in - will be led by you, and what you feel will be most helpful. And we will only go where you lead, when you feel ready to - I am not going to impose any kind of agenda, and push you into talking about things you don't want to talk about, or don't feel ready to open up about.

Our work together will start with looking at themes or areas in your life that trouble you, and any areas you would specifically like to focus on. And that might change over time, or even from week to week, and that's totally OK.

Our first step towards working together is a free, 15 mins phone or video call, which allows you to share a bit of what brings you to counselling and what you're looking for, and to get a sense of me and what it might be like working together.

We will then arrange our first session, during which we will get to know one another a bit better, and go into more depth about what's happening for you.

I will ask open questions like what brings you to therapy and why now, as well as provide you with information about how I work and what I can offer you. My aim is for both of us to feel like we have enough information to make a decision about working together.

I will always be honest about whether I feel I can help you, and will only agree to working with you if I feel I can be of genuine help. You are also free to choose whether or not you want to work with me, and welcome to say so if you don't feel like I'm the right fit for you.