SIANA
Siana has been a therapist since 2002, however she only realised she was autistic five years ago. She has found that gradually embracing her autistic identity has led to major shifts in her self-understanding and compassion for herself.
Siana says that the biggest thing was in recognising once and for all that she isn’t not “broken” or abnormal. The neurodiversity paradigm forms the foundation of her therapy practice. She holds firmly that we are “different, not less” and that our diversity is natural and valuable to society.
Siana loves working with fellow autistic people, ADHDers and other neurokin. She is passionate about people having the right to access relevant and affirming therapy. Siana finds this can be one of the first spaces where they experience authentic autistic / neurodivergent culture, where they are seen and valued exactly as they are.
Siana’s core training was in person-centred counselling (MA, Durham University 2001). She holds further qualifications in IFS (Internal Family Systems) and Jungian Sandplay. Siana loves to work creatively and much of her work in private practice focuses on complex trauma.
Siana lives in a small seaside town in Northern Ireland with her teenage daughter and their two cats. She is insatiably curious, often a bit too honest and a lover of books and learning.
LEO
Leo’s trained in relational transactional analysis, he’s been practising since 2014. At 55 he was diagnosed autistic having suspected as much for years. This came with a bonus ADHD diagnosis which surprised precisely no-one in his personal life.
He has what his psychologist described as a very AuDHD CV, having had careers as a drummer, DJ, journalist, radio presenter, graphic designer, digital producer and project manager. In his work as a therapist he feels he has come home and with a practice of 90% neurodivergent people, has found his tribe.
Outside of his client work Leo teaches, writes about and advocates for neurodivergence inclusion. He finds writing about himself in the third person jarring but oddly liberating. He lives in north London.