School was difficult. I was full of energy, day-dreamed a lot, but felt trapped in classrooms.

In primary and secondary school I was in trouble most days. This included repeat exclusions and being expelled.

At sixth form I was asked to leave in exchange for a good reference.

I left, restarted my A Levels at York College, an environment with a lot more space and freedom, and ended up doing well and getting into Cambridge University. At university I was diagnosed with ADHD.

I thought I was a bad and stupid for struggling in school. Turned out it was just not the right environment for my ADHD traits.

In the right environment, the freedom and space that college gave me, my ADHD traits were actually strengths and could help me thrive.

When I graduated university I wanted to work with people. I initially tried teaching but needed something with more variation and eventually settled on policing.

I loved policing and my ADHD traits were beneficial for emergency work.

Although my work was going well, the demands of modern day life, combined with the executive functioning differences of ADHD, made it very challenging to organise, prioritise and balance the difference areas of my life.

Drawing upon my Anthropology degree, experience of emergency work and ADHD research, I made a single page with my purpose, values, strategy and practical ADHD management steps (tactics).

My 'ADHD compass' made a profound difference to being able to find direction, balance and manage my life. This included the decision to leave the police and spend more quality time with my partner. 

I became a recovery navigator, working 1:1 with opiate and alcohol dependency.

I found that many of my clients had ADHD traits that contributed to their addictive behaviours.

My values and strategy based approach, and practical ADHD management techniques, resonated with those clients and helped them achieve their goals.

I completed an ADHD Clinical Services Provider qualification (ADHD-CCSP) which was taught by leading experts in the field. I am currently completing further professional development in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Integrative Coaching, and have completed training in counselling skills. 

I started Compass ADHD because firstly, I love working with people, and secondly, with practical skills and a bit of big picture thinking (a focus on purpose, values and strategy) ADHD traits can be directed to build a great life; one that is adventurous, but also, balanced and fulfilling. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my bio.