The person behind Puzzle Peace — and why this work matters to me.
I'm a qualified Integrative Psychotherapist and ADHD coach based in Gotham, Nottingham. After my own diagnosis of ADHD aged 51, and my daughter's diagnosis of ASC and ADHD, it felt like we had found the missing puzzle pieces which made sense of our lives so far. But what now? I had a diagnosis but found very little support for myself as a late diagnosed woman, as a mum to a neurodivergent young person, and as a psychotherapist. Hence Puzzle Peace began to develop.
I wanted to offer a service that fitted with the way neurodivergent brains worked — because I believe everyone deserves support that fits their unique ways of thinking.
I spent 10 years working in the emergency services and have spent the last 20 years working as a UKCP accredited Integrative Psychotherapist, supervisor and tutor. Most recently I qualified as an ADHD Coach through Barrett Coaching and Training with an Accredited Certificate in Coach Training.
I work with adults who have a diagnosis of ADHD/ASC, or who are on the pathway to assessment, or who simply identify with ADHD/ASC and who are ready to explore practical, compassionate ways to move forward.
My coaching style is warm, non-judgemental, therapeutic and always led by what matters most to you. There is no pressure to have everything figured out — we start exactly where you are.
Recently whilst on holiday I embarked on some body boarding. I could see my wife in a canoe and my daughter on a paddle board in the distance and I enthusiastically swam on my body board to join them. The sea was very calm. Eventually I reached them. I was exhausted. I panicked. Images of Sea Rescue flashing before me — a fear of being dragged further into the sea. I gasped to my wife — ‘I can’t swim back’. She shouted at me to grab the rear of her canoe, and she would paddle me back to shore — which incidentally looked miles away. No matter how hard she paddled we didn’t move.
About 10 feet away a woman was watching this scene unfold. She said very gently and calmly (trying not to laugh) ‘you can put your feet down you know!’ The relief and embarrassment I felt were on a par with each other!
The reason I share this story is that sometimes, entering coaching or psychotherapy can feel exactly like that swim — you’re propelled by a surge of energy or desperation, venturing far from familiar shores and finding yourself exhausted, overwhelmed, and convinced that you’re out of your depth. Panic sets in, your inner voices conjuring images of worst-case scenarios, and you begin to doubt whether you’ll ever make it back to safety.
You may reach for help, clinging to someone you trust — a friend, a parent, a colleague, a partner — hoping they can tow you back to solid ground. But despite their best efforts, progress feels slow, even impossible, weighed down by your own fears and doubts. This is where a Coach or Therapist can guide you, or be with you quietly, grounded and calm, witnessing your struggle.
Then, gently they say, “You can put your feet down.” In that moment, you discover that the ground has been beneath you all along; you’re not adrift after all. Relief washes over you, laughter breaks the tension, and the fear dissipates. Coaching and therapy often help you realise that sometimes the support you need is simply to be reminded of your own strength — that you’re not as lost as you thought, and the way forward is closer than it seems.
Safe practice: I hold a current DBS certificate and professional indemnity insurance. I work within the ethics and standards of UKCP and commit to ongoing supervision and professional development.
Start with a free, no-obligation free call. We will have a chat, and you can ask me anything before deciding if coaching feels right for you.
