Hi, I’m David - I help neurodivergent young people and their families navigate educational challenges and create meaningful futures.
There is more than one route through education. I offer coaching and practical support when education feels overwhelming, difficult or simply isn’t working.
When school isn’t working
When education becomes overwhelming
For some neurodivergent young people, the pressures of school can gradually become too much. Attendance may become difficult, confidence can disappear, and home life can start to revolve around what is — or isn't — happening at school.
As a parent, you can find yourself caught between supporting your young person, responding to school and trying to work out what to do next.
Sometimes trying harder isn't the answer. Sometimes we need to understand what's happening — and consider a different way forward.
How I can help
There isn't one right way forward. I offer different kinds of support depending on what you and your family need right now.
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One-to-one coaching for neurodivergent young people aged 14–18.
A safe and supportive space away from the pressures of school and family to explore overwhelm, confidence, relationships, education and what comes next — while developing a better understanding of themselves and what works for them.
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One-to-one coaching for parents and carers of neurodivergent young people.
Supporting your young person can bring worry, exhaustion, difficult decisions and changes to relationships across the whole family. Coaching puts the focus back on you — how you're doing, what you need, and how you want to move forward.
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One-to-one coaching for neurodivergent adults navigating life, work and change.
Explore overwhelm, executive functioning, confidence, relationships and the things that can make everyday life feel harder than it should. Coaching can help you understand yourself better and find approaches that work for you.
There is more than one route through education
My approach is shaped by three simple beliefs about difference, failure and what it means to succeed.
It’s OK to fail
Sometimes something simply isn't working. There can be real strength in recognising that — and having the courage to stop, change direction or find another way.
Celebrate Your Difference
Thinking and experiencing the world differently can bring challenges, but difference isn't only about what we find difficult. Understanding ourselves better can help us recognise strengths and possibilities that might otherwise be overlooked.
Define Your Own Success
Success doesn't have to follow somebody else's timetable or expectations. What matters is finding a way to live, learn and work that fits who you are.
My story
My own path through education was far from straightforward.
I struggled with many aspects of school from an early age and, after years of surviving an environment I found increasingly uncomfortable, I reached a point where I simply couldn't continue. I left school at 13.
For a long time, I saw that experience — and my subsequent attempts to continue in formal education — as a failure. But my story doesn't end there.
Through a combination of bloody-mindedness and sheer willpower, I eventually returned, completed a BA and MA, going on to build a career working with young people and adults across further and higher education.
Later on, an ADHD diagnosis helped me make sense of my experiences. Today, I bring that lived experience together with over 15 years of professional experience in education, alongside my work as a coach.
You don’t need to have it all figured out
If something isn't working, or you're wondering whether I might be able to help, a free Hello Call is a chance to tell me a little about what's happening, ask questions and see whether working together feels like the right next step.