Growing up in the UK, I was one of the first people to be diagnosed with ADHD. At the time, ADHD was relatively unknown, and many dismissed it as an excuse for bad behaviour or poor academic performance. I went onto a treatment of Ritalin. Over time, I became more focused and driven as a result.

It's not unusual for someone with ADHD to also have another learning disability. In fact, studies show that 30-50% of people with ADHD also have dyslexia, while 10-20% have both ADHD and dyspraxia. Dysphasia is less common, but it does occasionally occur in people with ADHD.

In my early teens, I switched from Ritalin to another stimulant drug due to a variety of reasons, ranging from side effects to changes in my ADHD symptoms. However, the new stimulant proved problematic and I developed depressive symptoms as a result. Around 6 months later I went back to Ritalin.

When it came time to take my GCSE's and A Level's, I was determined to do well despite my ADHD. I got high marks in the subjects I was most interested in, like Art, Theatre, Home Economics and Business Studies.

Between finishing school and starting University, I took a year out to work and travel. My travels spanned, New Zealand, Australia, Ghana and USA. My Gap Year helped me gain confidence and prepare me for future challenges in life despite my ADHD. I even sat on a crocodile in the wild!

After a rocky start, what set me up for success at university was finding an incredible group of friends who I still hold dear to this day. Coupled with the fact that I was studying film, one of my big passions, meant that I not only graduated with a First Class degree but was awarded the Deans Award for highest academic achievement for the class of 2009.

When I was 16, I started working on sets during my school holidays. After I graduated, I moved to London with the goal of making it big in Hollywood. I devoted myself to my career, working long hours and living in Los Angeles for a while. I even got to star in a Muppet film! However, I didn't factor in the possibility of ADHD Burnout. Over time, the stress of the industry took a toll on my mental health, and I eventually left the business altogether.

I don’t remember this, but apparently I mentioned that I had ADHD around 4 dates into meeting my now wife. She said I was very dismissive about it. But unbeknownst to me, she was researching what it’s like to date someone with ADHD. This is one of the things I love so much about her - how much she cares and supports me. We now run a couples support group once a month together.

Having believed that I have 'grown out of' my ADHD, it was in my finalist year of Psychotherapy training that realised I still had ADHD but had been in denial of it since my undergraduate degree. I was failing essays and getting tutoring just to get a pass. I got re-diagnosed with ADHD Combined time and went onto stimulants. I went from failing essays to getting distinctions. Is it a coincidence? I think not!

If it wasn’t for this 4 year intensive counselling and psychotherapy training, I’m not sure I would still be here today. It helped me understand myself and my past including ADHD in a way I never thought possible. Often deeply painful but also incredibly healing. I owe a great deal to training at The Minster Centre. The UK’s longest running and leading Integrative Psychotherapy institute.

Having graduated, I struggled to maintain my interest in simply working as a private therapist. There was an itch that needed scratching - and so I took all my training and past career experiences and threw myself into the corporate world to improve the resilience and wellbeing of staff. I gathered other like minded individuals and founded a corporate wellbeing consultancy that takes a holistic view on supporting employee mental health.

If having a baby in the middle of a pandemic wasn’t hard enough - realising that becoming a father would impact on my ADHD challenges was incredibly debilitating. I almost gave up on my therapy career until my psychiatrist suspected I had Paternal Post-Natal Depression (PPD). As a therapist myself, I had to accept this reality and am so grateful for the antidepressants and therapy that supported me during this time. It has made me a better father, husband and ultimately… a better me!

Covid-19 was tough for us ADHDers. I struggled with the lack of change, movement and increased control from laws. But like many, I chose to see it as an opportunity - and this ultimately set me on a path towards finding my niche in ADHD & Mental Health in business. After much encouragement from a good friend, I completed a coaching qualification and became a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

Having already a large neurodiverse client base - it felt time to get some specific training for ADHDers. I am currently training with ADDCA - the global leader in ADHD Coach Training and Education. Apart from the great content, the value in training with others from all over North & South America, Europe, Australia, Asia & Africa is eye opening and helps deepen my understanding of how ADHD impacts on different cultures.

On 1st January 2023 I touched down into Auckland, New Zealand. I joined the board of ADHD New Zealand and have expended my work with ADHD individuals and consulting with organisations. It’s a very exciting time to be working in the field of Neurodiversity!