What Kids With ADHD And Autism Bring Up Most In Therapy |
What Kids With ADHD And Autism Bring Up Most In Therapy
"There can be a real sensitivity to feeling 'different' along with fears of being judged, excluded, or labelled in ways that don’t feel kind or accurate."
Parents editor at HuffPost UK
What Kids Are Carrying is a HuffPost UK series focusing on how the nation’s youngest generation is *really* feeling right now – and how parents and caregivers can support them.
When I reached out to therapists and counsellors about the themes that cropped up most in therapy among kids in 2025, one common thread was the impact of being neurodivergent.
If someone is neurodivergent, their brain “diverges from what is considered typical”, according to SEN psychotherapist Gee Eltringham. This can encompass ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and Tourette’s syndrome.
Belinda Gidman-Rowse, a mental health practitioner and school counsellor in a primary school in Devon, sees around 50 children between the ages of eight and 11 each school term. She notes that a “significant proportion” are navigating either diagnosed or undiagnosed ADHD and/or autism.
Counselling Directory member and therapist Debbie Keenan is also supporting neurodivergent children while they await diagnosis – “this period is often filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and confusion,” she explains.
“Many children already experience challenges such as feeling different, struggling with emotions, or finding school and social situations overwhelming.”
NHS waiting times for diagnosis can vary massively – kids may have to wait months or even years for support from specialist services, forcing parents to find strategies to help their child........