Katie Henshaw
Member Status: Accredited
Member No: NCS21-01170
Location: Penwortham
Hello!
I’m Katie, thank you for visiting my profile.
I'm a neurodivergent therapist, mentor, coach, and advocate, and I'm on a mission to help make the world a gentler, more accepting place in any way I can.
I’ve been working as a therapist for five years now and I absolutely love my role. My main aim is to provide a safe, nurturing space for my clients to express themselves and heal from past trauma - free from the judgements, expectations and shame which exist as standard in society and which so often affect our everyday lives and relationships. My clients tell me that I'm warm, welcoming, genuine and insightful in the way I work.
I'm a big believer that no two people are the same and I'm passionate about understanding exactly what life is like for you - offering a safe space for you to feel heard, valued, respected and empowered to be your authentic self. My approach is heartfelt, uplifting and individually tailored - I'm here to support you on your journey, and I'm honoured to be a part of your story.
I experienced my own trauma going through childhood and early adulthood as an unrecognised neurodivergent person before diagnosis later in life - with years of constantly masking, denying and distorting (even to myself) the fact that I was finding things a lot harder than I was letting on. This is why I chose this career path - as I really wanted to be able to support others in the way which I needed back then.
This led me to spending five years training in person-centred therapeutic counselling after studying a degree in sociology, ethnicity and human rights. I’m also experienced in other roles, such as supporting people to have their voices heard and rights respected as a health and social care advocate, and coaching and mentoring in a university setting - supporting people become more in tune with their creative potential.
My particular niche is working with people who like myself are autistic, ADHD, PDA or neurodivergent. I'm also an active advocate in these areas as well as a therapist, and have in-depth awareness of supporting others from a lived experience perspective. I also have plenty of experience supporting people who do not identify as such, so either way, if you’re drawn to me, please do get in touch.
I'm based in Preston, Lancashire, but my practice is exclusively online. I offer one-to-one therapy to young people and adults, as well as coaching, mentoring and advocacy support to individuals, families and groups. I work over Zoom, as well as over email/message - or a hybrid between the two, depending on what best suits each individual.
Services Offered:
- Counselling -
Counselling is delivered using a person centred approach which is nonjudgemental, nondirective and supports you during times of crisis or when experiencing periods of stress and anxiety. Sessions are usually delivered weekly or fortnightly and for periods of between 3-6 months+. The sessions are delivered via Zoom, and are also available in a text-based format. Suitable for ages 16+.
- Neurodivergent led counselling -
Neurodivergent led counselling is specifically delivered using a blended approach of trauma-informed therapeutic models, bespoke to your unique individual needs. Drawing on both professional and lived experience, it is specifically delivered by an autistic, ADHD, PDA therapist and LGBTQIA+ ally, with awareness and acceptance around:
- Neurodivergence (an understanding of what it is to feel like a ‘square peg in a round hole’)
- The Neurodiversity Paradigm (the idea that all brains are different, and that diversity is to be celebrated and supported)
- The Social Model of Disability (the idea that disability is created by social barriers in peoples’ lives)
Sessions are usually delivered weekly or fortnightly and for periods of between 3-6 months+. The sessions are delivered via Zoom, and are also available in a text-based format. Suitable for ages 16+.
-Text Based Therapy-
I also run a text-based therapy service. This can be more accessible for some people compared to face-to-face or phone support. As an autistic, ADHD, PDA therapist and LGBTQIA+ ally, I bring a unique blend of professional knowledge and lived experience. I also draw on trauma-informed therapeutic approaches tailored to your individual needs. WhatsApp provides a convenient end-to-end encrypted platform for secure communication, helping to ensure that you can express yourself openly and comfortably. Text-based therapy is suitable for individuals who are seeking a compassionate and inclusive space to navigate their life's challenges. I am here to support and empower you as we navigate the complexities of your unique journey. Sessions are usually delivered weekly or fortnightly and for periods of between 3-6 months+. The sessions are delivered via WhatsApp. Suitable for ages 16+.
- Neurodivergent led coaching -
Coaching uses a collaborative approach, is goal focused with personal and/or professional development at its heart. Coaching can help the following areas:
- Access to work coaching sessions and/or workplace support
- Body doubling
- Neurodivergent life hacks
- Autism, ADHD and/or PDA specific coaching
- Setting goals and achieving them!
- Setting boundaries and building confidence
- Form filling / applications
- Business development including online presence building
- Navigating executive functioning and sensory processing profiles, meltdowns, shutdowns, and burnout
Sessions are usually delivered weekly; fortnightly or monthly dependent upon your needs. The sessions are delivered via Zoom, and are also available in a text-based format. Suitable for ages 18+.
- Neurodivergent led mentoring (all ages) -
Neurodivergent led mentoring draws upon the lived experience of the practitioner. The practitioner provides both emotional and practical support, enabling people to reduce the impact of pressures posed by living in a neurotypical world that doesn’t always suit (or is even aware of) their needs. Mentoring offers support with emotional regulation, including strategies to reduce the impact of crisis and trauma, and reduce the pressure of demands, helping to improve overall quality of life. Mentoring also supports people in exploring their sensory processing and executive functioning profiles from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective - reducing distress, finding unique strategies which truly fit for them, and supporting people to truly be themselves. Sessions are usually delivered weekly; fortnightly or monthly dependent upon your needs. The sessions are delivered via Zoom, and are also available in a text-based format. Suitable for all ages.
- Neurodivergent led parenting coaching & support -
These sessions are about supporting people to parent outside of the box, in ways that are genuinely suited to their own individual needs and those of their children and family. Parenting coaching recognises the role of parents and aims to support them with key areas such as educational anxiety; sensory processing and executive functioning; emotional regulation; communication; family relationships; and how these are often all linked to trauma and burnout being experienced by both parents and children alike. Sessions are usually delivered weekly; fortnightly or monthly dependent upon your needs. The sessions are delivered via Zoom, and are also available in a text-based format. Suitable for parents/carers, or family groups (when delivered combined with Neurodivergent led mentoring).
Next steps
I work Mon and Fri evenings and Sunday daytimes. I offer a reduced cost initial consultation session which lasts an hour. This gives you space to get a deeper understanding of how I work as a practitioner, and what you would like to work on, so you can be sure I am the best person to support you.
