Do I need a formal autism or ADHD diagnosis to access therapy?

No. Whether you have a formal diagnosis or are self-identified, you are welcome. Therapy is about your lived experience, not a label.

What does neuro-affirming therapy mean?

Neuro-affirming therapy treats neurodivergence (autism, ADHD and related differences) as natural human variation rather than deficits to correct. The goal is to help you build a life that works for your brain, not change your brain to fit the world.

Can therapy help with late-diagnosis grief after an autism or ADHD diagnosis?

Yes. A late diagnosis can bring a complex mix of relief, grief and identity questions. Therapy provides a safe space to process these feelings and build a more authentic sense of self.

Autism & ADHD Support

Name: Capucine Korenberg Psychotherapy
Price range: ££

As a neuro-affirming therapist, I believe that being autistic or having ADHD is a difference to be understood and respected, not a deficit to be cured. We live in a world that wasn't built for neurodivergent minds, and the resulting "masking" and sensory overwhelm can lead to exhaustion and mental health struggles.

In my practice serving Balham/Clapham South, your lived experience as a neurodivergent person is at the heart of our work.

Cranes and Mount Fuji, Hokusai, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji

A neuro-affirming approach

Whether you have a formal diagnosis or are self-identified, I understand that communication difficulties between neurotypical and neurodivergent people are rarely one-sided. They stem from a difference in styles. In our sessions, we can focus on:

Understanding and managing sensory sensitivities
Reducing "masking" and building a more authentic self-identity
Processing late-diagnosis grief and self-discovery
Finding strategies for attention, planning and follow-through
Navigating social interactions and relationships in a neuro-affirming way

Neurodiversity

Autism and ADHD are natural variations in human neurology, not deficits to be corrected or cured. Neurodivergent people bring real strengths: in focus, pattern recognition and ways of seeing that others miss. Research consistently bears this out. These are not compensations. They are part of who you are.

Double empathy problem

The Double Empathy Problem shows that communication difficulties between neurodivergent and neurotypical people go both ways. They are not a sign that something is wrong with you, but reflect a genuine difference in how people experience and express themselves.

Personal commitment

My commitment to neuro-affirming practice is deeply personal. Living within a neurodivergent family has profoundly shaped my understanding of the unique joys and challenges involved. This experience shapes my therapeutic approach and ensures my work is rooted in the reality of neurodivergent life.

Lake Suwa in Shinano Province, Hokusai, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji

Why person-centred psychotherapy?

Person-centred therapy is a good fit for neurodivergent people because it starts from your inner world, not a diagnostic framework or a list of things to fix. Research by Dr Romy Hume confirms that what makes therapy work for autistic adults is the quality of the relationship: genuine empathy, honesty and care.

Studies also show that therapists who lack knowledge of neurodivergence are one of the biggest barriers autistic adults face in getting useful support. Knowing this matters to how I work.

I communicate plainly and without pretence, because that is what real trust requires. My hope is to help you unpick the shame and exhaustion that come from years of feeling misunderstood.

Request an initial session

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