Building Unshakeable Confidence for Neurodivergent individuals

Confidently

Neurodivergent

Building unshakeable confidence in and for the neurodivergent community

An increased awareness of neurodivergence in our society has led to an uncomfortable truth – we have failed neurodivergent people for too long.

For many reasons neurodivergence is associated with lower self esteem, increased anxiety and a higher risk of mental health struggles such as depression.

But we know from experience that neurodivergence doesn’t have to be synonymous with low confidence. For example, studies show that the key to more confidence and better mental health within the neurodivergent population is acceptance, empathy and support alongside education.

Our unique programmes are designed to educate and help change the way we think about neurodivergence. We are able to support neurodivergent people with practical tools to help them improve their own confidence when living with a diagnosis, as well as support teams and leaders in becoming the supportive environment needed.

If you want to find out more about how we can help you or your business, get in touch today.

“

This course was fantastic. It contained a real mix of people and experiences, and the worksheets help put some meaning behind some thoughts and understanding that have already crossed my mind. The delivery by Lerryn was brilliant, and hearing her experiences was wonderful, with some humour mixed in there to help people feel really at ease.

Example Interventions

To find out more about how we can help support you and your team, get in touch today

Our Story

Lerryn

As a child of the 80’s, neurodivergence wasn’t widely recognised. I was seen as a somewhat feisty, highly energetic kid with some interesting quirks that could be taught out of me. An avid rule follower, I morphed into a people pleasing adult with a severe lack of self esteem and a magnet for chaos.

Throughout my adult life I have undertaken therapy and delved into self-help to try and ‘cure’ my feelings of not fitting in anywhere. But no matter how hard I tried, how much outside of my comfort zone I would go, nothing really seemed to shift.

As my son grew up, he started to experience unhappiness and restlessness and his headteacher suggested we look into neurodivergence as a reason for this. And so started a crazy journey for both my son and I of understanding ourselves in a way I never thought possible.

The lightbulb moments came thick and fast as I realised that neurodivergence could explain the things I find so difficult that others don’t seem to struggle with. That a lack of self esteem came from a lifetime of messages that others had given me and I had given myself of how things should be. The exhaustion of keeping up with what I should be doing was breaking me, especially as I felt like I wasn’t doing anything right anyway.

This led to a whole new era of self help and understanding and finally I am more at peace and confident than I have ever been.

I am desperate to share this knowledge with the world and help neurodivergent people like me to find their voice and their confidence.

If you want to find out more about how we can support you or your organisation, please book in a chat with us and we’ll be glad to help.

Lucy

Whereas Lerryn found solace in high energy independence as a child, I learnt early on that my natural lethargy, dreaminess and ability to just ‘agree to disagree’ got me both positive acceptance from adults, and a satisfying push-back from my little sister who would feel incomplete without the chance to win. (Sorry sis!)

I was at utter peace simply lying in the long grass staring at the clouds, or playing make-believe. I could escape reality frighteningly easily, and to some degree still can. My chronic forgetfulness, exhaustion and talent for disorganisation forced me to develop effective scaffolding to avoid judgement but also ultimately successfully helped me avoid identification as a neurodivergent child.

My inability to focus on (and therefore achieve at) academic subjects earned me the label of ‘the creative one’ and, by the time I was in my late teens, I had developed a deep acceptance that I wasn’t smart. This became an underlying belief that held me back for a good 20 years of my adult life, and is now something I am passionate about helping other neurodivergent people avoid.

It wasn’t until my two children were diagnosed as Autistic and as a family we deeply explored neurodivergence, that my lightbulb moment happened and the unpicking of a lifetime began.

As sisters, our separate journeys to understanding, accepting and celebrating our neurodivergence have forever unknowingly been intertwined. Therefore it is poetic that we now work together to proudly support others along that same journey.

Benefits of higher confidence

Increased Resilience

Confidence can help enable people to accept criticism and bounce back from setbacks in a healthy way .

Neurodivergent individuals equipped with self-assurance exhibit greater resilience and stronger ability to handle the complexities of living with a disability and promotes a sense of control and adaptability in the face of life’s uncertainties.

Self - Advocacy

Confidence is a key tool in self-advocacy and feeling empowered.

Building confidence empowers neurodivergent individuals to express their needs, assert boundaries, and actively engage in advocating for much needed accommodations, creating a more inclusive and understanding environment.

Improved Mental Health

Heightened anxiety and increased stress are common in neurodivergent individuals.

Increased self-confidence helps to reduce stress and anxiety by helping people feel like they are able to tackle challenges they may find difficult and have the assurance that whatever the result, they will recover and thrive.

Improved Relationships

An increased sense of self-worth and assurance positively influences how we relate to others.

This enables more meaningful and fulfilling relationships, both romantic and platonic. In turn, this contributes to a supportive social network that understands and appreciates your unique perspectives and needs.