Jessica Shepherd Counselling and ADHD coaching

14/09/2025

🚨 URGENT: SEND Rights Debate This Monday 🚨

This Monday, September 15th, MPs will debate protecting legal rights for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

📅 What's at stake: The Government may change the Children and Families Act 2014, potentially removing statutory duties from local authorities to provide assessment and support for SEND children.
💔 Why this matters: Without these legal protections, vulnerable children could miss out on vital educational support they desperately need to reach their potential.
👥 The fight continues:

Share to raise awareness among parents and carers
Follow the debate live on Monday
Support families affected by SEND challenges

Every child deserves the right to education and support. The decisions made on Monday could change everything for SEND families across the UK.

03/09/2025

✨ Important Update ✨

After a lot of reflection, I’ve made the very difficult decision to step away from my counselling practice. My final working day will be Friday 3rd October 2025.

This means I will no longer be accepting new clients. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be focusing on supporting my existing clients through their transitions and completing any work, and then shifting my focus onto my health and my family.

It has been a privilege to work with so many incredible people over the years — sitting alongside you, witnessing your growth, and sharing in some truly life-changing journeys. I’m so grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me.

This isn’t a goodbye forever, just a pause for now. For the moment, I know the most important thing I can do is step back, take care of myself, and give the best of me to my family.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey with me 💜
Jess x

29/08/2025

⏳ Do you learn better through visuals?
Some of us need to see time to feel safe and focused (hello, ADHD + ND brains 👋). That’s why I use a visual timer in sessions — so clients can literally see how much time we have left, without the mental maths.
It’s not about watching the clock — it’s about creating structure, reducing anxiety, and making therapy feel clear and predictable. 🌿
✨ Because neurodiverse support isn’t one-size-fits-all.

28/08/2025

☀️ Break time: black coffee (decaf — because ADHD brains + caffeine = instant nap 😴), sunshine, and process notes.

Between clients, I reset, reflect, and prep the space.

For us Neurodiverse folk, the details matter — lighting, calm, comfort, and headspace.

It’s not just about showing up, it’s about being ready to really hold space.

✨ Looks like coffee.
✨ Actually: neurodiverse-friendly therapy in action.

27/08/2025

Afternoon sessions, the Autumn blankets are out.

26/08/2025

🌟 ADHD Symptom & Functional Needs Profiles 🌟
For children, teens & adults (6+)

Struggling to get the right ADHD support? My profiles are designed to give families structured, practical evidence that schools, GPs, and services actually recognise.

✨ What’s included?

🟢 Standard – from £100: Core ADHD screening + parent/child input + summary report

🔵 Enhanced – £175: Adds functional skills & impact review, optional ND modules

🟣 Comprehensive – £250: Full tracker pack, school liaison, detailed functional profile

🟡 Appeals – £225: Review rejections, gather new evidence, structured appeal report

💛 My approach:

Neurodivergent-affirming • Compassionate • Practical • Clear

These are not diagnostic assessments — they’re detailed, evidence-based profiles created by a psychotherapist and ADHD specialist to support referrals, EHCP applications, DLA/PIP, and school adjustments.

📘 Download the FREE guide: Choosing the right ADHD Symptom & Functional Needs Profile for you https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/31016201-9ba3-4e4e-a17e-5e342cb142eb/downloads/d9125a8d-bc1f-42b0-8680-d436e5ff6aab/Jessica%20Shepherd%20Complete%20Guide.pdf?ver=1756224482559

📧 email@jessicashepherdcounselling.com | 📱 07530 953169
www.jessicashepherdcounselling.com
👉 Support that makes the difficult simple — designed by a neurodivergent therapist, for neurodivergent people.

"Finally, Therapy That Gets Your Brain 🧠" ADHD? Autistic? Feeling misunderstood by other therapists? You've found your people

19/08/2025

🎒 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPORT PACK – For ND Students, Parents & Teachers

💥 September stress? Let’s sort it.

This isn’t a planner. It’s a full support system for ADHD and neurodivergent families, teachers, SENCOs, and anyone who’s sick of winging it when routines collapse.
Inside this powerhouse PDF:

✅ Visual checklists for bags, meals, hydration
✅ Editable planners, timetables & trackers
✅ Scripts for school refusal & anxiety support
✅ Emotion regulation tools for kids AND parents
✅ “All About Me” sheets for teachers & staff
✅ Transition social stories for big school changes

Whether your child is starting Year 1 or college, this pack is designed with real-life neurodivergence in mind — that means no clutter, no fluff, and no patronising worksheets.

🖨 Print-ready | 🧩 Easy to use | 📥 Instant PDF download

💰 Just £14.99 (Back-to-school discount live now!)

🔗 https://jessicashepherdcounselling.com/🛒-online-store/ols/products/xn--back-to-school-support-pack--for-neurodiverse-students-parents--teachers-s580c

Built by a psychotherapist who lives it, not just writes about it.

🧠 Support isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Get the toolkit that actually helps.

18/08/2025

Therapy doesn’t have to mean four walls.

Imagine gentle sea air, a quiet path, and space to move at your own pace. Walk-and-talk sessions offer support that fits you—no stuffy rooms, no pressure to sit still.

Curious how therapy could feel different? Book your free, no-pressure consultation today. 🌿

18/08/2025

“Sometimes a coffee break is the most productive thing you can do for your brain ☕🧠

🕰️ Living With a Broken Body Clock (Circadian Sleep Disorder + ADHD)

Ever felt like your body runs on a completely different time zone than everyone else’s?

That’s basically what a circadian rhythm sleep disorder is.

👉 Your brain’s internal clock (which tells you when to feel sleepy or awake) doesn’t line up with “normal” life.

👉 For many of us with ADHD, it’s not just preference – it’s biology.

🌙 Common Signs:

Can’t sleep until 2–5am no matter how tired you are
Feeling jetlagged when you wake up “on time”
Nighttime energy bursts when everyone else is crashing
Morning routines that feel like climbing Everest
…and the classic “one eye half-shut, squinty gremlin look” on day three of no sleep (yes, that’s me 👀)

💡 Why It Matters:

This isn’t just being a night owl.

It affects work, school, family life, and mental health. Many spend years thinking they’re lazy — when really their body clock just runs on a different schedule.

⚖️ What Helps:

Morning light exposure ☀️

Anchoring meals/exercise at steady times

Realistic sleep hygiene (not “just go to bed earlier”)

Medical support (melatonin or other meds if needed)

🧠 For ADHD Folks:

Circadian rhythm issues often go hand-in-hand with ADHD.
It’s not laziness. It’s not lack of willpower.

It’s your body running a different operating system.

✨ With the right supports, you can build a life that works with it, not against it.

If you’ve been blaming yourself for years of exhaustion, maybe it’s time to ask whether your body clock needs a little compassion — not criticism.

17/08/2025

“Do we really have to show our darkest moments for people to believe us?”
Behind closed doors, SEN parenting isn’t picture-perfect — it’s survival.
This is the reality nobody sees: the chaos, the school battles, the sleepless nights, the fear for the future.

💔 This is my story. And it’s the story of so many other families like mine.

👉 Read the full blog here:
https://jessicashepherdcounselling.com/📝-blog/f/behind-closed-doors-the-unseen-reality-of-sen-families

14/08/2025

Bare feet, big windows, gentle light, calm.

Ever wondered what therapy could feel like outside four walls? Walk-and-talk sessions blend movement, nature, and real conversation—no sofas, no pressure, just space to breathe.

Curious if this could help you (or your child) feel more at ease? Message me to book a free, no-pressure chat today. 🌱

12/08/2025

Every neurodiverse journey is unique and valid.

What if support felt truly flexible, judgement-free, and shaped around you or your family? Imagine therapy where your strengths are celebrated, and practical tools are tailored to your daily life.

Curious about ADHD assessments, walk-and-talk sessions, or inclusive support groups? Book your free 30-minute chat—let’s find what works for you. 🌱