Hayley Dunn

I am primarily a person-centred counsellor who specialises in neurodivergence. I believe people have the capacity to find their own way through difficulty when they are truly listened to, without judgement. I don’t give advice or set homework. Instead, I offer a safe, steady space where we can explore your thoughts, emotional reactions and experiences at your own pace, led by you and by whatever you want to bring. I listen and reflect, offering insight as you untangle your thoughts and feelings.

My work is also trauma-informed. Trauma isn’t always a single event. It can be the cumulative impact of years of being misunderstood. I work a lot with nervous system regulation, helping your body feel safer and calmer alongside making sense of your story. I also offer targeted therapies and psycho-education to soothe and ease the emotional and psychological after-effects of difficult experiences.

I am neurodivergent myself (AuDHD), so I have lived understanding of moving through a world that wasn’t designed for how you think and feel. My work is neurodiversity-affirming, which means I understand and accept different ways of thinking, feeling and experiencing the world. I won’t try to fix you or make you fit in. Together we can try to make sense of things.

I work primarily with neurodivergent adults over the age of 21. Many come to me after years of feeling different, too much or not enough, without knowing why. Whether you have recently discovered you are autistic, PDA and/or ADHD, are on a waiting list, or simply suspect it, I can help you make sense of your life in a new light. You do not need a formal diagnosis to access my support, although I cannot diagnose these conditions myself.

I specialise in the lasting impact of unrecognised neurodivergence. Years of masking, people-pleasing and being told to try harder can lead to shame, burnout, anxiety, low self-esteem and a sense of not knowing who you are underneath. Life’s twists and turns, such as relationship or family difficulties, grief and loss, work or university stress, or health problems, can then feel even harder to bear. Neurodivergent people also often live with physical health difficulties, and body and mind affect one another, so I take both into account.

My hope is to help you find acceptance of your unique strengths and challenges, healthy ways of coping, and a more compassionate relationship with yourself. I also welcome parents and partners of people who have received autism and ADHD diagnoses, who wish to understand their loved ones better.

I offer sessions online and in person in Chorlton, South Manchester.