Anita Maidment Counselling

26/02/2026

Its not about the label, its about understanding your own brain and working with it 😊

20/02/2026

Do you recognise any of this?
I do.
And for me it showed up as spending as many lunchtimes as possible avoiding the lunch hall and playground by seeking out quieter, calmer, safer feeling spaces such as the music room, library or computer room.

We were always there. Its just that we have challenged the labels of 'chatterbox', 'daydreamer,' 'sensitive' or 'messy' that we collected back then and we now have one that fits, that explains, that helps us understand ourselves.

‘We didn’t have ADHD in my day.’

I hear that a lot. And every time, I want to say: Actually, you did. I was there.

I’m 50 now. I started school in 1979. I was that child -the one who talked too much (‘Emma is a very bubbly child’ or ‘Emma is very chatty’ was always on my school report’ My favourite comment of all though was ‘Emma fluctuates from being passionately focussed or extremely disinterested’ that teacher totally got me 😁), thinking, questioning, daydreaming. The one who ‘had potential’ but never quite delivered the way the system expected.

When people say ADHD is some new trend, I think about being 5 years old and sitting in a doctor’s office while my parents asked for help because ‘she doesn’t stop all day.’ The doctor smiled and said, ‘She’s just hyperactive. There’s nothing wrong with her.’ And that was that.

But there was something different about the way my brain worked. I just didn’t have the language for and neither did the adults around me. Back then, kids like me were called ‘distracted,’ ‘disruptive,’ ‘daydreamers,’ ‘lazy,’ ‘too talkative,’ ‘too sensitive,’or ‘too much.’ We were labelled then -but you didn’t probably care. I have the correct label now and that matters.

I was there in the classroom, switching off because everything felt slow or repetitive or just… not interesting enough to hold my attention. I was there when I underachieved, while you were probably excelling and getting gold stars. I was always there -just often missed, overlooked, or misunderstood.

ADHD isn’t new. But what is new is the recognition and the understanding that’s finally starting to catch up. The awareness that ADHD shows up differently in different people, and that girls -especially back in the day- were often missed entirely because we didn’t always fit the stereotype. We weren’t always bouncing off the walls.

Sometimes, we were quietly zoning out, overwhelmed inside but masking it with a smile.

To me, ADHD means I have a brain that’s wired for interest, not for routine. It means I feel everything more intensely -boredom, excitement, frustration, passion. It means my thoughts move fast, sometimes faster than I can keep up with, and it takes effort to rein them in. It means I struggle with things others find simple, and I thrive in places they find chaotic.

But ADHD also means creativity. It means seeing patterns others don’t, jumping between ideas, thinking outside the box because I never really fit inside it anyway. It means I can be spontaneous, empathetic, intuitive, and deeply curious.

Yes, ADHD brings challenges -but it also brings strengths. And it’s not a flaw or a failure. It’s a difference. A valid, neurodivergent way of experiencing the world.

So no, ADHD isn’t ‘new.’ It just wasn’t talked about. It wasn’t seen. People like me were there the whole time -you just didn’t notice us. Or if you did, you probably misunderstood what you were seeing.

Now I know how to manage my brain -which comes from knowing I am AuADHD- things are easier; I know when to rest, to take time out and to let myself go with the interest I have. I can laugh at myself when I’m researching an actor in a TV show I’m watching while relaying the facts I’ve found to Hubbie.

I don’t mind being on the go all the time; I recognise my burn out or near burn out that always looms just around the corner.

It’s doesn’t bother me that you’re upset that you’ve finally noticed people whose brains are different to yours.

I was always there.

Emma
The Autistic SENCo
Infinity

Photo: Me. Yesterday when the yellow thing in the sky appeared.i got a little overexcited.

18/02/2026

Another blog!
Taking the first step: a supportive guide to beginning counselling

"I wish I had found Anita earlier, she’s like a supportive, intelligent friend"

So you found my social media page or website and something feels right about working with me. I know that the first contact can feel really hard, a step into the unknown, so I’m writing this to shed some light on those next steps, to hopefully make them a little easier.
A good way to take that first step is to book a free call to speak to me, to get a feel for what I am like. You can do that via the contact page on my website, emailing or texting. Or you can call and leave a message, whatever feels most comfortable. I will then get back to you to arrange a time to speak; no charge; no obligation. It’s just a chat to find out more. I will ask a little bit about what has brought you to consider counselling at this point, and we discuss how we might work together. It’s a space for you to ask any questions you might have.
I know sometimes clients prefer to dive right in and book a session. That’s fine too. Just contact me and we can sort that. I will find out a little bit to make sure counselling is appropriate before we book.
So we’ve agreed an appointment! What happens next?
Once we have made an appointment, I will email you the booking details, address and a copy of my counselling agreement. That is a short document that sets out terms and conditions like cancellation policy and safeguarding. It also has payment instructions (I take payment for the first session when you book).
If we are working online, I will send you a link for the session usually the day before. It is important you have a private safe space where you won’t be disturbed and where you can talk freely.
If we are working in person, you will find me on the north side of Okehampton. There is parking, and the room is on the ground floor with level access other than one step up. If you need a higher chair then I can sort that for you. If you need anything else to help make counselling accessible, lets talk and I’ll see what I can do.
You can look forward to an enthusiastic greeting from the resident dog, if you are happy to meet him – he is happy to meet everyone! I can also make you a hot drink if you would like, while you settle in. I have a dedicated therapy room which is very private and homely and I hope to help you feel safe and comfortable.
Once you are comfortable, we might get the paperwork out of the way – collect a few important details and get the counselling agreement signed if you haven’t already returned it, and maybe do a quick wellbeing questionnaire if that feels right. The questionnaire is up to you but it can be useful. Its not the NHS, we can keep forms to a minimum!
In the first session my main aim is to start to build our relationship - to ensure you are comfortable with me and feel able to talk.
Practically, I’d like to get an overview of how you are now, how things are impacting you, and a little background on the issue. There is no pressure to dive in to difficult content in the first session, or indeed ever. You are in control. If you have an idea of what you are hoping to get from our sessions together, then we can discuss that too.
The resident poodle is available for cuddles if you would like. Again, you are in control of whether he is in the room or not.
You don’t need to have anything prepared, or even know what you are hoping to get out of sessions. We can figure it out together.
Towards the end of our first session we will check if therapy with me still feels right for you. Then we can book the next session and talk about frequency of sessions etc.
Many clients like to have a regular session at the same time every week. Knowing that they have a regular session booked can help them feel safe to explore whatever they are finding difficult.
Others opt for fortnightly sessions or plan sessions around their busy lives, because life doesn’t always fit a regular routine.
I do suggest that you aim for fortnightly sessions at least to ensure we can make progress. Some people choose to start with weekly sessions and attend less frequently as they progress with their therapy. My aim is to offer flexibility so you can access the support you need.
If you want to switch to online sometimes (perhaps you are away from home, don’t want to travel in bad weather, or timings are just tight) we can do that too.
We can also work in different ways, not just talking, if that works best for you. I guess that’s the subject for the next blog 😊
Ready to take the next step?
Contact me at anitamaidmentcounselling.com
https://anitamaidmentcounselling.com/blog

12/02/2026

Not just if you're neurodivergent.
Self care.
Put your own oxygen mask on first.

11/02/2026

Men, if you are wondering what therapy might be like, watch this...

06/02/2026

https://youtu.be/HbvBE7vDe80

Men can benefit from talking therapy such as Counselling or Psychotherapy too. Counselling is confidential and is a safe space to talk. Arrange an intro call...

06/02/2026

It can feel really vulnerable to make the first move to talk to someone about how you are feeling so we keep things bottled up inside.

Why not start the conversation by checking in with a friend today?

Picture credit to Counselling Directory

06/02/2026

This is spot on.

You do you.

Link to the first set is in the comments on the original post

04/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KYPGvsYE3/

01/02/2026

This!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B3qvdYfPE/

30/01/2026

So...I've written my first blog!

It explores how counselling can be useful for women wondering whether they have ADHD. Its not about medicalising, its about supporting you exploring who you are.

Tell me what blog content you would you like to see in the comments ⏬️
And do have a read of this one by clicking on the pic 😊

I am a qualified and registered psychotherapeutic counsellor offering in-person counselling in Okehampton, Devon as well as online, telephone and home visits to suit you.