Welcome - How can I help?
Learn to Thrive in a Neuro-diverse World
Improve Self-understanding
& Unlock Potential
through Neuro-Diverse
Life Coaching, Consultancy & Training
Dr heather Pickard-hengstenberg
My Services
I offer a range of virtual and in-person, Neuro-Diverse Life Coaching-Consultancy, Professional Consultancy and Training services. My areas of expertise include academic, emotional, social, day-to-day life stress, work-life balance, education and career transitions, and personal growth.
My Background
With over 18 years of experience in the field of neuro-diversity, I have developed a unique approach to Neuro-Diverse Life Coaching-Consultancy, Professional Consultancy & Training that combines evidence-based practices with a client-centered focus. I hold a Master's degree and PhD doctorate in Autism & Related Conditions.
My passion is to support individuals (their families) with and without a neuro-diverse diagnosis to truly understand their difficulties & differences, to positively embrace these so that they can reach their full potential in life.
My personal experience of being neuro-diverse, a parent of neuro-diverse children, and professional experiences, as well as, PGCE, certified training status, masters and PhD in this field, have equipped me with the tools to provide coaching, consultancy, and training, throughout the UK to individuals, families, education, and health authorities.
My work experiences are wide ranging, previously as a lecturer, then as an autism practitioner at Swansea University, now continuing as a free-lance neuro-diverse life coach, consultant, and trainer.
My published PhD research is in the process of resulting in published materials which will support day-to-day transitions and transitions from one educational phase to another. I am writing and about to publish several books relating to neuro-diversity.
My Ethos
My ethos is to not solely focus on the challenges facing neuro-diverse individuals but to also consider some of the amazing and unique qualities they have too.
To never view neurodiverse individuals as less than, lacking or inferior, when compared with neurotypical individuals.
To never use terms such as ‘deficit’, ‘disability’, ‘impairment’, and to replace these with ‘difference’ and/or ‘difficulty’ whenever possible to do so.
To never judge neurodiverse individuals’ actions, behaviours, characteristics, differences, experiences, or thoughts, as being inferior or superior to neurotypical individuals.
My approach as a Neuro-Diverse Life Coach-Consultant
As a Neuro-Diverse Life Coach-Consultant I have two different client groups that I work with.
1: The Neuro-Diverse Individual
I work as a Neuro-Diverse Life Coach-Consultant to enable and support Neuro-Diverse Individuals in celebrating and understanding what being neuro-diverse really means, encouraging them to be proud of their differences and to learn strategies so that they are able to unlock their full potential in life.
My aim as a Neuro-Diverse Life Coach-Consultant is to work with you to meet your neuro-diverse needs, whether academic, emotional, sensory, social, and or day-to-day.
I will enable you to understand your unique differences and difficulties.
I will listen to you actively and empathetically reflect (back to you) any feelings, emotions, thoughts, and actions you may be experiencing, enabling you to have clear insight into these.
We will look at strategies together to manage any differences and difficulties you might have, enabling you to manage these and any anxiety or stress that results from them.
We will set short- and long-term goals and or targets as we progress through our sessions together.
Any information shared by you will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be disclosed to any other persons unless risk has been identified.
2: The Neuro-Diverse Individual's family
I work with Neuro-Diverse individuals families to enable and support families in;
- improving their understanding of neuro-diversity
- gathering evidence to support diagnostic assessments
- creating learning plans that encompass their child's, unique educational needs, ensuring reasonable adjustments are put in place
- learning strategies to manage, and communicate with third parties, their child's, academic, behavioural, emotional, social, and daily living needs
- gathering evidence and filling out DLA, PIP applications (UK only)
My Approach as a Neuro-Diverse Professional Consultant & Trainer
As a Neuro-Diverse Professional Consultant & Trainer I work closely with the clients providing a bespoke service to meet their specific requirements.
I have designed 30+ training courses which I deliver throughout the UK.
I provide clients with the information needed to truly understand the complexities facing neuro-diverse individuals on a daily basis.
My ethos is to not solely focus on the challenges facing neuro-diverse individuals but to also consider some of the amazing and unique qualities they have too.