Diversity-Inclusive art psychotherapist, ADHD and Autism Coach and Arts Mentor: Elinor Rowlands

Welcome. I strive to be an inviting, and inclusive space for individuals who are struggling to cope with their mental health and daily life. I am an anti-ableist autistic/ADHD arts psychotherapist and mentor. As a diversity-inclusive psychotherapist, I work with all clients regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexuality, age, or disability. I am available for short term and long-term therapy and mentoring sessions. I also see trainee counsellors, psychotherapists and art psychotherapists for weekly therapy sessions. In our sessions, we can also use art materials when words are too difficult to express, and look at the images as a means of expression.

Therapy is about understanding and supporting the person and it is important you feel relaxed and supported to express and explain. My services address the access barriers that so often fail autistic and other neurodivergent individuals who encounter barriers to quality mental health support and access to therapies, mentoring and support. I advocate for radical changes in the way we approach neurodivergent access in pedagogy, higher education, mental health services and therapy, and access in the arts. The work I do with individuals is non-behaviour based, person centred and I use methods that respect human rights and sensory preferences of individuals that are non-trauma inducing.

Mentoring is a little different to therapy as it is more practical and we focus on time management, tools and organisation strategies (this is often called Employment Coaching or Autism/ADHD coaching and often be paid for by Access to Work – I can also support with AtW applications). This can be particularly helpful for individuals in employment or who might require a little more input on suggestions to identify and reduce access barriers. I mentor professionals across various fields including medicine, the arts, psychology and science or those who are out of employment due to poor mental health and want to return or might never want to return but need to explore their sense of self, their skills and interests. Some people approach me for a mix of both mentoring and therapy. This is also possible. I only offer online (video/Zoom) or telephone (whatsapp) sessions.

Alongside my therapy practice, I am a frequent writer and advocate for social justice, autistic/neurodivergent access and disability rights. I’m in my 2nd year of PhD research in autism and the arts, and I am a member of a Hate Crime research group with other researchers. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.