The hidden struggles of the neurodivergent helping professional - who supports you?

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Read time: 4-5 mins.

Helping others to navigate the complexities of life can be incredibly rewarding. We could be the ones witnessing beautiful lightbulb moments, or cheering on clients when they start to notice patterns and break cycles that no longer serve them. Those are the good, sunny days. On the tough days, we may be watching frustration and/or heartache play out in front of us. We care deeply - that’s why we got into this work in the first place. But the toll of the ups and downs of sunny and tough days can be quite confronting.

There’s such an irony here: As neurodivergent professionals, you guide clients with structure, clarity, and confidence, but who’s there to offer you the same support when things get tough? Even the most experienced helpers need a space to reflect, recharge, and get the guidance they deserve.

Through my own coaching practice as well as supervision of other helping professionals, I’ve noticed a few trends that pop up in the practice of newly qualified right up to seasoned practitioners.

1. Having-it-all-together-ism

As a neurodivergent helping professional, there’s a relentless pressure to show up as your best self for your clients. To be a well-oiled machine with laser focus, sparkling empathy and flawless executive function skills. We’re expected to embody the very structure and clarity we guide our clients toward.

NOBODY TALKS ABOUT HOW HARD THIS CAN BE.

How much energy it takes to manage all the admin, transition between working with different clients back-to-back each day - all while trying to make it look like it comes naturally for you - that it’s part of the joy of helping people. What it takes from us when we show up to a client session running on no sleep after a fight with a family member. To feel unmotivated to sit and create shiny, happy social media marketing posts. To guide a client towards change when you’re feeling stuck in your own career. We want to embody authenticity, but the truth is, we are humans too. Nobody talks about how hard this is.

2. The isolation factor

Helping clients can sometimes feel like a solo journey, especially for independent practitioners. I’ve worked in schools, universities and companies where there are peer networks on tap that you can lean into, as often or as little as you like. In independent practice, this is something that you realise you take for granted in a workplace setting. After a tough session or even day, there’s often no immediate team or colleague to debrief with, leaving you to process and reflect alone, perhaps second-guessing yourself and your ability. This can be so isolating and make it harder to grow and evolve in your practice.

3. Managing difficult client situations alone

Whether you are the most experienced practitioner or just starting out with independent practice, clients often bring complex needs that can leave you questioning how to proceed.

How do you balance holding space for your clients’ autonomy while also figuring out what approach may work best for them? Do you push through a difficult moment, or adapt your strategy on the go to meet them where they are? 

I’ve had clients where, after several sessions, I still wasn’t sure how to break through periods of what felt like ‘change plateau’, leaving me feeling stuck and unsure. These moments can be frustrating, but they also highlight the importance of having a space to reflect and recalibrate, so you can skillfully approach the next sessions with renewed energy and a game plan to ignite change.

4. Balancing client needs with self-care

This is a tough one. We do this kind of work because we care deeply about our clients. Sometimes to the extent of inadvertently overriding our own needs.

The pressure to be constantly available, to give your all to your clients, and to provide support and guidance can often make it feel impossible to prioritise your own well-being. The sense of responsibility for others’ emotional or practical needs is overwhelming, and it’s easy to put your own needs on the back burner. This constant juggling act can lead to burnout, leaving you exhausted, frustrated, and unsure of how to reset without feeling guilty for taking time away from your clients. It’s a delicate balance, but essential for sustaining your practice in the long run.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Supporting our clients is rewarding but demanding, and we all deserve a space to learn, grow, and get the support we give to others.

Look after yourself!

Best wishes,

Casey

[email protected]

Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you:

1. Sign up for my newsletter - I share news stories, articles and my own thoughts and strategies for neurodivergent helping professionals, as well as information on my upcoming trainings and courses.

2. Learn about my 1:1 supervision - I offer 1:1 supervision for helping professionals to guide you in your practice. If you would like to hear testimonies from my wonderful coaches and therapists I support, please click here.

3. Join my monthly FREE online neurodivergent helping professional get-together. First one kicks off in April 2025 - details to follow soon!

4. Watch this space! I’m developing a mini course on burnout in the neurodivergent practitioner!