My career

Like so many ADHDers, I've had many jobs, from head of admin of a high school in the Netherlands to aquatic specialist when I arrived in the UK, but for the last 10 years, I worked in adult social care for adults with learning differences, first as a carer, then I got my degree and became a senior manager, which resulted in burnout. After getting an ADHD diagnosis, recovering, therapy and coaching, I decided to retrain as an accredited ADHD coach, which I am delighted to be doing.

​

My life as an ADHDer

I moved to the UK 15 years ago from the Netherlands because I love mountains and hills and we don't have them in The Netherlands. I love doing watercolours and hiking with my fantastic dog, Dougie. I was married for 20 years to my amazing husband before he lost his battle with depression. He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 18, and for him, it meant he had struggles to concentrate, emotional dysregulation, depression and anxiety. But he was also an amazing friend, adventurous, super bright, and creative, and there is nothing he set his heart on that he couldn't create. Through him, I learned about both sides of ADHD, the good and the bad, and my work is dedicated to preventing everyone like me and him from ever feeling they are too much for this world.

During COVID-19, I struggled a lot, and of course, I thought everyone was struggling now; I was just failing a lot more than everyone else. Even though I was married to an ADHDer for a long time, as I was isolated due to my diabetes and I sat at the kitchen table for days staring at the dishes that needed doing, but not being able to do them, only during that time did I actually realise I had ADHD myself. And yes, the first time I realised that was through a video on TikTok, but I went into a deep dive study of ADHD presentation in women for a year before I went for a diagnosis, endured more forms than ADHDer should have to fill in and longer waiting times than I thought possible (I genuinely thought they had lost my files several times, but no, just a long waiting list) and then it came, my official diagnosis with ADHD. After my diagnosis. I went through all the emotions: relief, disbelief and belief, anger, grief, and then I got my pills and was sent off. The pills were terrific, but I soon learned that pills don't give skills. I had a long path of self-acceptance, therapy, coaching and healing, and I learned I wasn't alone, I wasn't lazy, I wasn't broken, I'm an ADHDer. I now live in an ADHD-friendly house, and though far from perfect, I've learned how to live in a way that brings me joy and peace. 

If you've read this far, I'd like you to take that with you. Even if you don't choose me as a coach, get help; when you do, the best is still to come!

​

​

​

And now, as promised (if you just scrolled down to see the dog without reading, no shame, I'd totally do the same). My dog Dougie, and yes, he sometimes joins the sessions (the cat sometimes walks through the screen too).

​

​