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Welcome to Divergent Life

At DL, we celebrate uniqueness and empower neurodivergent individuals to flourish and thrive.

We’ve been working across the UK to support neurodivergent people to design a life that works better for them. Leaning into their strengths and talents. Moving away from the medical model of disorders and deficits.

Set up in 2021 by our founder, Dr Emma Offord, all our services have been developed to support the main pillars of neurocomplexity:

  • Sensory profile

  • Information processing

  • Communications preferences

  • Masking and burnout

  • Giftedness

  • Hormones and neurodivergence

  • Somatic physical dysregulation

This has allowed us to take a fully neuroaffirming approach to assessment of neurodivergent traits. Taking into account the full person, not just their ND label.

Join us on this journey of growth, understanding, and acceptance. Together, we can create a community where neurodivergent individuals not only survive but thrive in all aspects of their life.

Our team

  • Dr Emma Offord

    FOUNDER

    Emma is a thoughtleader in neuroaffirming approaches to neurodivergent diagnosis and support. She is trailblazing new ways of defining neurodivergence through the lens of giftedness and strengths.

    While still recognising and validating the challenges and stigma neurodivergent people face, Emma is leading the way in dismantling societal norms associated with the medical model of disorder. She provides clinical supervision for the team.

  • Jolene Ironside

    THERAPIST

    Jolene is an Integrative Counsellor using the Arts, ADHD Coach and holistic therapist who specialises in children and young people, families, trauma, sensory processing and neurodivergence. Jolene is one of our certified SSP practitioners.

    She is a trained trauma therapist, sensory profiler and skilled in nervous system regulation. Jolene brings the mind and body into her practice, providing a holistic approach to support her clients.

  • Claire Buttrum

    COACH

    Claire is a certified menopause and ADHD coach, a Level 7 qualified (masters equivalent) somatic trauma-informed coach, and specialises in trauma, shame, and internal family systems therapy. She is one of our certified SSP practitioners.

    She is skilled in nervous system regulation and is trained in somatic movement including yoga and dance. She helps women to find self-acceptance, self-love, and self-compassion.

  • Dr Ashlyn Firkins

    CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

    Ashlyn is an HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience supporting individuals in both NHS and private settings.

    With a special focus on neurodivergence, she works compassionately with people across all stages of life who navigate complex psychological and physical health challenges, including chronic fatigue and persistent pain, and is one of our clinical neurodivergence assessors.