Meet the team
Navigating whom to trust for your or your child’s needs can be challenging, but rest assured, we’ve carefully selected therapists and content writers who are highly qualified and experienced. Our team includes esteemed researcher Dr Alex Richardson, ensuring comprehensive support tailored to your requirements.
To schedule an appointment, please choose the therapist you wish to book with. For additional details on which therapy might be appropriate for your or your child’s particular requirements, please consult the following sections:
Nutritionists
Angela Ducker
Registered nutritionist.
BSc (Hons) Public Health Nutrition.
Appointments are available online throughout the UK or in person in Birmingham.
Fill in the contact form below for a 20 minute free discovery call, you will be redireted to her online calendar link once submitted.
Experience
Experienced nutritionist specializing in diabetes, gut heath and most importantly to me, nutrition, and brain health.
I have a son with ADHD, so I can relate to the joys and frustrations that this brings. I have learned which foods help and which foods hinder my child and have adapted his diet to suit his needs. I was lucky to have my degree in nutrition to be able to confidently do this, but many people don’t, which is why I am so passionate about informing others on the impact of food on our thoughts and behaviour and helping people to adapt their diets safely and effectively. Though I am happy for clients to bring me their ideas and input, we go on a journey together, making changes at the individual level to best suit their needs and get the best results for them, one size definitely does not fit all!
Background in holistic therapies and Public Health Nutrition. Also a trained yoga teacher, using a holistic approach for personalized plans.
Book a session
Julie Griffiths
MPhil MSc.
Registered Nutritionist
Appointments are available online throughout the UK or in person in Cardiff
Experience
By way of introduction, I confess to being an unabashed foodie and quite fascinated by the way nutrition directly impacts human physiology and behaviour.
It all started when I was 12 whilst attending a live taping of celebrity chef cooking show in a TV studio. I remember the dish, “Pork Chop a la Belle Fontaine” to this day as I immediately went home, got my dad to shop for the ingredients and made the dish unaided much to the delight of my parents. Happy faces! I became hooked on food!
At university many years later, whilst studying criminology and neuropsychology towards a bachelor’s degree, I worked in a group home for young offenders and noticed that sugary drinks, cakes and candies sent many of the residents into a spin, meaning hyperactivity and ‘bad behaviour’ on an intolerable scale. However, psychology studies being dominated by Freudian philosophy at the time, I didn’t quite realise that a lot more than just sugar could affect behaviour.
It wasn’t until many years later that I became interested in what I regarded as a phenomenal surge in autism spectrum disorders, (ASD), ADHD and learned that omega 3 essential fatty acids (fish oil) could have a huge positive impact on ASD but also dyslexia thanks to the work of dr. alex richardson, a pioneer researcher in the area of food and behaviour. (Dyslexia was a very common finding in my group of young offenders and also in the local training school where they had been.)
So, fascinated by this, I went back to university as a mature student and studied the interaction of nutrients and the mind, for which I was awarded an MPHIL. I went on then to study Nutritional Therapy at the Master’s level, it being a total game-changer as I came to realise that the gut was one of the principal drivers of health and well-being. Just recently. new research has pointed to the inflammatory basis of depression. In fact many chronic diseases are in fact associated with high inflammation. There is a way of opposing inflammation in the body through specific nutrition. So by targeting the gut, restoring the microbiome and reducing pro-inflammatory foods, one can achieve quite astounding reversals in disease and declining mental health. I say targeting the gut as research shows that in children with autism, there is more pathogenic gut bacteria than in siblings.
I look forward to guiding parents in their journey to a better life for their children.
Consultation prices:
Book a session
Bernie Mertens
Registered Associate Nutritionist: Nutrition and Behaviour MSc
Registered Nurse BSc (Hons)
Appointments are available online throughout the UK
Experience
Experienced nurse, specialising in digestive diseases with a passion for overall health and holistic medicine.
I have always been interested in food, but through my journey of working for the NHS I started to understand the extent of nutrition in the management of disease.
By obtaining my Masters Degree in Nutrition and Behaviour I expanded my knowledge of health science and gained a more complex understanding about the impact of nutrition in both physical and psychological health. It was during this time that I took a particular interest in the relationship between food and cognitive function, and how behaviour is affected by nutritional choices and vice-versa. During my degree I specialised in hormonal influence on food choice and food cravings with particular focus on female health. I also spent some time creating content for a UK based company that worked with schools to improved child nutrition and eating behaviours developed at a young age. I am now expanding my knowledge surrounding brain health and neurodivergence.
Along-side my appreciation for health/food I am an avid writer and researcher and am a firm believer in knowledge being power! My main goal is to help people gain an understanding of the value of nutrition and behaviours that could impact their long-term health.
Consultation prices:
Initial consultation: £120
Follow up consultations: £80
Book a session
Andreia Correia
DipCNM
Appointments are available online throughout the UK or in person in Edinburgh
Experience
I’m Andreia, a passionate nutritional therapist specialising in supporting individuals managing ADHD. My dedication to helping ADHDers stems from my personal experience with ADHD-related symptoms, despite not being formally diagnosed. This personal connection allows me to empathise with your struggles and provide more effective support.
I’m fascinated by languages (I’m native Portuguese and speak English and Italian fluently), enjoy exploring new places, have a variety of nerdy hobbies, and I am a mother of cats.
From an early age, I grappled with what society deemed as weight issues, alongside recurring urinary infections and the trials of acne during my teenage years.Throughout these formative years, my relationship with nutritionists and other health professionals was marred by disappointment and frustration. Like many, I encountered impersonal consultations and one-size-fits-all approaches that left me feeling unheard and misunderstood. It was amidst these experiences that the seeds of doubt were sown, casting shadows on the potential for true healing and self-discovery through nutritional intervention.
- 60 minute initial appointment
- 30 minute follow-up appointment
- 90min initial appointment
- 2x 30min follow-up appointments
- 1x 45min close-up call
- Support during 2 months
Book a session
Therapists
Sian Wilson
Occupational Therapist.
Appointments are available online throughout the UK
Experience
With over 30 years of experience, Sian is a seasoned Paediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) specializing in working with children, teenagers, and their families.
Sian is an advanced practitioner in sensory integration, cognitive education, social coaching and a clinical specialist in autism. Her expertise encompasses a wide range of needs including behavioral, cognitive, environmental, mental, physical, sensory, and social challenges.
She has provided extensive Occupational Therapy in a variety of settings including NHS, charities, private clinics, and non-profit organizations.
Her experience has encompassed direct therapy, training and consultation within community, schools, and homes: and has had the privilege of being involved in a research position and presenting at national conferences. Sian has also set up and managed several Occupational Therapy services, and been involved in Tribunal work.
Her services include online consultations, coaching, training packages, and supervision.
She is passionate about Occupational Therapy’s holistic approach to health and wellbeing, believing strongly in its power to bring about positive transformation, increased participation, and fulfilment in the lives of those she works with.
If you are seeking dedicated and expert support in paediatric occupational therapy, Sian is here to help. Together, we can make a meaningful and positive impact.
Consultation prices:
All online sessions £90 per hour.
Book a session
Jennifer Griffiths
Jennifer Griffiths (Founder at ThinkDIF.)
ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergent Specialist Coach and Business Consultant.
Experience
I am a qualified Neurospecialist coach, who can support you with creating strategies that work with your brain. Standard approaches of support are not designed for our brains and often fail. They can end up creating more negative spirals for those with Neurodivergent brains, leading us to feel more helpless and hopeless in a world that does not always understand us.
I specialise in getting you to a place where you fully understand yourself, where you are able to work on designing a life and strategies that support your unique brain that can help with unmasking, burnout, executive functioning and everything in between.
I also have lived experience and am diagnosed with ADHD and Autism and so I understand your journey and how you might be feeling.
I am trained in multiple approaches and work with clients who have ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, Dylsexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and PTSD.
I have trained with leading coaches and psychologists. I can support you whether you have already been diagnosed or if you are still waiting for a diagnosis.
I am authentic, approachable and will do everything I can to make you feel safe, understood, validated and comfortable so that we can create the right environment to help you move forward in life.
I have helped clients with self -confidence, self advocacy, relationships, emotional regulation strategies, sensory wellness planning, and burnout recovery and prevention.
If you are self employed or employed, I can help you apply for a government grant that can fund part or all of the coaching with me, so get in touch today to see if we are a good fit to work together.
I also work with businesses as a consultant to support you in taking steps towards being more neuroinclusive, and offer a range of services including Neurodiversity Workplace Needs assessments, training and resources and you can pledge with ThinkDIF to work towards creating a more Neurofriendly organisation and be included on our organisational directory to show the world you are serious about making your workplace more inclusive. Our main services can be found here.
Consultation prices:
My usual one-off coaching hourly rates are £130, but there are significant discount for booking packages of 6 and 12 sessions of £100 an hour so get in touch to discuss your unique needs. We also offer a Be the Difference ™ Lite for those who need support but are on a tighter budget.
Please see my website for a full list of prices and courses:
Book a session
Anna Marie
Mindfulness coach and registered nutritionist
COMING SOON
Experience
Coming Soon
Book a session
Dr Alex Richardson
DPhil (Oxon), PGCE, FRSA
Appointments available from October 2024
Experience
Fully booked until October 2024.
Dr Alex Richardson is a world-renowned researcher, educator, speaker and published author; and Founder Director of the UK-based charity, Food and Behaviour (FAB) Research.
She was based at the University of Oxford for 30 years, and the impact of her 90+ publications still puts Dr Richardson in the top 3% of academic researchers worldwide. A selection of these can be found below, but more details can be found via Google Scholar or Researchgate.
Alex is best known for her research into how nutrition (and particularly fatty acids) can affect behaviour, learning and mood, as her pioneering clinical trials were the first to show that dietary supplementation with omega-3 (and omega-6) fats can improve behaviour and learning in children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and related conditions; and that this approach may also help many other children without such diagnoses. She also published some of the earliest reports of successful nutritional approaches to both depression and schizophrenia in young adults, which have subsequently been confirmed and extended by others.
Lawrie Davies
Behaivour therapist
ABA therapist
Appointments are available online throughout the UK or in person in Swansea
Experience
- speech and communication
- behaviours that challenge
- toileting
- functional living skills
- talk tools
I can provide consultations and advice via online and in person appointments.
Consultation prices:
All sessions £25 per hour
Book a session
Jane Harris
Qualified Clinical Reflexologist.
Well-being practitioner.
Appointments are available in person in Swansea
Experience
Jane at Find your Balance is a qualified clinical reflexologist and well-being practitioner living and working in Swansea.
Jane has a wealth of experience in working with children and young people with neurodivergence and their families.
Her background working for the NHS as a behaviour specialist in the learning disability directorate and a career of over 10 years working to support families with complex needs within social services combines with her passion for alternative health and a holistic approach to wellbeing to drives her passion for her business.
As a clinical reflexologist Jane conducts a comprehensive consultation and then develops an individualised treatment plan specific to your needs .
For further information or to book a consultation Jane can be contacted on 07882 242 4291
or you can follow her on
Instagram @fyb_reflexology
Consultation prices:
All sessions cost £45 per hour
Book a session
Stepping Stones
Child Therapy Consultants
Appointments are available in person in Cardiff
Experience
Stepping Stones (Child Therapy Consultants) Ltd is an independent agency which supplies therapeutic services for children, young people and adults.
Stepping Stones works closely with both statutory and independent agencies to provide high quality therapeutic services to address the developmental wellbeing of children and young people in order that optimal outcomes can be achieved, which both safeguard and promote their welfare.
Stepping Stones provides a wide range of quality services which enhance and support the services provided to children and young people who are either living at home or in family or residential placements whilst being looked after by the Local Authority.
Services we provide:
• Play Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Life Story Work
Consultation prices:
Please contact us for further information on lucy.norris@steppingstonestherapy.co.uk
Book a session
CONTENT WRITERS
Dr Alex Richardson
DPhil (Oxon), PGCE, FRSA
Experience
Dr Alex Richardson is a world-renowned researcher, educator, speaker and published author; and Founder Director of the UK-based charity, Food and Behaviour (FAB) Research.
She was based at the University of Oxford for 30 years, and the impact of her 90+ publications still puts Dr Richardson in the top 3% of academic researchers worldwide. A selection of these can be found below, but more details can be found via Google Scholar or Researchgate.
Alex is best known for her research into how nutrition (and particularly fatty acids) can affect behaviour, learning and mood, as her pioneering clinical trials were the first to show that dietary supplementation with omega-3 (and omega-6) fats can improve behaviour and learning in children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and related conditions; and that this approach may also help many other children without such diagnoses. She also published some of the earliest reports of successful nutritional approaches to both depression and schizophrenia in young adults, which have subsequently been confirmed and extended by others.
Hazel De Maeijer
MSc, BSc (Hons), GMBPsS
Experience
Hazel has been a Learning Support Practitioner for students with special educational needs and has personal and professional experience with ASD, ADHD and related neurodevelopmental conditions. She holds a postgraduate Masters in Nutrition & Behaviour, accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), and a degree in Psychology from Exeter University, with graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Hazel has taken part in CPD courses on disordered eating and neurodiversity from the training provider NEDDE, and advocates the tailored support of neurodiverse individuals, regarding both their physical and mental wellbeing. She also contributes to ongoing research, in collaboration with universities, and the work of related educational & support charities, whilst currently completing a further Diploma in Advanced Nutrition Science.
Chris Speed
MND, ADP
Experience
Dietician and Nutritional Scientist
With over 25 years of experience in the nutraceutical, food, beverage, and personal care industries, I am a co-owner at SkySail Foods, a company that provides business solutions for the dietary supplement and natural products industry. I am passionate about helping my customers bridge the dietary gaps they are trying to remedy, by offering them high-quality ingredients, innovative marketing strategies, and evidence-based nutrition and plant-based compounds.
As a co-owner at SkySail Foods, I leverage my skills and qualifications in financial modeling, budgeting, brand management, go-to-market strategy, sales and marketing tactic development, influencer engagement, strategic business planning, and opportunity pipeline development. I also use my master’s degree in human nutrition and dietetics, and my extensive knowledge of food and nutrition science, to provide excellent customer service and technical support, as well as to articulate the desired image and position of my customers’ brands. I have a proven track record of driving clear and focused marketing and public relations strategies that produce measurable and accountable sales results.
Bernie Mertens
Registered Associate Nutritionist: Nutrition and Behaviour MSc
Registered Nurse BSc (Hons)
Experience
Registered Associate Nutritionist: Nutrition and Behaviour Msc.
English and Media BA (Hons) Experienced nurse, specialising in digestive diseases with a passion for overall health and holistic medicine.
I have always been interested in food, but through my journey of working for the NHS I started to understand the extent of nutrition in the management of disease.
By obtaining my Masters Degree in Nutrition and Behaviour I expanded my knowledge of health science and gained a more complex understanding about the impact of nutrition in both physical and psychological health. It was during this time that I took a particular interest in the relationship between food and cognitive function, and how behaviour is affected by nutritional choices and vice-versa. During my degree I specialised in hormonal influence on food choice and food cravings with particular focus on female health. I also spent some time creating content for a UK based company that worked with schools to improved child nutrition and eating behaviours developed at a young age. I am now expanding my knowledge surrounding brain health and neurodivergence.
Along-side my appreciation for health/food I am an avid writer and researcher and am a firm believer in knowledge being power! My main goal is to help people gain an understanding of the value of nutrition and behaviours that could impact their long-term health.
Amanda Franklin
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Trauma Informed School Practitioner
Emotion Coach Practitioner Trainer
Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT)
Experience
I am studying for my MEd in Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties to develop my understanding of inclusive practice by focusing on the distinctive learning needs of children and young people impacted by ASD, ADHD, speech and language difficulties, emotional literacy problems and internally and externally challenging behaviours.
I currently work at a local primary school supporting children with additional learning needs. For the past seven years I have supported children with ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties and challenging behaviours. I plan and implement strategies and interventions to improve their emotional well-being, develop communication skills and enable the children to access learning.
Hannah Childs
Occupational Therapist.
Sensory Integration practitioner and Wellbeing practitioner.
Founder of Sensory Wellbeing OT .
Experience
Hannah has over 15 years experience working with children and adults with complex needs, including: behavioural, cognitive, environmental, mental, physical, sensory and social needs. She has extensive experience as a therapist supporting people with sensory processing difficulties in private practice, the NHS, Local Education Authorities and for non profit organisations.
Hannah delivers one to one therapy packages, consultation, training, workshops and wellbeing appointments. All have a unique focus on sensory integration and the individual’s sensory needs. Hannah is passionate about Occupational Therapy’s holistic approach to health and wellbeing, and the power it has to support positive transformation in people’s lives, allowing increased participation and fulfilment.
Hannah was an examiner representing Wales in the International EASI project, evaluating Ayres Sensory Integration, led by Dr Zoe Mailloux, a world leader in Sensory Integration. She also published a wellbeing journal in 2021 to support people’s wellbeing and mental health.
Directors
Hayley Everard
Founder Director.
BSc Biomedical Science
My Experience
I hold a BSc in Biomedical Science and am presently working towards a nutrition diploma. I worked for a pharmaceutical company for 13 years, before taking a career break to look after my children.
For the last 4 years I have worked for a charity called Food and Behaviour Research. This experience has given me a real passion for learning more about how food affects mood and behaviour
I live in Swansea with my husband and three wonderful children. My youngest child, Lola, was diagnosed with autism when she was three, and my journey searching for ways to help her started soon after. Discovering effective strategies to support Lola not only significantly improved her wellbeing but also positively affected the entire family.
I’m excited to share my experiences with you!
Volunteers
Alison Copus
Marketing Director
Experience
Alongside a long career in international marketing working for Virgin, TripAdvisor and American Express, I have worked with several not for profit organisations to help them build awareness and ensure their financial sustainability.
The team at Supporting Neurodiversity has impressed me hugely because they are driven by personal experience. Hayley has first-hand knowledge of what works for her own child based on extensive personal and professional experience in the field of biomedicine. Hayley has set up this organization to share this knowledge and help parents who are battling through the challenges of autism and ADHD. It is clear from the calibre of contributors and the research behind the recommendations that this service will be a lifeline for parents who may be overwhelmed with the relentless issues they face for which there seems to be precious little practical help.