Thanks for asking. That’s a darn fine question and one I get asked a lot.

I’m writing this Substack so I can point folks to it on the days I can’t come out with an elevator pitch.

What follows is who I work with, who sends referrals to me, who I am, what my approach is, an outline of what I offer and what the coaching process looks like from first reaching out onward. With a little sprinkle of testimonials on top.

There are not many people who offer what I do.

I’m a fierce believer that everyone can create a life that works for them.

I support clients to create their unique version of that life.

Traditional coaching approaches often don’t work and can cause harm for neurodivergent people. I have developed and honed bespoke processes and frameworks specifically for the differently wired. These are customised for the unique neuro-profile and needs of each client.

One of my clients called me a Life Design Specialist, I rather like that. You can learnmore about neurodivergence, me, and my work over on the Wild of Brain website.

I’m a trained and seasoned neurodivergent specialist coach with decades of experience across various modalities. At this point, I’m fairly unshockable.

I work trauma-informed. Client-led. Evidence based. Strength-based. Whole person.

I see clients from all over the country and world. Locally, in-person and online. I always make the time zones work for international clients even if this means staying up late. (Good luck getting me up early though!)

Clients come to me by referral or word of mouth or they might come through subscribing to the Wild of Brain Substack or social media. Previous clients recommend me to friends and colleagues or in facebook groups. Some people find me through a google search.

Referring professionals are therapists and psychologists, paediatricians, social & support workers, counsellors, educators, aunties, siblings and colleagues.

I’m also a trained Health Coach specialising in screening and support for the chronic health conditions common in our neurodivergent communities -like hypermobility, the Ehlers Danlos Syndromes, POTS/dysautonomia, MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), fibromyalgia and more. I walk alongside health clients to define health for themselves and advocate for appropriate health care.

For health coaching, referring professionals are GP’s, physiotherapists, paediatricians, nurses and nurse practitioners, often other health coaches.

I work with…

…the late-diagnosed.

…the neuro-curious.

…people who are struggling but don’t know why.

…couples and polycules.

…students.

…those in recovery from burnout.

…folks navigating life with chronic health issues.

…clients returning for a ‘tune up.’

…neurodivergents needing support in employment HR processes.

…neurodivergent elders keen on fresh insight and to develop new strategies and hacks in a challenging phase of life.

…families wanting to learn more about neurodivergence and how to support their child/ren.

Who works with me?

At the time of writing this my youngest client is fourteen, the eldest is seventy-six.

Among my clients, past and present, are lawyers, senior leaders of central government agencies, tattoo artists, factory and hospitality workers, academics & artists, students, school principals and teachers, project managers and economists, entrepreneurs, midwives and those unable to work at all.

I enjoy connecting with a wide range of different kinds of people. I know the truth in that saying, ‘If you’ve met one autistic person…you’ve met one autistic person.’ I work with the whole person, alert for what lights clients up, where stuck places are, what works for them and what might need to shift.

We start with a free 20-minute connection call.

In the connection call I outline my approach and what I offer, answer any questions and hear what you need & answer any questions.

It’s a chance for us to get a sense of whether we’re a good fit to work together.

Connection calls are on Google Meet. If you are more comfortable with zoom or a phone call, we can do that.

I refer on to neuro-informed and affirming colleagues and connections where appropriate.

The practical details

Everything shared in coaching sessions and within our communications is held in confidence. This is reciprocal.

Coaching sessions are an hour. Best to allow 90 minutes for the first session.

I customise coaching content according to an individual’s unique needs.

Some clients book a series of sessions to explore specific topics or develop strategies for things like embarking on a new course of study, support starting a business, moving house or navigating a new health diagnosis or achieving health goals - just like a Life Coach but with a neurodivergent perspective and a vast library of tips, tools, tricks and strategies that work for us.

You lead what our time looks like.

Some like sessions weekly, others need fortnightly to allow for processing time. Some clients travel to work with me in-person. In this case, we might schedule longer chunks of time to make the most of the client’s travel.

If a client has a specific funding amount allotted, we will prioritise the work to best fit the person’s needs in the time available. Best case scenario is that we work together until the client feels like they are ready to move on. This can be six-eight sessions or working together for 3-6 months or longer.

Each coaching session is followed up with supporting resources and links to further learning. I use Miro Boards as visual aids during remote sessions and if it works for the client, will set up a client Miro Board as a hub for our work together.

My fees are on a trust-based sliding scale to make life changing coaching work more accessible.

I don’t hold a wait list. That feels too much like a demand and I feel too stink having people waiting on me.

What I offer

The foundation, and woven throughout my practice, is neurodivergent nervous system care and well-being. Working with me you get to benefit from my years of experience and the host of frameworks and tools I’ve developed specifically for neurodivergent coaching and honed over the years to support the coaching process.

-Neuro-curious sessions, demystifying and supporting assessment processes.

-Burnout recovery support.

-END-Framework -Exploring neurodivergent traits & challenges and support & scaffolds.

-Zone of Wellbeing & identifying red flags of burnout.

-Energy accounting / life mapping.

-Sensory profiling.

-Safeguarding return to work after burnout and/or chronic illness.

-Exploring monotropism and monotropic life design.

-Relationship work and social connectedness.

-Learning about hyperconnectivity and regulation tools.

-Neurodivergent Health Screening tool and advocacy.

You lead. And we can always go with what’s top of mind on the day.

What brings clients to coaching?

Here are quotes from connection calls over the years:

“Communicating better with my neurotypical partner.”

“Coping strategies to deal with a world that doesn’t speak my language.”

“Help getting out of burnout…and working out how not to burn out again.”

“Why do I never feel like I belong?”

“Be healthier.”

“Kicking RSD’s butt” (RSD = Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria)

“Learn executive functioning strategies.”

”I need help to work out what is going on with this range of health symptoms.”

“I need to know what a healthy sustainable work life looks like for me.”

“I feel like I’ve been playing a role all my life and I want to work out who I am and what kind of life I need.”

“Learn how to make, and keep, friends.”

“More understanding of myself.”

“I want to support my child better.”

“I’m losing my shit with the kids. I need to learn how to regulate better.”

Being stable. Staying in scope. Respecting reciprocal boundaries.

I stay alert to stay in scope of my role as a coach. I may suggest areas that would be helpful to take to a trusted therapist and steer us firmly back on our coaching path.

In addition to personal ethics, I am obligated to stay in my scope of practice as outlined by my member bodies of HCANZA and ANZCAL.

I ask for honesty. I will respect boundaries and I expect the same in return.

I require clients to be stable in their mental health to be able to get the most out of their investment in the coaching process.

About me

I am a deep listener. Compassionate. Intuitive but evidence-based. Largely unshockable. I love my work.

I bring decades of coaching experience with me, along with modalities that enrich the coaching experience like sophrologie, EFT (tapping), mindfulness, process-oriented psychology, transactional analysis, meditation, herbalism, health coaching, training in non-violent communication & conflict resolution, somatic movement, breathwork to name a few. I strive to maintain connections to a range of neurodivergent and disability communities.

I am late diagnosed multiply neurodivergent. Disabled. An award-winning fiction and essay writer. Have a pile of the chronic health conditions so common in our communities. A hypermobile PTSDer. Solo mama of a human much taller than me. Queer as. Have been spouting phrases like systems change, mana enhancing and Te Tiriti future focussed for decades.

A seasoned not-for-profit-professional and systems change advocate, in addition to my coaching practice, I use my decades of environmental and social justice experience in the sector by serving on advisory groups and in governance representing our wider disability communities, currently on the Enable NZ XAG, and as a consultant. This satisfies the strategy and policy geek in me.

My education and consulting work has seen me delivering professional development to a range of audiences, at the Retirement Commission, teaching third year social work students and most recently, this past Neurodiversity Celebration Week, presenting at Will & Able.

“I want you to know what a massive difference you are making with your mahi.

The ripple effect will be healing for my whole family in the long term, and to start with I’m rearranging my career expectations so not continually set up to fail.”

Other Wild of Brain work

In addition to Wild of Brain one-on-one coaching, I run neurodivergent wellbeing retreats and groups, both online and in-person. While not for everyone, group work is more affordable. I work hard to bridge people in and co-create trust and have it be as accessible as possible for participants in each cohort.

I also share the insights, tools and frameworks of my specialist coaching practice in my online workshops series and learning modules.

I’m on a mission to support neuro-kin and those who work with us or love us to understand us better and have more of us living in states of wellbeing with access to joy, comfort, belonging and stability.

If you’d like to support my work, or contribute to The Wild of Brain Sponsorship Fund, to allow our most vulnerable to access coaching, please donate!

And please get in touch if you’d like to work with me.

There are client testimonials on the Wild of Brain website and facebook page.

You can book a free connection call HERE.

Or contact me via the Wild of Brain website HERE.

I hope to see you soon.

Arohanui,

Anissa

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And welcome back!

Thanks for listening to the Wild of Brain audiobook.

This is Chapter Fourteen. Getting to Grace, Standing Proud. The last chapter y’all!

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And welcome back!

Thanks for listening to the Wild of Brain audiobook.

This is Chapter Thirteen:

Life Mapping - the Foundation to Building a Life that Works for YOU

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