Emmeline

Emmeline Barnes

Psychotherapist (Registered)

Verified

“Are you neurodivergent, questioning whether you might be, or feeling overwhelmed, burnt out or misunderstood? I offer neuroaffirming, humanistic psychotherapy for adults and young people, helping you make sense of identity, relationships, anxiety and belonging in a way that works with—not against—how you experience the world.”

About Me

You may have spent a long time trying to understand why certain things feel harder than they seem to for other people. Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, anxious or disconnected from yourself. You might be navigating neurodivergence, questioning your identity, struggling in relationships, or simply reaching a point where the ways you have learned to cope are no longer working. I am a humanistic and relational psychotherapist offering a warm, collaborative and neuroaffirming space where you do not have to perform, mask or arrive with everything neatly worked out. I am interested in you as a whole person rather than reducing your experience to a diagnosis, symptom or problem to be fixed. I work particularly with neurodivergent adults and young people, including people who are autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, questioning whether they may be neurodivergent, or coming to understand themselves later in life. I also work with anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, relationships, transitions and questions of identity and belonging. My practice is culturally responsive and informed by many years of working across international and cross-cultural communities. I am also a doctoral researcher exploring neuroinclusion, belonging and human-centred change.

Approach

My approach is humanistic, relational, neuroaffirming and trauma-aware. Rather than beginning with the question “What is wrong with you?”, I am more interested in understanding what has happened, what you have needed to do to survive or belong, and what your mind and body may be communicating. Therapy with me is collaborative. We might explore emotions, relationships, patterns, sensory experiences, identity, masking, expectations, culture and the environments or systems around you. There is no requirement to communicate, process or progress in one particular way. For neurodivergent clients especially, I believe therapy should adapt to the person rather than asking the person to adapt to therapy. We can therefore consider pace, communication style, sensory needs and structure together. My aim is not to make you more “normal”. It is to help you understand yourself with greater compassion and clarity, recognise what you need, and develop ways of living and relating that feel more sustainable and authentic.
Contact Emmeline

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Online Only

Services

I provide individual psychotherapy for adults and young people, with a particular focus on neurodivergence and the experiences that can accompany it. People come to me for support with autism, ADHD and AuDHD; late identification or diagnosis; masking; overwhelm and burnout; anxiety; identity and self-understanding; relationships; life transitions; and experiences of feeling different, misunderstood or out of place. I also work with people navigating international, expatriate and cross-cultural lives, where questions of home, family, identity and belonging can become especially complex. My work is not limited to people with a formal diagnosis. You may be questioning whether you are neurodivergent, beginning to understand yourself through that lens, or simply looking for therapy that is more accepting of difference. Where appropriate, I can also work alongside parents, families and other professionals to help create a broader understanding of what a young person may be experiencing.

Services Offered:

  • Child / Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy for children and teenagers using age-appropriate methods, such as play, art, or adapted talk therapy, to address emotional and behavioural difficulties.

    Learn more about Child / Adolescent Therapy
  • Corporate Workshops

    Mental health and well-being workshops delivered in workplace settings, covering topics like stress management, resilience, and communication.

  • Counselling

    A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.

    Learn more about Counselling
  • Disability Psychological & Diagnostic Assessment

    A formal psychological evaluation to determine the nature and extent of a disability, often used for support planning or service access.

  • Group Therapy

    Therapy conducted with a small group of people who share similar concerns, using peer interaction and diverse perspectives as part of the healing process.

    Learn more about Group Therapy
  • Individual Psychotherapy

    In-depth one-on-one therapy that explores the deeper roots of a person's difficulties, often drawing on psychodynamic or psychoanalytic models.

  • Learning Support

    Specialised assistance for children or adults with learning difficulties, building strategies to succeed in education and daily tasks.

  • Play Therapy

    A therapy for children that uses play as a natural form of communication, allowing them to express feelings and process difficult experiences.

    Learn more about Play Therapy
  • Research

    Scientific investigation into mental health, therapy effectiveness, or psychological processes, contributing to evidence-based clinical practice.

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Children
  • Families
  • Organisations
  • Parents
  • Under Fives

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • ADHD / Attention Difficulties

    A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about ADHD / Attention Difficulties
  • Autism (ASD)

    A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.

  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Cross-Cultural

    The psychological challenges of living between two or more cultures, including identity conflicts, acculturation stress, and difficulties with belonging.

  • Gender Identity & Self-Image

    A person's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with the sex assigned at birth, and the distress or exploration that can accompany this.

  • Identity & Self-Image

    A person's sense of who they are, including their values, beliefs, roles, and self-perception, and the distress that arises when this sense is unclear, fragmented, or negative.

  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma
  • Young Adult Issues

    The unique psychological challenges of emerging adulthood (18–25), including identity formation, independence, relationship navigation, and finding direction.

    Learn more about Young Adult Issues
  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout

Professional Title:

  • Psychotherapist (Registered)

    A psychotherapist who is formally registered with a regulatory or professional body in their jurisdiction.

Credentials

Qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)

University of Birmingham

Memberships

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Full Member

Membership: 393699

Service Areas

Untanglingminds

Online Only

Kigali · London · Mumbai

Rwanda

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