
Education
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Courses
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Understanding Autism
Thriving Through Conflict
Communicating Effectively
Understanding Sensory Experience
Public Speaking
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CPD for councillors & Psychotherapists
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Developing Autism Affirming Practices
Supervision
Organisational Training & Development
Hello
I'm Guy Rands
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Book a free consultation
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Frequently asked questions
The best therapy is the one that actually helps you reach your goals. That said, in my experience, person-centred therapy is particularly well-suited to neurodivergent people. Unlike cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which works by analysing and changing your response to particular situations, person-centred therapy supports you to understand yourself more fully and to direct your own change at your own pace. Many of my clients find this approach a much better fit — and the evidence for CBT being effective with autistic and neurodivergent people in the long term is limited. Ultimately, though, this is about what works for you.
Yes, absolutely. People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons, and not all of them are connected to neurodivergence. If you're looking for a thoughtful, attentive therapist and you'd like to explore whether we'd be a good fit, I'd be very happy to hear from you.
There's rarely one simple answer to that. Sometimes it's a specific event — a bereavement, the end of a relationship, a diagnosis, a job loss — that prompts someone to seek support. Sometimes it's a longer, quieter sense that something isn't quite right. Often, people are carrying losses of various kinds: loss of health, identity, control, or connection.
Broadly speaking, the work I do with clients explores three things: your relationship with yourself, your relationship with the people around you, and your relationship with events — past and present. For many of my neurodivergent clients, there's a fourth thread too: understanding how you sense and experience the world, and making sense of that in a way that feels true to you.
No. A diagnosis is not a requirement. Many of my clients come to therapy without one — some are in the process of seeking a diagnosis, others have never considered it, and others simply don't feel a label is relevant to what they're looking for. If you do have a diagnosis and would like to share it with me, I'll treat that information with complete confidentiality.
A few things are worth considering. First, do they have direct experience of working with autistic and neurodivergent people — not just theoretical knowledge? Second, do they take a strengths-based approach, rather than treating neurodivergence primarily as a deficit or a problem to be fixed? Third, are they flexible? Good neurodivergent-affirming therapy adapts to the client, not the other way around — in terms of communication style, environment, pace and format.
I'd also encourage you to trust your instincts. An initial consultation is an opportunity to get a sense of whether a therapist feels right for you — and any good therapist should welcome that question, not be unsettled by it.
Before the first proper session, I'd always encourage a free initial consultation. This is a confidential conversation where we talk about what you're looking for from therapy, and about how I might be able to help. It's an opportunity for you to get a sense of who I am and how I work — and equally, for me to understand whether I'm well placed to help you. If I'm not, I'll always try to suggest where else you might go.
If we both feel it's a good fit, I'll send you a client agreement to read and sign, along with a request for an emergency contact. After that, we'll arrange your first session. From there, sessions are arranged on a session-by-session basis — there's no obligation to commit to a fixed block in advance.
Both. I'm committed to tailoring therapy around your needs, and that includes how and where we meet. I have a therapy room in Hartford — a quiet, private space with off-road parking. I also offer video and telephone sessions, and in some cases I work with clients in their own home. For some clients, walk-and-talk sessions work particularly well. If you have a preference or a particular access need, let's talk about it.
I work with people across a wide age range. My youngest client has been 14, my oldest 87. Age is much less important than fit — whether I'm the right person to help you with what you're bringing.
Fees are available on application. I'm happy to discuss costs openly at the initial consultation stage. I do operate a sliding scale — I actively set aside a proportion of my caseload for clients at a reduced rate, because I believe access to good therapy shouldn't depend entirely on what you can afford. If cost is a concern, please don't let that stop you from getting in touch.
I aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. Where possible, I try to offer a first conversation within seven days and a face-to-face session within a fortnight of initial contact. I currently have space to take on new clients, and any waiting list is managed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The best therapy is the one that actually helps you reach your goals. That said, in my experience, person-centred therapy is particularly well-suited to neurodivergent people. Unlike cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which works by analysing and changing your response to particular situations, person-centred therapy supports you to understand yourself more fully and to direct your own change at your own pace. Many of my clients find this approach a much better fit — and the evidence for CBT being effective with autistic and neurodivergent people in the long term is limited. Ultimately, though, this is about what works for you.
Yes, absolutely. People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons, and not all of them are connected to neurodivergence. If you're looking for a thoughtful, attentive therapist and you'd like to explore whether we'd be a good fit, I'd be very happy to hear from you.
There's rarely one simple answer to that. Sometimes it's a specific event — a bereavement, the end of a relationship, a diagnosis, a job loss — that prompts someone to seek support. Sometimes it's a longer, quieter sense that something isn't quite right. Often, people are carrying losses of various kinds: loss of health, identity, control, or connection.
Broadly speaking, the work I do with clients explores three things: your relationship with yourself, your relationship with the people around you, and your relationship with events — past and present. For many of my neurodivergent clients, there's a fourth thread too: understanding how you sense and experience the world, and making sense of that in a way that feels true to you.
No. A diagnosis is not a requirement. Many of my clients come to therapy without one — some are in the process of seeking a diagnosis, others have never considered it, and others simply don't feel a label is relevant to what they're looking for. If you do have a diagnosis and would like to share it with me, I'll treat that information with complete confidentiality.
A few things are worth considering. First, do they have direct experience of working with autistic and neurodivergent people — not just theoretical knowledge? Second, do they take a strengths-based approach, rather than treating neurodivergence primarily as a deficit or a problem to be fixed? Third, are they flexible? Good neurodivergent-affirming therapy adapts to the client, not the other way around — in terms of communication style, environment, pace and format.
I'd also encourage you to trust your instincts. An initial consultation is an opportunity to get a sense of whether a therapist feels right for you — and any good therapist should welcome that question, not be unsettled by it.
Before the first proper session, I'd always encourage a free initial consultation. This is a confidential conversation where we talk about what you're looking for from therapy, and about how I might be able to help. It's an opportunity for you to get a sense of who I am and how I work — and equally, for me to understand whether I'm well placed to help you. If I'm not, I'll always try to suggest where else you might go.
If we both feel it's a good fit, I'll send you a client agreement to read and sign, along with a request for an emergency contact. After that, we'll arrange your first session. From there, sessions are arranged on a session-by-session basis — there's no obligation to commit to a fixed block in advance.
Both. I'm committed to tailoring therapy around your needs, and that includes how and where we meet. I have a therapy room in Hartford — a quiet, private space with off-road parking. I also offer video and telephone sessions, and in some cases I work with clients in their own home. For some clients, walk-and-talk sessions work particularly well. If you have a preference or a particular access need, let's talk about it.
I work with people across a wide age range. My youngest client has been 14, my oldest 87. Age is much less important than fit — whether I'm the right person to help you with what you're bringing.
Fees are available on application. I'm happy to discuss costs openly at the initial consultation stage. I do operate a sliding scale — I actively set aside a proportion of my caseload for clients at a reduced rate, because I believe access to good therapy shouldn't depend entirely on what you can afford. If cost is a concern, please don't let that stop you from getting in touch.
I aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. Where possible, I try to offer a first conversation within seven days and a face-to-face session within a fortnight of initial contact. I currently have space to take on new clients, and any waiting list is managed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Seeking a diagnosis can feel like a big step, and there is no “right” timeline. I'm here to help explore your experiences, patterns, and challenges while helping you consider whether pursuing a formal assessment feels helpful or important for you personally.
Fees are available on request. Initial consultations are free and carry no obligation.
The assessment process can vary depending on the type of assessment, provider, and whether you choose an NHS or private pathway. Some people may wait several months or longer for assessments, while private services are often quicker. My pre- and post-diagnosis services can provide ongoing support during this period, helping you manage uncertainty, prepare for appointments, and process emotions throughout the journey.
Yes — support can include helping you understand potential assessment pathways, discussing NHS and private options, and signposting you towards appropriate services and resources based on your circumstances and needs.
Not receiving a diagnosis does not invalidate your experiences or challenges. Therapy can still help you better understand yourself, develop supportive coping strategies, and explore what adjustments or approaches may improve your wellbeing and daily life.
Advocacy means having someone speak on your behalf — but using your voice, your perspective, and your priorities. It's not about someone telling others what they think you need; it's about making sure that what you actually think, feel and want is heard clearly, fairly and by the right people.
This can matter enormously for autistic people and their families. It might be that you find it difficult to communicate your needs in ways that others seem to receive well. It might be that people aren't listening, or that you're struggling to achieve shared understanding. Sometimes it's simply about having someone beside you who can give you confidence that what you're saying has weight — and, when necessary, someone who can represent you in a room where you'd rather not be alone.
Yes to all three. Organisations — schools, NHS services, employers — don't always understand what reasonable adjustments look like in practice, or why they matter. I can help you articulate your perspective clearly, represent your interests in a balanced and constructive way, and support you in navigating situations where you're not always being heard as you deserve to be.
Yes, this is something I'm able to consider with you. Whether it's attending a meeting, contributing to a report, or helping you prepare for a difficult conversation, I'll discuss the specifics with you and we'll agree together what's appropriate and helpful. Every situation is different, and I'd rather understand yours before making any assumptions.
Yes. I'm happy to travel where that's needed. Where travel is involved, there will naturally be a cost associated with it — something we can discuss and factor in when planning support.
Advocacy support is charged at an hourly rate, starting from £75. I'm happy to discuss the specifics when we talk about what you need.
Neurodiversity training refers to workshops and one-to-one sessions where I help people better understand the lives and experiences of autistic and neurodivergent people. I draw on my own knowledge, on the insights of neurodivergent people themselves, and on what people in the room already bring — because we all arrive with relevant experience, whether we recognise it or not.
Typical topics include: the broader concept of neurodiversity; separating fact from myth about autism; communication and interaction differences; sensory processing; the role of certainty, routine and familiarity; and — running through all of it — a strengths-based rather than deficit-based perspective on what it means to be neurodivergent.
Yes. I work with a range of organisations, including schools and NHS settings. I have delivered Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training at Tier 2 level within the NHS, and have delivered lottery-funded training through the Autism Wellbeing Project CIC. Each programme is shaped by what the organisation needs, rather than delivered from a fixed template.
This is one of the areas I feel most strongly about — and where I have the most experience. Over more than two decades of working with young people and their families, and as a co-parent of a neurodivergent child myself, I've developed a particular understanding of what parents and carers most need: not just information, but someone who genuinely gets it.
I offer a range of options: group parent sessions, one-to-one consultations, advocacy and representation, and bespoke training. I'll always work around you in terms of timing and location — because I know that for parents and carers, flexibility isn't a luxury, it's a necessity.
My workshops are currently delivered face to face. I'm considering online provision for the future — if that would be useful to you or your organisation, please do mention it when you get in touch.
There's no single answer to this — nor should there be. Each session is designed around what you or your organisation needs and what you're hoping to learn. Sessions can range from an hour to a full day, and the format — whether that's workshop, seminar, group discussion or one-to-one — will reflect what's most likely to work for the people involved.
Yes. While I'm based in Cheshire, I'm happy to work with schools, organisations and families across the UK. Where travel is required, associated costs will be discussed and agreed in advance.

