Dinah Purton

I have over 20 years counselling, psychotherapy and coaching experience, specialising in relationships and families of all kinds, life stages/transitions, infertility, and neurodiversity (in particular ADHD in adults). I am currently seeing individual adults only - this may be with a relationship or family focus, or looking at a wide range of issues from personal identity, creativity, career and personal development to managing major life transitions, grief, loss and rebuilding. I am an interactive, friendly and personal therapist who hopes to build a warm, supportive relationship with you. I do not have all the answers, rather I help you find your own answers and strategies and aim to find new ways of looking at situations so together we can come up with options and support you in the best way for you. I have a particular interest in working with people who are creating their lives and themselves outside of their comfort zone, or away from social norms. Whether you are starting over after divorce, dreaming of an unconventional career change or retirement, choosing to live with more than one partner, exploring your gender or sexual identity, looking to leave the rat race and embrace digital nomadism, live off grid or start a family on your own, you can create a life that suits you and is not prescribed. I hope to help you know yourself and become as happy and accepting of that as possible, whatever and whoever you are. I have specialist fertility training, am accredited with the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA) and have over 10 years experience helping people who are struggling with the fertility journey. This includes the full spectrum of family arrangements, from single women starting a family using donor sperm to those in same sex couples, those considering surrogacy or adoption and transgender people considering their fertility options prior to medical transition. Following my masters degree in Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy I am increasingly curious about using AI safely and ethically in mental health and can work with you on maximising its effectiveness, as well as supporting people who have a problematic or over dependent relationship with it. I am currently advising mental health startups on building safety into AI products from initial design.

MA Philosophy and AI (Northeastern University, London - Distinction. Dissertation: Applying the Capabilities Approach to human flourishing in an automated world) BACP Accreditation British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA) Accreditation (AMBICA) Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy (University of East London - Distinction) Advanced Diploma in Life Coaching (Learning Curve - Distinction) Advanced Certificate in Systemic Practice with Families and Couples (Institute of Family Therapy - Merit) Graduate Certificate in Couples Counselling (Relate / University of East London) Qualification as a Relate Counsellor (Relate) BSc (Hons) Psychology with Philosophy (2:1) Specialised Relate training in : Counselling Young People Domestic Violence & Abuse Mental Health Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse "Sexually Speaking" - Awareness and practice with issues of sexuality LGBTQI+ Inclusion Gender Dysphoria Asperger's Syndrome and the Couple Relationship (prior to the dropping of the diagnostic term "Asperger's") Other training: Compassion Focussed Therapy - Dr Chris Irons Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Dr Richard Sears Advanced Course in Infertility Counselling (BICA) Bisexuality (Pink Therapy) GSRD Therapy (Pink Therapy) Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity (GSRD) - Meg-John Barker (author of the BACP's Diversity policy) Autism in the therapy room ADHD: Current research and practice Implications and Support counselling for fertility clients Teaching Mindfulness Skills Working with Men in a Fertility Setting Narrative Therapy

Relationships - especially non-mainstream and alternative family structures including polyamory, ENM/CNM, Living Apart Together (LAT), Co-parenting Neurodivergence - especially ADHD / AuDHD in adults LGBTQI+ - especially in a fertility context, and those questioning their gender or sexuality in the intersection with neurodiversity Fertility/Infertility - emotional impact of fertility treatment, fertility options (including donor conception, surrogacy), pregnancy loss, choosing to be child free Artificial Intelligence in the field of mental health - helping people understand and use AI tools in an emotionally safe way, supporting those with problematic relationships with AI (eg AI "psychosis" and spirals, advising AI builders on safety-by-design principles for AI products

I draw on a wide range of approaches including systemic, solution-focused, CBT, person centred and coaching oriented ideas and techniques. I work flexibly - most of my sessions are fortnightly though some are weekly, monthly or even less frequent including standalone sessions. I try to work around irregular routines where possible and am currently working remotely, either online or on the telephone. I have worked with a wide variety of private, NHS, fertility and Relate clients, been a secondary school counsellor, provided short term GP-referred counselling, worked with parents in a primary school, with homeless people looking to reconnect with their families and provided telephone CBT to survivors of road accidents. I aim to work as inclusively as possible and have worked and trained in GSRD (Gender Sexuality and Relationship Diversity) and LGBTQI+ issues. A large part of my work is with ADHD and autistic clients (diagnosed and self id). I am ADHD myself with many neurodivergent family members so have a personal interest and understanding of many common issues including late diagnosis, diagnosis in women and parenting and I have supplemented this with additional training. (Please note I am only seeing adults at this time) I have a particular interest in non-traditional relationships and alternative family structures including ENM/CNM, polyamory, platonic co-parenting, elective/non-elective single parenting and Living Apart Together. I have experience of the particular dynamics and challenges that these relationships face and aim to work with every individual by understanding the unique way in which you operate, rather than making any traditional assumptions or judgements. As a therapeutic coach I can offer stand alone coaching or bring a coaching approach to counselling which looks at making practical changes, clarifying goals and focussing on the positive.