My Story
My name is Lu Westwood. I am 48 yrs old, mum of 2 teenagers and all of our family are neurodiverse, inluding me - I am autistic and ADHD. I am diagnosed as bipolar, too. I also have a few autoimmune conditions as well as Ehlers Danlos. I seem to have collected a good number of other diagnosis along the way of trying to understand myself, as I'm sure some of you reading this know too well!
I am, both personally and professionally, very experienced in the world of neurodiversity, disability, chronic pain, complex trauma and mental health.
I have worked as a therapist for over 14 years, working in a range of settings from secondary schools, charity sector and private practice. Throughout my years of working, I have created an integrative & eclectic style of working, incorporating my original training in Integral Therapy at InterPsyche, elements of CBT, creative therapy and many others. I enjoy finding a way to connect with individual clients with what they need, rather than fitting all clients into my one way of working.
I came into therapy work after my own severe difficulties with mental health, including severe depression, OCD, agoraphobia, panic disorder, mental breakdown, self harm and suicide attempts. Throughout those years, I had a range of support to try to help me and after a few unsuccessful attempts, one therapist just seemed to clicked with me and I found myself improving. I knew I wanted to train as a therapist from that point - to help others as that person helped me.
Once I started working, then came my adventures in neurodiversity, after a family member was diagnosed as autistic over 12 years ago. I quickly realised how little was known about autism and ADHD in therapy world - often meaning that people with diagnosis of neurodivergence would fall through the cracks in the system, or receive inadequate support from therapists who did not know about lived experience. I therefore increased my knowledge and experience and found more clients were also being drawn to me because of my lived experienced of these conditions and diagnosis.
I now run my own private practice in Orpington, Kent and online, working with all areas of mental health and offer a safe, experienced therepeutic space for all.