Ironically, I am posting this on 1st May, however this is a blog about April.
April always feels like a reflective month for me.
It’s my birthday month, it’s Autism Acceptance Month – and this year, it also marks three years of Wellbeing Whizz.
When I first started, I don’t think I fully realised where it would take me, or how much I’d learn along the way! It’s been an exciting journey, but not always in the way I expected. There’s been a lot of learning, not just professionally, but personally too. Balancing my lived experience with my professional role has been a big part of that – and if I’m honest, it’s not always been straightforward. There have been moments of RSD, where a small piece of feedback has felt much bigger than it probably was. There have been near meltdowns and shutdowns, often at times when I’ve still needed to show up, deliver and be “professional”. There have been days where I’ve had a full to-do list, knew exactly what needed doing…and still couldn’t start.
And I know I’m not the only one!
The main thing is I’m still here, still learning, and still building something that I care about. And more than that, building something that actually reflects my values – and being consistent with that, even when it would be easier not to be. If I had to summarise the biggest things I’ve learned over the last three years, these would be them:
🔹 Understanding changes everything: A big part of what I do is helping people understand the why. We can talk about experiences, strategies, and adjustments — but when people understand why something is happening, that’s when things really start to shift. And that applies just as much to ourselves as it does to others.
🔹 It’s never been about “fixing” people: This has been consistent from the start. It’s not about fixing people – it’s about understanding and removing barriers. And that includes the barriers we sometimes put on ourselves. Things like expectations, the “I should be able to do this like everyone else”, and the pushing through when something clearly isn’t working. When the environment works better, people can work better. It’s that simple.
🔹 Lived experience is expertise: Lived experience isn’t an add-on to my work — it’s a core part of it. A friend said to me recently that they liked how I naturally interweave my identity as an autistic and ADHD woman into what I do. And they’re right, I do! Because it shapes everything. The way I think, the way I work, the way I support others. And over time, I’ve become more comfortable with that. More confident in who I am and what I bring, not despite being neurodivergent but because of it.
Three years in, I’m proud of what I’ve built.
I’m now an Oliver McGowan Mandatory Lead Trainer for Tier 1 as well as Tier 2, which is something I’m very privileged to be part of. I’m proud of the consistency in my work – keeping it grounded in research, best practice, and real-world experience. I’m also proud of the things that don’t always get seen. The days where I’ve had to regulate before a session, the time I’ve had to step away and come back, and the frequent balancing of energy, capacity and expectations.
There are still things I’m figuring out, particularly around working with different people, navigating different needs, and the realities of running a business aside from all the exciting and enjoyable delivery! Because running a business as a neurodivergent person doesn’t just mean doing the work, it means managing everything around it too and knowing my limitations. And that’s not easy!
Three years in, I’m still learning but I’m clearer than ever on what matters: understanding, not assumptions, support, not “fixing”, and work that reflects real experiences.
And that feels like a good place to be.