Study with the Brain that you Have

Studying whilst being neurodivergent can feel like running a marathon wearing flip-flops—deadlines, reading lists, a brain that won’t play ball. Whilst dealing with one of the biggest transitions imaginable—new home, new people, new schedule—you’re expected to do well academically whilst simultaneously having the best time of your life (no pressure).

The good news: You can get support!

I’m Sebastian, a Specialist Study Skills Tutor (SpLD) and Specialist Mentor (ASC/ADHD). I work with students who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure about how their brains are supposed to function in higher education. I do this in the context of DSA-funded support (Disability Support Allowance) as well as privately (usually for international students).

Being dyslexic myself (and now on a diagnostic waiting list for ADHD), I nearly dropped out of school until a tutor called Geoff helped me find my way. Now I try to be someone’s Geoff.

If people come in saying, “Help, everything is a mess,” my response is usually, “Yes. I know. Or at least I know it feels like that. I've been there too. Let's tidy this up, one sock at a time.” Whether the starting point is a calendar, an essay, or a general sense of drowning, I hold space for people to find their rhythm and work with how their mind actually works, not how it’s “supposed to.”

I am a qualified practitioner and registered both as an independent Non-Medical Help provider and as a Quality Assured Tutor with PASSHE (the Professional Association for Specific Learning Difficulty Specialists in Higher Education — formerly ADSHE). You can find me on their register, here.

How I work:

  • I focus on neurodiversity as a gift. Whilst I take a realistic view of the burdens that come with being neurodivergent, I believe that with the right approach, the benefits can easily outweigh the costs.

  • I do not use an off-the-shelf, pre-packaged “method” for working with neurodivergent people. Working with people, in any setting, requires sensitivity, attunement and getting to know the individual.

  • My experience as a practitioner has convinced me that the quality of support possible in person far exceeds what remote support allows. Whilst sometimes online makes sense — for example, if you’re away from campus or need a one-off remote catch-up. I specialise in face-to-first first because I believe you’ll get the most out of it.

  • As a trainee in Humanistic psychotherapy, I can offer a psychologically-informed perspective to student support. Although student support work isn’t the right context to unpack emotional topics in depth, having this base allows me to work with psychological safety at a high level.

  • Living and working in London, one of the world’s most multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-racial cities, it is essential to understand that these dimensions of diversity can have a significant (perhaps enormous) impact on someone’s experience of education and learning.

  • In addition to training in SpLD, ADHD and ASC-focused methodologies, I’m also trained as a Systemic Coach, an Agile Coach, and draw on Clean Language, Focusing, and Gestalt methodologies. I have over a decade of experience as a movement educator and dramaturg, and recently qualified as a Yoga Instructor.

    Keeping the focus on your journey through higher education, I can draw on a variety of approaches and tools as is appropriate to the scope of the work.

You might connect with my approach if you…

  • Prefer face-to-face, human-first session work

  • Are sceptical of approaches that feel too “off-the-shelf ” and find these too impersonal

  • Have odd combinations of neurodivergences and don’t fit neatly into diagnostic silos

  • Have an affinity for multi-sensory, metacognitive, embodied and creative support approaches

  • Prefer support which is sensitive to the impact of ethnicity, race and cultural heritage in your educational journey

  • Prefer a practitioner with lived experience of neurodiversity

This is based on experience of what has worked well in the past — even if you don’t see yourself in any of these, it still might fit.

What we’ll do together

I offer one-to-one support that helps you figure out how to move through your world with less shame and more brilliance.

  • Find strategies that fit how your mind works

  • Untangle big projects into doable steps

  • Make room for the parts of you that feel too much, too weird, or too slow (or too quick)

  • Practice identifying and asking for the accomodations that are YOURS

  • Find the humour needed to tackle the mess. One sock at a time

No scripts. No, “just try harder.” Just clear, tailored support grounded in what actually helps.

“I have ADHD, and until recently, it was undiagnosed and its impact neglected. The support I get from Sebastian's coaching is invaluable. He brings a lot of understanding, curiosity, knowledge, openness, and flexibility.”

– Celina, Student at MedUni Wien

How to get support

If you’re a student in the UK receiving funding from Student Finance England and have a diagnosed neurodivergence (ADHD, Autism Spectrum, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, etc.), you are likely to be eligible to receive support through Disabled Students’ Allowance. This is a fund which, among other things, allows eligible students to access one-to-one specialist support.

Applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) can feel intimidating, especially when you feel like your brain isn’t made to do paperwork. At every stage, however, there are people whose job it is to make it easier, and it’s important to lean into them. Scroll through and find the bit that’s most relevant to you.

Applying to University

If you’re already diagnosed while preparing for University and are applying to Student Finance England (SFE), they’ll include a section on their form for you to indicate that you have a disability. Tick this and follow the steps. There is a helpful GOV.UK website with more information about this:

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa/how-to-claim

If you’re in your final year of school or sixth-form college, your SENCO or Learning Support Team will know all about this and be able to guide you.

Undiagnosed or haven’t applied for DSA yet?

If you’re undiagnosed but think you might meet this diagnostic criteria for a neurodivergence, or you are diagnosed but haven’t received DSA-related support, talk to your university Disability Support Service. They’ll guide you through seeking a diagnosis or applying for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

Universities have differing names for their Disability Support services (e.g. “Disability, Neurodiversity & Mental Health Support” or “Disability Learning Support (DLS) Team”, etc.) They are often listed on university websites under the pages for Student Support or Accessibility and Inclusion.

Waiting for a Diagnosis?

If you are waiting for a diagnosis but are on a long waiting list, in some instances, DSA Needs Assessors will accept a letter from your GP stating that you are on the waiting list and why. This can be particularly helpful if the waiting time is expected to be similar to the length of your studies. As well as the NHS waiting list, you may be able to use the Right to Choose process — please see ADHD UK’s excellent guide to this system (which includes information relating to Autism Spectrum diagnoses too).

Again, your Disability Support Services are your first port of call for this!

Needs Assessment coming up?

If the ball is rolling and you’d like to see me, ask your assessor to include me in your Needs Assessment Report. If you don’t ask to see a specific provider or otherwise give them indications about the kind of support you’d like, the assessor will make their own call about who you will see.

Every report includes a provider you have been referred to, and they are the only provider who is allowed to get paid for sessions with you! You are entitled to request a change of providers (see below), but this can cause delays.

All the details the Needs Assessors need for the referral can be found at www.neurodiverseandproud.com/assessors.

You can also show them this referral request document and they should be able to set me up as your provider.

Already approved for DSA?

If your DSA Needs Assessment Report already lists me, email me to arrange your first sessions. And remember to attach your Needs Assessment Report. If you get lost or confused, you can call me.

Want to switch providers?

If your current support isn’t working, you’re allowed to change. Speak to your Disability Support Services about it, and they should walk you through the steps. If you’d like to see me, then give them a copy of this document or ask them to visit neurodiverseandproud.com/assessors. Alternatively, you can get in touch with me, and I’ll do my best to guide you through the process.

International or privately funded?

If you’re an international student or funded by a sponsor/scholarship, you don’t need to go through DSA. I can provide support directly and issue invoices. Just get in touch.

Not sure where you fit?

That’s fine. Get in touch and we’ll figure it out together.