Theo Dodds
LGBTQ + & Neurodivergent Coaching
I support queer, trans and neurodiverse people to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, build self-trust and create lives that feel more authentic, sustainable and aligned.
A warm, holistic, affirming space to explore identity, nervous system regulation, burnout, addiction, relationships, shame and what it means to build a life that genuinely fits.
A Gentle Welcome
Hello there, I'm Theo (they/them).I'm a trans, non-binary practitioner working primarily with queer and neurodiverse people.My practice is rooted in curiosity, compassion and connection. I take a human-centred approach, meaning our work is collaborative and guided by what feels important to you.I believe there's value in having a space where you don't need to perform, mask, have everything figured out.Together, we create space to slow down, make sense of what's happening and explore what might help you move towards a life that feels more manageable, connected and genuinely yours.
Areas I support
Nervous System Regulation
Anxiety, overwhelm, shutdown and burnout are common terms in our everyday lives, but what do they actually mean to you?Together, we explore your unique experience of these states. We get to know your early signs of overwhelm, understand your nervous system's responses and identify what helps you regulate.This might involve exploring the relationship between your environment, sensory needs, relationships and capacity, as well as developing practical tools to support yourself through different states.Rather than striving to feel calm all the time, we're interested in understanding what your nervous system needs and finding ways to respond with greater awareness and compassion.
Areas I support
Neurodiverse Experiences
I walk alongside people exploring ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, OCD and other neurodiverse experiences.Together, we explore what neurodivergence means in your everyday life, beyond labels and diagnostic criteria. We look at your needs, strengths, challenges and the environments you navigate, finding ways to work with your brain rather than constantly against it.We might explore masking, sensory needs, executive functioning, relationships, shame, burnout or the experience of feeling different.The focus isn't on making you fit into a world that wasn't necessarily designed with you in mind, but on understanding yourself and exploring ways to build a life that better supports your needs.
Areas I support
Addiction & Self-Trust
Sometimes the things we turn to for comfort, escape or relief can gradually become things we feel trapped by.We compassionately explore addictive patterns, shame, lapse and relapse, getting curious about what these behaviours offer, what they cost and what might be happening beneath the surface.Rather than approaching behaviour change through shame or willpower alone, we explore the needs, emotions and protective patterns that may be contributing to it.Together, we work towards developing a different relationship with yourself, building self-trust and finding more supportive ways to meet your needs.
Areas I support
Queer Identity & Authenticity
Gender exploration? Late queer discovery? Non-monogamy? Living on a canal boat?Do you want to build a life beyond cis-normative expectations but haven't yet found a practitioner you feel fully comfortable sharing these aspects of your life with?I get it. This is one of the reasons I became a practitioner.I offer a non-judgemental space to explore identity, relationships, belonging and what it means to live outside expected frameworks.Whether you're questioning, coming out, navigating relationships or simply trying to understand what feels right for you, we can explore this with curiosity, openness and respect.You don't need to have everything figured out. You just need space to explore.
My story
My path into this work grew from a fascination with people, identity and the different ways we learn to navigate the world around us.For a long time, I was particularly interested in understanding people, their behaviours, expressions and ways of relating. Looking back, much of this curiosity was intertwined with deep masking and learning how to navigate social environments that didn't always feel intuitive.As I've come to understand myself more deeply, unmask, and recognise my own sensory, relational and environmental needs, that curiosity has taken on a different meaning.What once helped me navigate the world has developed into a genuine interest in understanding the varied, and often surprisingly similar, human experiences we each hold.Through my own experiences of questioning, unlearning and finding ways to live outside expected frameworks, I became increasingly interested in the nervous system, attachment, behaviour, identity and the protective patterns we develop throughout life.That curiosity eventually became a passion for supporting others, particularly those who have felt othered, misunderstood or out of place, to better understand themselves and develop a sense of self-acceptance.I became a practitioner because I wanted to create the kind of space where people don't have to hide, explain away or fix parts of themselves to feel accepted.A space where we can get curious about what's happening beneath the surface, understand what our patterns are trying to do for us, and explore new ways of being.
Lived experience
I believe everyone is doing the best they can with the resources, experiences and understanding available to them.So often, the things we struggle with aren't random flaws or signs that something is wrong with us. They're patterns that have developed for a reason. Ways of coping, protecting ourselves, finding connection or navigating environments that haven't always met our needs.Rather than rushing to change these patterns, I'm interested in understanding them.What purpose have they served? What are they protecting? What needs might be going unmet? And are they still supporting the life you want to live?I believe meaningful change grows from understanding and acceptance, not shame or self-rejection.My intention isn't to help you become someone else. It's to support you in understanding yourself more deeply, developing self-trust and exploring ways of living that feel more supportive, sustainable and genuinely yours.I believe acceptance and change can coexist. We can appreciate why a behaviour or pattern developed while recognising that it might no longer be serving us.Ultimately, I want to support people in feeling more connected to themselves, trusting their own experiences and making choices that feel aligned with who they are and the life they want to build.
Philosophy
I'm a trans, non-binary and neurodivergent person, and my understanding of this work is shaped by both professional training and lived experience.I understand something of the complexity of navigating identity, masking, belonging, shame, self-doubt and the pressure to fit into expectations that don't always feel like your own.I've experienced the ongoing process of understanding my own patterns, recognising my needs, developing self-trust and finding ways to live that feel more authentic.I don't assume that my experience is the same as yours. But I understand the value of being alongside someone who doesn't need every part of your experience explained before you can begin exploring it.I bring an appreciation of the courage, uncertainty and complexity that can come with becoming more fully yourself.
Approach
My approach is relational, trauma-aware and informed by polyvagal theory, attachment theory, self-compassion, behaviour change, motivational interviewing and parts-focused approaches.I hold these frameworks as supportive maps rather than rigid answers. They're ways of understanding human experience, not boxes to fit people into.Our work isn't about endlessly unpacking the past or focusing solely on what has gone wrong. It's about understanding how your experiences have shaped you, recognising how patterns show up in your present life and using that understanding to explore what you want for your future.Some sessions might involve exploring emotions, relationships, identity or past experiences. Others might focus on practical tools, behaviour change, boundaries, nervous system regulation or navigating everyday challenges.I work collaboratively, blending reflection, exploration, practical tools and gentle challenge where helpful.There's no expectation to follow a particular path or reach a predetermined outcome. We work with what's important to you, at a pace that feels manageable.My intention is to support you in developing a deeper understanding of yourself, strengthening trust in your own experiences and making choices that feel more aligned with the life you want to live.
What it feels like working together
Polyvagal Theory
Sessions are conversational, collaborative and paced around your needs.You don't need to arrive with an agenda, know exactly what you want to talk about or have the right words to explain what's going on.Some days we might explore emotions, relationships and past experiences. Other days we may focus on practical tools for nervous system regulation, overwhelm, boundaries or everyday life.We'll make space for curiosity, reflection and experimentation, without pressure to have everything figured out.I believe there's room for both depth and lightness. We can explore difficult things without making every session feel heavy.Our work is guided by you, with space for me to offer reflections, questions, perspectives and gentle challenges along the way.The aim isn't to become a different person, but to develop a relationship with yourself that feels more trusting, compassionate and supportive.You are welcome exactly as you are.To book you free connect call email [email protected]
Ideas That Inform My Work
Polyvagal Theory
Exploring how our nervous systems respond to our environments, relationships and experiences of safety, and how this can influence our capacity, emotions and behaviour.
Attachment Theory
Understanding how our early relationships and experiences can shape our expectations of connection, safety, relationships and belonging.
Internal Family Systems
Getting curious about the different thoughts, feelings and protective responses that can coexist within us, and understanding the intentions behind them.
Self-Compassion
Developing a different relationship with ourselves, particularly when we're struggling, making mistakes or experiencing shame.
A few things that have shaped my practice
I'm a bit of a book enthusiast. I love exploring different perspectives on human behaviour, identity, relationships and what it means to be human.Here are some books that have influenced my thinking, challenged my perspectives or simply given me plenty to think about.Wired to Feel – by Martha Sweezy and Sarah BergenfieldNo Bad Parts – Richard SchwartzThe Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der KolkPolysecure – Jessica FernThe Myth of Normal – Gabor MatéFawning – Dr Ingrid ClaytonEmbodied Activism - Rae Johnson PhdDaring Greatly – Brené BrownUnmasking Autism – Devon PriceAtlas of the Heart – Brené BrownAnd, just for fun, Gone Fishing.I'm always interested in discovering new perspectives, so this list is very much a work in progress.
The Coaching Accademy | Life Coaching Diploma
Completed the Coaching Academy Life Coaching Diploma, developing skills in active listening, powerful questioning, goal-setting, behaviour change and motivational techniques. Gained a foundation in coaching psychology, building self-awareness, overcoming limiting beliefs and supporting people to create meaningful, sustainable change.The Polyvagal Institute | The Polyvagal Certificate Course:
Safety, Connection & the Human Experience
Studied Polyvagal Theory through the Polyvagal Institute, developing an understanding of how the nervous system shapes our experiences of safety, connection and stress. Explored somatically informed practices, autonomic awareness and co-regulation to support nervous system regulation, build resilience and help people develop a greater sense of safety in themselves and their relationships.Light Before Dawn | The Liminal Way
Completed integrative training with Fi Feehand through The Liminal Way, exploring a range of therapeutic and psychological approaches to supporting personal growth and change. Developed knowledge of attachment theory, trauma-informed practice, Transactional Analysis, Motivational Interviewing, self-compassion, behaviour change and IFS-informed approaches, integrating these perspectives to support a deeper understanding of people's experiences, patterns and relationships.
Training & Professional Development
What people say
Practical Information
Connect Call
I offer a free introductory connection call. It's an opportunity to meet, ask questions, get a feel for how I work and explore whether we'd be a good fit.There's no obligation to continue.
Pricing
60 Minutes £70
75 Minutes£85
60 Minutes Bundle of 4 £240
75 Minutes bundle of 4 £300
Come and say hello
Finding the right person to work with can feel like a big step.You don't need to know exactly what you want to work on or have everything figured out before reaching out.If something here resonates, I'd love to hear from you.We can start with a conversation, get to know each other a little and explore whether working together feels right.
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