Neurodevelopmental Counselling
Dyslexia counselling — emotional support for adults
Counselling for the anxiety, shame, and identity cost of living with dyslexia — not the reading difficulty itself. Online across the UK and face-to-face in England. No diagnosis required.
NCPS Organisational Member
Neuroaffirming therapists
Free 15-minute consultation
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“I’d spent my whole career hiding it. Not just at work — with friends, on forms, in restaurants. I had no idea how much energy that was taking until I finally talked about it.”
Client who sought support for dyslexia and self-esteem
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
5 ★
Website testimonials
20+
Counties across England
This page is part of our neurodevelopmental counselling hub — visit for a full overview of how we support those suffering with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Who this service is for
This service is not about reading. It is about what reading difficulties do to a person over time.
If you are looking for reading support, literacy programmes, or assessment services, the British Dyslexia Association and specialist educational providers are better placed to help. This service has a different focus entirely.
It is for adults who know they are dyslexic — formally assessed or not — and who carry something beyond the practical difficulty: the anxiety that arrived early and stayed, the identity built around hiding a difficulty that never had a name, the exhaustion of a life quietly organised around concealment. That is the work counselling is for.
A diagnosis is not required. We work with adults who are formally assessed, those who have always suspected they are dyslexic, and those who identify with the emotional experience regardless of label. The work begins with what you bring — not a clinical document.
What Sessions Address
What dyslexia counselling works with
No reading, no writing, no exercises. The focus is entirely on the emotional layer — what the experience of dyslexia has left behind.
Anxiety and performance fear
The anticipatory dread of situations that might expose the difficulty — reading aloud, writing in front of others, filling in forms, presenting at work. Understanding the specific triggers, reducing the avoidance, and building a more manageable relationship with situations that currently feel threatening.
Identity and self-esteem
The accumulated story — bright but lazy, capable but careless, not trying hard enough. Working through what was internalised in the years before there was an explanation, and building a more accurate, more complete sense of who you actually are.
Concealment and its cost
The energy required to manage what others know — the compensations, the scripts, the avoidance strategies developed over years. Exploring what the concealment has cost, and whether a different relationship with disclosure is possible.
Work and the Equality Act
The sustained effort of functioning in workplace environments that have not been adjusted, the anxiety around disclosure, and the question of reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Helping you think through what support you are entitled to and how to approach it.
Late recognition — grief and relief
For adults who received a late diagnosis or recognition, the relief of having an explanation is often accompanied by grief for the years before it. Both deserve space. Counselling can hold the complexity of that without pushing towards resolution too quickly.
Co-occurring presentations
Dyslexia frequently co-occurs with ADHD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, and other neurodevelopmental differences. You do not need to separate the strands before coming to counselling — therapists experienced with neurodivergent presentations will be familiar with the complexity.
How dyslexia counselling works at Hope Therapy
Sessions involve no reading, no writing, and no literacy exercises. The work is entirely on the emotional experience of living with dyslexia — what has been internalised, what has been carried, and what might be worth examining more closely. If any written material is ever needed between sessions, your therapist will discuss that with you first and offer alternatives.
Person-centred counselling provides the foundational space: non-directive, without judgment, and genuinely curious about your experience. For many adults with dyslexia, being able to talk openly about the difficulty — perhaps for the first time without carefully managing what someone else knows — is itself significant. The concealment has its own cost, and the experience of not concealing is part of what changes things.
CBT is particularly well-suited to the performance anxiety and avoidance that develop around dyslexia. It identifies the specific thought patterns accompanying high-exposure situations, addresses the avoidance that has built up, and builds a more manageable relationship with contexts that currently feel threatening. Compassion-focused approaches and strengths-based work can directly address the distorted self-assessment that research confirms is common in adults with dyslexia.
Sessions are 50 minutes, available online via secure video from anywhere in the UK, or face-to-face in locations across England. We do not carry out dyslexia assessments — that work sits with specialist assessors. If you are seeking formal assessment, the British Dyslexia Association can signpost you to approved assessors.
Sessions are confidential. There are limited circumstances where this may need to change — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to you or others — and your therapist will explain these clearly before sessions begin.
Therapeutic Approaches
How we work
We match you with the approach that fits your situation. You do not need to arrive knowing which one you want.
Person-Centred Counselling
A space to bring the specific experiences that carry shame — perhaps for the first time without managing the other person’s reaction. The work of building a more accurate relationship with yourself often begins here.
Learn about counselling →
CBT
Well-evidenced for performance anxiety and avoidance. Targets the thought patterns that accompany high-exposure situations and builds a more workable relationship with contexts that currently feel threatening.
Learn about CBT →
Compassion-Focused Counselling
Directly addresses the low self-compassion and distorted self-assessment that research confirms are common in adults with dyslexia — building a more complete, more accurate self-view alongside honest acknowledgement of the difficulty.
Learn about compassion-focused counselling →
Our booking team and your therapist will discuss which approach — or combination — feels most appropriate for what you are bringing. You do not need to know which is right before you start.
What our clients say
Real experiences
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I’d spent my whole career hiding it. Not just at work — with friends, on forms, in restaurants. I had no idea how much energy that was taking until I finally talked about it.
Client who sought support for dyslexia and self-esteem
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The free consultation put me at ease straight away. I was nervous about opening up, but from the very first session, I felt genuinely listened to. I’d recommend Hope Therapy to anyone thinking about getting support.
Mark, who sought support for anxiety
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I came because of the anxiety. What I found was that the anxiety was mostly about the concealment — the constant management. Once I started untangling that, a lot of the anxiety went with it.
Client who sought support for dyslexia and anxiety
Client experiences are unique. Results vary between individuals.
Getting started
What to expect
1
Free consultation
A brief, relaxed 15-minute conversation — by phone, video, or email if a call feels easier. We listen to what is going on, answer your questions, and explore whether counselling could help. No pressure, no obligation, and no disclosure required beyond what you are comfortable with.
2
Matched with the right therapist
We match you with one of our 90+ qualified therapists, taking into account experience with dyslexia and neurodivergent presentations, preferred approach, and practical preferences including session format and scheduling. If the match does not feel right, we find someone else at no extra cost.
3
Your first session
Your therapist takes time to understand your situation and what you are hoping to work on. There is no reading, no writing, and no fixed format. You do not need to have worked out what you want to say before you arrive.
Most clients hear back from us the same working day, and typically begin sessions within a week of the free consultation — depending on your preferences and therapist availability.
Standards you can trust
What we offer — and what we don’t
What this service offers
Therapeutic support for the emotional experience of living with dyslexia — counselling, CBT, and EMDR from a team of 90+ qualified therapists with experience of neurodivergent presentations. Sessions online UK-wide and face-to-face in 20+ counties across England. Careful matching through a free 15-minute consultation. No diagnosis required.
- Anxiety and avoidance around reading, writing, and high-exposure situations
- Identity and self-esteem — working through what was internalised before there was an explanation
- Concealment and the cost of managing what others know
- Workplace difficulty, disclosure decisions, and reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act
- Late recognition — grief and relief, and the identity work that follows
- Co-occurring presentations (ADHD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, autism)
What this service does not offer
We do not carry out dyslexia assessments or formal diagnoses — that work sits with specialist assessors. We do not offer reading support, literacy programmes, or educational intervention. We do not prescribe medication. We do not provide crisis support or support for active self-harm or suicidality; if urgent help is needed, the resources in the footer of this page are the right next step.
A careful match, not a long list
During your free 15-minute consultation, we take time to understand what you are looking for and match you with a therapist suited to your needs. For adults with dyslexia, this includes considering experience with specific learning difficulties, preferred approach, and any practical preferences including session format.
During the consultation, we will ask about:
- What you would like the work to focus on — anxiety, self-esteem, identity, workplace, concealment, or a combination
- Whether you prefer online, face-to-face, or telephone sessions
- Preferences around therapy approach — counselling, CBT, compassion-focused work
- Any co-occurring presentations — ADHD, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, autism
- Day, time, and session format preferences
No diagnosis is required. We work with formally assessed adults, those who suspect they have dyslexia, and those who strongly identify with the description without a clinical label.
All therapists we work with are qualified and registered with appropriate UK professional bodies, and we will confirm the most suitable options with you before any sessions begin.
Professional standards across our team
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has been operating since 2014 and holds Organisational Membership with the NCPS. All therapists are qualified and registered with appropriate UK professional bodies, receive ongoing clinical supervision, and work in line with NCPS and BACP ethical standards. Clinical oversight is provided by Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited).
Transparent Pricing
Our fees
No hidden costs. Your therapist and fees are confirmed before any commitment.
Counselling
From £65
per 50-minute session
- Person-centred or integrative approach
- Online via Zoom or telephone
- Face-to-face where available
CBT
From £85
per 50-minute session
- Structured, goal-focused approach
- Anxiety and avoidance work
- Online or face-to-face
Compassion-Focused Therapy
From £65
per 50-minute session
- Online or face-to-face
- Matched to a qualified counsellor
- Flexible scheduling with no minimum commitment
Looking for a more affordable option? We may be able to offer sessions at a reduced rate — just ask during your free consultation.
London clients: Location-adjusted rates may apply. Please ask during your free consultation and we will confirm the exact fee before you commit to anything.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does dyslexia counselling involve reading or literacy exercises?
No. Dyslexia counselling at Hope Therapy focuses entirely on the emotional experience of living with dyslexia — the anxiety, the self-esteem, the concealment, and the identity cost. There is no reading, no writing, and no literacy work of any kind in sessions. For reading support, the British Dyslexia Association and specialist educational providers are better placed to help.
Do I need a dyslexia diagnosis before starting counselling?
No. We work with adults who are formally assessed, those who have always suspected they are dyslexic, and those who identify with the emotional experience regardless of label. A diagnosis is not required. What matters is your experience — not a clinical document.
Can counselling help with dyslexia anxiety?
Yes. Anxiety is the most frequently reported emotional symptom in dyslexic adults. CBT can work directly with the performance anxiety and avoidance that develop around specific situations — reading aloud, written tasks, high-visibility situations. Counselling can address the identity and self-esteem dimensions alongside the anxiety work.
Is dyslexia counselling available online?
Yes. All our therapists offer online sessions via secure video, accessible from anywhere in the UK. Face-to-face sessions are available in locations across England. Online sessions remove the need to navigate written booking systems and paperwork — just call or email us directly to get started.
I have never told anyone about my dyslexia. Is that a problem?
No — and it is more common than you might think. Many adults with dyslexia have managed the concealment so well that the people closest to them do not know. The free consultation is a low-pressure first conversation where you share only what you are comfortable sharing. You are not required to disclose anything you are not ready to.
Related Support
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Learn more about the condition
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Meet Our Founder
Built by someone who saw the need from the inside
★
SCoPEd Band C
MBACP & SNCPS Senior Accredited
“Having worked for more than 25 years in senior management, I saw the same thing repeatedly — people struggling with mental health and relationship challenges, and so often struggling to access the right support when it was needed. It was out of this recognition of human need that Hope was born.”
Ian Stockbridge founded Hope Therapy after 25+ years leading large commercial teams – watching colleagues carry stress, anxiety, and personal difficulty with nowhere to turn. He retrained rigorously, now holding Senior Accredited status with both the BACP and NCPS, alongside SCoPEd Band C — the highest independent competence verification in the UK counselling profession.
He remains a practising therapist, clinical supervisor, published author of PMDD Uncovered, and co-presenter of The Talk Room Podcast. Hope Therapy was built on the things he saw were most broken – and designed, from the ground up, to do better.
MBACP (Senior Accredited)
SNCPS (Acc)
SCoPEd Band C
BSc (Hons) CBT
PGCert Supervision L7
Quality Award 2024 — 95%+
You have been managing this quietly for long enough
A free, no-obligation 15-minute conversation — by phone, video, or email. No reading, no writing, no pressure. Just a conversation about what is going on.
Get in Touch
Start your enquiry
Not sure where to start? Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you. All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“From the very first phone call, I felt heard. They didn’t rush me — they helped me work out what I needed.”
Hope Therapy enquiry feedback
NCPS Organisational Member
Est 2014
90+ Qualified Therapists
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Individual registrations vary per therapist. Last reviewed: May 2026.