The Divergent Phoenix

The Divergent Phoenix came from the idea that we all build our identities, often many times, from the ashes of our former identities, or as we become independent from our parents. My final identity search was to finally and fully embrace my Autism and ADHD. I am open about my experiences, as I believe knowledge helps both empower people and decrease stigma.

I am an Educational and Developmental Psychologist. My passion (Special Interest even!) is assessment and support of Autism and ADHD. My full day training course has proved very popular, and I love travelling Australia to give the experience of face to face training to both private and public organisations.

I owned Left of Centre Therapies, a Neurodiverse Affirmative therapy service, for the four years it was trading. Left of Centre is recognised as one of the first explicitly Neurodiverse Affirmative practice, supporting both clients and my staff in an affirming way. My inspiration to become a psychologist came from the success I saw with my Autistic sonsn experience with therapy. These days I am concentrating on building my sole trader business in training, supervision and advocacy for ND clients and ND clinicians. Her passion lies with education and support using this framework.

Allison’s experience includes working for an autism specific education service as the onsite psychologist, private practice: as a contractor, sole trader and business owner, and more recently in training and supervision for both private organisations and universities nationally.

I am a member of AAPi and AADPA, and present on aspects of Autism for the AAPi ND Interest Group regularly as a Steering Committee member. I have put my voice to various submissions and replies to government inquiry processes around disability, Autism and the NDIS. More recently, she has collaborated with Trellis Australia and Melbourne University to design and release a Neurodiverse Affirmative PBS training course, as the autistic voice in the content of the course.

When I am not working, I like to spend time in my various side SpiNs (the current ones include painting and crochet, but change regularly), being a slave to three cats and a snake, and watching psychological thrillers and true crime shows to relax.