Autistic Professionals on Mental Health - Speaking Event

A huge part of our uniqueness as a Charity is our funding of Mental Health support to Autistic people and Carers across London.  As a small Charity, run by and for Autistic people, we are aware of the huge need for this support, and we are doing our best to try to meet people's needs, in every way we can.  
In this speaking event, we celebrate the amazing Neurodivergent Mental Health Professionals that we commission to be that support.  They will talk about their vital role in helping the London Autistic Community, using their own lived experience combined with their specialist knowledge.

The Speakers

David Gray-Hammond is an Autistic, ADHD, and Schizophrenic author.  He wrote "The New Normal: Autistic musings on the threat of a broken society" and "Unusual Medicine: Essays on Autistic experience and drug addiction".  David works as a consultant, mentor, trainer, and advocate, with a particular focus on the intersection between Autistic experience and substance use/complex mental health concerns.  He has worked with Clinical Commissioning Groups on harm reduction schemes and to represent the rights of neurodivergent people in substance use treatment.

Natasha Koen is a Neurodivergent level 6 qualified counsellor working with children and adults.  She adopts a person-centred approach, offering a non-judgmental space, in which clients are free to explore difficult thoughts, feelings and experiences that may be hard to share elsewhere.  Natasha incorporates varied humanistic approaches within her counselling and support work, and utilises whatever works for her clients in order to benefit their Mental Health.  
In her talk, Natasha will be openly exploring Neurodivergent experience and the importance of understanding our own.
Specialties: ADD / ADHD, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Bereavement, Child related issues, Depression, Disability, Eating disorders, Health related issues, Identity issues, LGBTQ+ counselling, Loss, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Self esteem, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Stress, Women's issues

Grace Maskell is a Neurodivergent counsellor specialising in identity, self-discovery and trauma.  She is open, empathetic and honest with clients, using her own powerful lived experiences of these topics to engage with them and to help people unburden themselves.  She provides clients with a safe space which allows them to look at painful memories and feelings. By building trust and allowing opportunities to explore these feelings together, Grace creates opportunities to take a step towards healing and significantly improve Mental Health.  
Specialties: ADD / ADHD, Addictions, Anger management, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Bereavement, Child related issues, Cultural issues, Depression, Disability, Eating disorders, Health related issues, Identity issues, Infertility, LGBTQ+ counselling, Loss, Menopause, Mood disorder, Neurodiversity, OCD, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy related issues, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Sex-related issues, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Spirituality, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues

Programme of Events


Time                   Event

3:00pm              Welcome by Dr Chris Papadopoulos (Charity Lead)

3:10pm              Talk by David Gray-Hammond - followed by Q & A discussion

4:05pm              Break

4:20pm              Talk by Natasha Koen - followed by Q & A discussion

5:15pm              Break

5:30pm              Talk by Grace Maskell - followed by Q & A discussion

6:25pm              Break

6:40pm              Closing remarks by Dr Chris Papadopoulos