SARAH
DIAGNOSED COMBINED ADHD, DYSCALCULIA & DYSPRAXIA & SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER
ADHD EXPERT COURT WITNESS
YOUNG OFFENDER ADVISER
ADHD LEGAL LIAISON SUPPORT
Sarah sees clients face-to-face in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13
Sarah also sees clients online
PROFILE
Sarah Templeton was diagnosed at the age of 51. If it hadn’t been for her counsellor urging her to get a diagnosis after recognising the ADHD traits in her, she would have probably spent the rest of her life struggling against them!
Sarah has spent the past 20 years helping people, she started out as a Mentor with The Big Issue helping London’s homeless. She loved the challenge of working with people who had given up hope and had nothing. Her passion for life and compassion for anyone struggling meant after 7 years, she was given an even tougher group to mentor – ex-offenders. Sarah thrived on the challenge and kept a prolific offender out of prison for 12 months – the first time he had seen the light of day since the age of 19. He was 31.
Sarah then volunteered at HMP The Mount for 18 months. She was elevated to Tutor when the prison realised she was capable of working alone with 16 soon to be released men. Every Monday afternoon Sarah did her best to prepare the boys and men for release – CV preparation, interview technique, setting up in small business and running a franchise. But what the men also wanted was someone to talk to, someone normal, who didn’t work for the prison. It was at this point Sarah decided to formalise her one to one chats – she decided to train as a Counsellor.
Since then she has worked as a Trainee Counsellor with young offenders at HMP Aylesbury and set up and ran the entire counselling service at HMP Portland. Sarah could never quite understand how she related so well to offenders, never having broken the law herself! Her ADHD diagnosis in 2015 explained that. A huge amount of prison inmates are diagnosed – and undiagnosed – ADHD. Their risk-taking and boundary-breaking tendencies made perfect sense to her.
In 2017 Sarah set up the counselling service for Wycombe Homeless Connection.
Sarah now acts as an ADHD Expert Court Witness when ADHD has impacted a crime. She can work beforehand with your legal team to fully brief them on all the ADHD traits that have led to any offending behaviour – which will qualify as mitigating evidence.
Qualifications
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills & Theory (CPCAB) Level 5. 2015
- Person Centred Counselling Diploma (ABC) Level 4. 2014
- Counselling Skills (ABC) Level 3. 2012
- Introduction to Counselling Skills (ABC) Level 2. 2010
- Introduction to Counselling (Open University) 2011
- Diploma in Life Coaching (NCFE) 2005
- Certificate in Life Coaching (NCFE) 2005
- Working with Addiction & Complex Needs. Level 3. 2020
- Drugs Awareness (Turning Point) 2003
- Introduction to Counselling, The Open University 2011
- Working with Sex Offenders Certificate Circles
- Youth Training & Level 2 Safeguarding Certificate Circles
- Leaving Care Mentor Certificate The Princes Trust
- Drugs Awareness Certificate Turning Point
- Current & clean DBS
- BACP Register Certificate of Proficiency. 2015
- Accredited Counsellor Ayanay Psychological Accreditation
Sarah Templeton ADHD Author
Sarah is also an author and has written 3 ADHD books on parenting and teaching ADHD children. Discover more.
Testimonials
Sarah made such an impact when she came to speak to our group in December. There were parents, carers, teachers and pupil support assistants there (some being both) and Sarah’s explanation of ADHD resonated with all of them.
We learnt so much about what makes our children and our pupils tick and ourselves as well. From now on we will be better equipped to help them succeed and overcome the challenges they face. Thanks for coming all the way to North East Scotland Sarah!
Sarah you’ve been such a brilliant help with my son. As you know when I first brought him to you he was self harming and feeling very depressed and bad about himself. He was recently diagnosed ADHD, 12, at a new school and floundering. We were worried sick.
However six weeks of seeing you and the brilliant news is that he feeling good about things again. He definitely seems happier in himself and school have said the same. Thank you for all your help with him. I think having someone to talk to that understands his ADHD and really knows how it feels has been a massive help and that you have been able to explain all about his ADHD to him. He said he feels better knowing his ADHD is the reason why he does a lot of things or feels a certain way about situations.
Thank you again and we will definitely contact you if he or I feel he needs to see you again.
I’ve had quite a few sessions with Sarah now and after so many disappointing and unfulfilling experiences with other counsellors I have to say it was worth the time and money with Sarah.
Mainly because she understands ADHD and spectrums on a personal level and also she isn’t clinical and unengaging which is often a problem with other counsellors. Sarah will talk back and advise and hand over valuable experience which leaves you elevated and not flat and dejected. Couldn’t recommend more.
We were lucky enough to find Sarah shortly after our son was diagnosed with ADHD, a condition which was having a very serious impact on his life and prospects.
Having been through the gamut of NHS therapists and CBT counsellors, none of whom were of any real help at all, Sarah’s expertise in this area has been a revelation to us and an enormous support to our son.
Sarah’s has an in-depth knowledge of ADHD and great empathy with those who suffer from it. Her advice is always practical, unpretentious and down-to-earth, and has helped our son to cope with his volatile emotions much better than before.
We would highly recommend Sarah to any parent with a child suffering from this condition.
It was a pleasure to have Sarah Templeton as one of the speakers at our conference on Neurodiversity in Stoke-on-Trent on 31st of August 2024.
Sarah spoke on the following two topics :-
ADHD coaching and counselling.
Why rates of ADHD are rocketing and what parents can do to help their kids.
Her presentations were excellent and well-received by the audience. We have received very positive feedback on her talks.
Sarah was able to offer very different and refreshing perspectives on ADHD and how families can effectively deal with issues until they get seen by a professional.
Her commitment to her field of work is exemplary. I wish her all the best with her efforts in helping neurodiverse clients.
Hey Sarah. Thank you for tonight. Such great feedback from parents/carers and staff members. We loved hearing your stories and insights into ADHD – informative, affirming and hilarious!
Parents and staff are definitely positioned more favourably to support children and students in their care. Great job.
Sarah, I wanted to say thank you for the impact you’ve had on my family over the last 6 months.
I filled in the contact page on Headstuff website back in September 2024 when we were in crisis with my 14 year old son, his recent diagnosis of ADHD and managing/coping with his behaviours. I was shocked to receive a personal email from you later that evening. You were empathetic, supportive and so helpful directing us to Thomas, an ADHD Coach.
Reading your book was nothing short of transformative. It made everything make sense and through reading it, I realised that my daughter, 12, also had ADHD too. I would have never looked at screening her without reading your book.
It is a night and day difference in our house now, with our family so much more cohesive now than I ever thought possible. There are obviously still wobbles and challenges, but we are currently 2 months without meltdowns and 6 months without running away or high risk behaviours.
My son is now medicated and sees Thomas 2-3 times a month and has really connected with him. They enjoy boxing together and my son has discovered he’s really quite good, boosting his self esteem.
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been able to share your book with friends and colleagues who felt as lost with their children’s diagnosis as I did back in September and it has completely changed their understanding and perspective on ADHD.
Thank you again for everything
When I met Sarah 3 years ago, I wasn’t really looking for counselling. I thought I was handling my life ok.
Looking back now I am so glad I took the opportunity to have that trial 1-2-1 session with Sarah as from that day forward my life has taken a complete 360 degree turn.
I was a 42 year old female in & out of trouble with the law, abusive relationships, dealing with alcohol issues & living in a damp wet mobile home on benefits My life was far from ok !! To be honest I was barely hanging on, I couldn’t care less if I lived or died. It was that bleak.
Over the past 3 years Sarah with her compassion ,kindness , dedication & professionalism slowly helped give me the courage to take back my life from the grips of fear, pain and paralysis. With her dedication faith and compassion she has transformed that ugly duckling into a swan, the caterpillar back into the butterfly And gave me belief in myself.
I have a little way to go but I am now learning to love myself again. I now believe I deserve to live the happy, joyfull loving life I hear about and that I am now beginning to experience.
Thanks to Sarah I am now living in a lovely apartment a stone throws away frm the beach, I’m driving my adorable little sports car and dating a wonderful caring loving guy.
I still have a way to go but I am looking forward to the many experiences life has ahead of me and all I can say is thankyou Sarah I owe you my life ! You are an inspiration and a wonderful friend. I’m so glad you are in my life and hope you will be for a long time to come xxx
I attended Sarah’s presentation in Adelaide, and just wow!
I could have listened to Sarah talk for hours.
She explained ADHD in such relatable terms to me as a parent, but also for the teachers in the audience to be able to understand what they see in the classroom.
The theory is all there, and Sarah presents it easily, supplemented with real life experience.
My only regret……it didn’t go longer and there wasn’t a “part two”!
The whole audience was buzzing!
I highly recommend seeing Sarah to anyone who has someone in their lives with ADHD! I guarantee you will leave feeling motivated and with lots of new knowledge!
Thank you, Sarah! From the bottom of my heart!
Thank you for coming to Australia! Hurry back!
On behalf of all at Children, Families & Justice, I just wanted to sincerely thank you for your ADHD presentation this afternoon
It was a really enjoyable afternoon packed with useful information and I know it will generate many discussions around the various services.
I appreciate all the work and effort you put into this. Many thanks again.
For more information on Sarah, please visit – https://www.sarahtempleton.org.uk/