David Flavin

When I left full time education, I spent thirteen years teaching music, which gave me a great understanding of the different ways in which people learn and retain information, and it really sparked my interest into how the brain works. Looking back at my education, while I did well in the subjects I found interesting, I didn’t do as well in those I found less interesting. Teaching music was a natural fit for me as throughout school, music was the distraction my brain craved and came naturally to me.

Throughout my 20’s I sought to improve my education and with varying degrees of success, studied an eclectic mix of accounting, computing and nutrition. In true ADHD style, I entered each of these with great enthusiasm, only for my interest to diminish over time.

As I entered into my thirties, my desire to help people led me to a change of career into the emergency services. After spending 10 years on the frontline in stressful situations, I was offered CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) which is when I first became interested in psychotherapy. Therapy was hugely beneficial for me, and my curiosity and passion for learning led me to find out more, so I enrolled on an initial course in CBT and REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy). Unlike previous subjects, my interest has never levelled off in this area and I continue learning and finding out more. After 4 years of studying, I qualified as an integrative CBT/REBT therapist and hypnotherapist, accredited with the National Counselling Society.

It was during my psychotherapy training and a discussion around neurodiversity, that I decided to explore the possibility that I may be neuodivergent. After a lot of research, I had an ADHD assessment and recieved my ADHD diagnosis in January 2020. I found this a huge relief as at point in my mid 40’s, I could account for many years of educational and worklife struggles. I could also finally start understanding how my brain did work, rather than how it was ‘meant to’ work. My thirst for knowledge was quenched and ADHD became my new passion.

Looking back on my life, I now know that it was my ADHD that held me back at school and college. It also contributed to my struggles on the front line and it’s pressures of accurate and timely paperwork. It has interferred with my desire for learning, hobbies, social interests etc, and put added pressure on me to be the best husband and dad I can be. Now, with my knowledge and experience in psychotherapy and my knowledge and life long experience of ADHD, I have the huge priviledge of helping those struggling with ADHD to seek out the life they believe is out of reach. There’s not much I love more than seeing clients achieving the same positive changes in their own lives that I did, enabling them to live a healthier and happier life.