Choosing change

Counselling

HOW TO BOOK:

Sarah Stokely offers face to face counselling at her rooms in Chadstone, Melbourne, or via Telehealth, Australia-wide. You can view availability or book online, or you’re welcome to call or text for an appointment: 0449 516 531.

 WHAT WE OFFER:

Choosing Change counsellors support individuals and families, wherever they are in their journey of understanding ADHD, to move forward to their best life. You may be starting the journey towards understanding what a new ADHD diagnosis means for your child. Or you may have just received your own ADHD diagnosis as an adult. Whether you are sitting on a waiting list for assessment, or have received an official diagnosis, we can help.

It can be difficult – and disheartening! – to try to translate what an ADHD diagnosis means for yourself, or your child. It can feel like you’ve been given a list of things that are wrong with you, or your kid, without a lot of guidance about where to turn next. 

The first thing you’ll notice when you speak to us, is that it sounds and feels a lot different than when you’re talking to medical professionals. At Choosing Change we know that every human is equally worthy, and may have gifts or challenges, regardless of whether they are neurotypical or neurodivergent. As Counsellors, we don’t diagnose which means we aren’t You (or your child) may have a diagnosis of ADHD, and you may be finding it hard to come to terms with, but we will help you grow your understanding, and acceptance of what it means to move towards a thriving life with ADHD.

It can be difficult to come to terms with receiving a diagnosis which puts you and your brain in an entirely new category – neurodivergent! We can say, hand on heart, that we get it. Because we are ADHDers too, which means we’ve also walked the ADHD diagnosis journey. We promise that once you have the knowledge and supports you need in place, ADHD can become something else about you that makes you unique – just like your hair colour – which looks great on you by the way! 

We aim to instill acceptance, hope and humanity into the way we as a community speak about ADHD and neurodivergence. The way we think about ourselves as adults with ADHD. The way we think about and speak to our ADHD kids. This is what we mean we we say we are neurodiversity affirming.

COUNSELLOR Sarah Stokely

Sarah Stokely is the founder of Choosing Change. She holds Graduate Diplomas in Psychology and Psychological Studies from Deakin University, and a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP).

As a Registered Practising Counsellor with PACFA, Sarah has worked with children, young people and adults across out of home care sector, family violence, family services and the youth services sector. Her worldview as a mental health clinician was turned upside down in 2021 when she became one of the many people whose burnout from the COVID pandemic and Melbourne’s prolonged lockdown led to an ADHD diagnosis.

Sarah is now hyperfocused on supporting people who receive adult diagnosis of ADHD, and parents of ADHD kids. Her mission is to support adults who received a late diagnosis of ADHD, and to help families who are stuck in struggle with their ADHD child to unlock the pathway towards positive and affirming relationship to their kids with ADHD/neurodivergence.