Who is Chloe Starbuck?
Well, simply put I am a later diagnosed Autistic ADHDer who first most of my life wondered why I didn't fit in anywhere and kept asking myself ' why am I working harder than everyone else just to do the simplest things?'.
I became a counsellor because I got sick of there being no support for people like me and so, I wanted to become that support for others so they don't have to endure the loneliness you can go through navigating a world that just is not built for us. The first thing you should know about me is that I LOVE my job, providing a space like this is a privilege to me and with every client I come across I do genuinely feel honoured to have the opportunity to share in your stories and help through counselling.
I was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism in 2024 and it was a complete game changer, everything suddenly started to make sense and although I did go through a period of sadness about it I did come to a place of acceptance within myself and was able to become my own support network. I started to make space within my day to stim how I wanted to stim, indulged in my special interests and gave myself grace from the shame of profusely info dumping on someone when you know for a fact they are not interested. I also started to learn that RSD was something I had to consciously be aware of and that sometimes people are 'like that' and often going through something themselves. I learnt about PDA and monotropism and my mind was just blown by just how NOT broken I am and there is an explanation for why I am the way I am. If you are a heavy masker like me, you'll know the burnout that comes from that and this again was something to be conscious of while I account for how much energy this spends and how much recovery I will need to feel regulated.
I am also a new mummy, this is something that completely blindsided my energy spending and was a complete sensory assault to my nervous system but I do find being a mummy is so rewarding and I feel so lucky to be my daughter's mum. This did lead to a whole new set of learning and I did find there is a huge gap for specific support for neurodivergent mums, which is something else I help with. The changing routines with each stage of a baby's growing, the new things they learn and having to learn how to communicate with someone who cannot talk only leaving you with their own communication cues that are harder to read than with adults was something I really had a hard time with at first. If only I had the space to talk it through in a setting right for me, which is why I have adapted my practice around this.
Prior to having my little girl, I struggled for 17 years with my weight due to food stimming. It took me years to realise this is what I was doing and why. Between trying to sooth my nervous system and the intense food cravings that come with PMDD there was no wonder I had the struggles I did. So, I made a massive decision and in 2024 I underwent a sleeve gastrectomy which quite literally changed my life for the better, I feel better within myself and it taught me so much about my food habits and what my sleeve does to help me in remaining healthier and stronger for my family. It lead me to looking further into self-esteem and how this can be improved with that right support and this toppled into other areas of my life making me a more content and calmer person, happier in my skin and brain.
I became a counsellor because I got sick of there being no support for people like me and so, I wanted to become that support for others so they don't have to endure the loneliness you can go through navigating a world that just is not built for us. The first thing you should know about me is that I LOVE my job, providing a space like this is a privilege to me and with every client I come across I do genuinely feel honoured to have the opportunity to share in your stories and help through counselling.
I was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism in 2024 and it was a complete game changer, everything suddenly started to make sense and although I did go through a period of sadness about it I did come to a place of acceptance within myself and was able to become my own support network. I started to make space within my day to stim how I wanted to stim, indulged in my special interests and gave myself grace from the shame of profusely info dumping on someone when you know for a fact they are not interested. I also started to learn that RSD was something I had to consciously be aware of and that sometimes people are 'like that' and often going through something themselves. I learnt about PDA and monotropism and my mind was just blown by just how NOT broken I am and there is an explanation for why I am the way I am. If you are a heavy masker like me, you'll know the burnout that comes from that and this again was something to be conscious of while I account for how much energy this spends and how much recovery I will need to feel regulated.
I am also a new mummy, this is something that completely blindsided my energy spending and was a complete sensory assault to my nervous system but I do find being a mummy is so rewarding and I feel so lucky to be my daughter's mum. This did lead to a whole new set of learning and I did find there is a huge gap for specific support for neurodivergent mums, which is something else I help with. The changing routines with each stage of a baby's growing, the new things they learn and having to learn how to communicate with someone who cannot talk only leaving you with their own communication cues that are harder to read than with adults was something I really had a hard time with at first. If only I had the space to talk it through in a setting right for me, which is why I have adapted my practice around this.
Prior to having my little girl, I struggled for 17 years with my weight due to food stimming. It took me years to realise this is what I was doing and why. Between trying to sooth my nervous system and the intense food cravings that come with PMDD there was no wonder I had the struggles I did. So, I made a massive decision and in 2024 I underwent a sleeve gastrectomy which quite literally changed my life for the better, I feel better within myself and it taught me so much about my food habits and what my sleeve does to help me in remaining healthier and stronger for my family. It lead me to looking further into self-esteem and how this can be improved with that right support and this toppled into other areas of my life making me a more content and calmer person, happier in my skin and brain.
My Training
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists (BACP)
This means I work under the guidance of the BACP Ethical Framework.
This means I work under the guidance of the BACP Ethical Framework.
I hold the following qualifications in counselling:
Level 2 CPCAB (CSK-L2) Certificate in Counselling Skills. 2019-2020
Level 3 CPCAB (CST-L3) Certificate in Counselling Skills & Theory. 2020-2021
Level 4 CPCAB (TC-L4) Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. 2021 -2023
Level 2 CPCAB (CSK-L2) Certificate in Counselling Skills. 2019-2020
Level 3 CPCAB (CST-L3) Certificate in Counselling Skills & Theory. 2020-2021
Level 4 CPCAB (TC-L4) Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. 2021 -2023
