Sabbir Ahmed

You may be managing work, relationships and everyday responsibilities while privately feeling anxious, overwhelmed or exhausted. Perhaps your mind rarely switches off, you struggle with difficult emotions, or you keep finding yourself in the same relationship patterns despite wanting things to change.

You might have ADHD, be autistic or identify as AuDHD. You may have spent years masking, trying to meet other people's expectations or wondering why certain parts of life seem to take so much effort. Or perhaps you're dealing with trauma, anxiety, BPD, addiction, low mood or burnout and want to understand yourself better.

I'm Sabbir, a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and EMCC-accredited coach with over 20 years' experience in NHS mental health services and private practice. I work with adults, young people and couples, offering a thoughtful, practical and non-judgemental approach to therapy.

You don't need a diagnosis or a clear explanation of what's wrong to begin. We can start with what is troubling you and work together to understand what you need.

How I work
My approach is integrative, drawing on psychodynamic and systemic psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)-informed approaches.

Some people come to therapy wanting practical ways to manage anxiety, emotional overwhelm, procrastination or difficult relationships. Others want to explore why they respond in certain ways, particularly when the same problems keep returning.

I believe there is value in both.

We can look at what is happening in your life now, while also considering how earlier experiences, relationships, family dynamics, culture and established coping patterns may be affecting you.

I work collaboratively and adapt therapy to your individual needs. This may involve developing emotional regulation skills, exploring difficult feelings, understanding relationship patterns or finding practical ways to manage everyday demands.

Therapy is not about changing who you are. It is about understanding yourself more fully and finding ways to live and relate to others that work better for you.

ADHD, autism, AuDHD and neurodivergence
A significant part of my work involves supporting neurodivergent adults, including people who have recognised their ADHD or autism later in life, those exploring whether they may be neurodivergent, and people who have spent years masking.

You may struggle with starting tasks, organisation, time management, emotional regulation or sensory overload. At the same time, you might be highly capable, creative or successful in particular areas of life.

For some people, the greatest difficulty is not ADHD or autism itself, but the constant effort involved in meeting expectations that do not suit the way they think, communicate or process information.

Recognising neurodivergence can bring relief and greater self-understanding. It can also raise difficult feelings about past experiences, missed support, identity and relationships.

My approach is neuroaffirming. I do not view ADHD or autism as something to be corrected, nor do I expect you to become more neurotypical.

Instead, we can explore your strengths, needs and challenges, reduce unhelpful self-criticism and find strategies that work for you. This may include understanding executive functioning, managing overwhelm, recognising sensory and emotional needs, navigating relationships or addressing burnout.

I bring clinical experience alongside lived neurodivergent understanding, and I recognise that no two neurodivergent people have the same experiences or needs.

I offer psychotherapy and coaching support around neurodivergence, but not formal ADHD or autism diagnostic assessments.

BPD, emotional intensity and DBT-informed therapy
Living with intense emotions can be exhausting, particularly when relationships, uncertainty or perceived rejection trigger powerful reactions.

You might experience rapid changes in mood, fear of abandonment, impulsivity, anger, shame or difficulty managing conflict. Sometimes you may understand what happened afterwards but still struggle to respond differently when similar situations arise.

I have particular experience working with people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), as well as those experiencing emotional intensity and difficulties in relationships.

My DBT-informed approach can help you develop skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, managing impulsive responses and communicating more effectively.

Alongside these practical skills, we can explore underlying experiences such as attachment difficulties, trauma, fears of rejection and recurring relationship patterns.

My work generally involves DBT-informed psychotherapy rather than a comprehensive specialist DBT programme.

Anxiety, trauma and addiction
Anxiety can take many forms. You might overthink conversations, worry excessively, seek reassurance, struggle with decisions or feel unable to relax even when things appear to be going well.

Trauma can also affect how safe you feel, how you relate to others and how you respond to stress. Some people experience hypervigilance or strong emotional reactions, while others feel numb, disconnected or withdrawn.

I work with clients to understand these responses, develop ways of managing distress and gradually address patterns that may no longer be helpful.

I also support people experiencing addiction and compulsive behaviours, including difficulties with alcohol, substances, gambling and other behaviours that have become hard to manage.

My approach is non-judgemental. Rather than focusing only on stopping a behaviour, we can explore what purpose it serves, what triggers it and how to develop alternative ways of coping.

Relationships, couples and family difficulties
Relationships can be a source of connection and support, but they can also bring up painful emotions and long-established patterns.

You may find yourself withdrawing during conflict, becoming easily hurt, struggling to communicate your needs or repeatedly experiencing similar difficulties with partners or family members.

I work with individuals and couples experiencing conflict, communication difficulties, emotional distance, loss of trust and uncertainty about their relationships.

I also have a particular interest in relationships where one or both partners are neurodivergent. Differences in communication, sensory needs, emotional processing and executive functioning can sometimes lead to misunderstanding, frustration or feelings of rejection.

Therapy can help partners better understand these differences, communicate more openly and work towards a relationship that respects both people's needs.

I also support parents and family members managing emotional pressures, relationship difficulties and the demands of caring for others.

Work pressure, perfectionism and burnout
You may be doing well professionally while struggling privately with self-doubt, procrastination, perfectionism or the pressure to keep achieving.

Perhaps you find it difficult to set boundaries, switch off from work or feel satisfied with what you have accomplished.

My background in psychotherapy and coaching allows me to work with the emotional and practical aspects of these difficulties, particularly where ADHD, neurodivergence, confidence, relationships and professional responsibilities overlap.

The focus is not simply on becoming more productive. We can also explore your expectations of yourself, your emotional wellbeing and how to develop a more sustainable way of working and living.

Starting therapy
Finding the right therapist is important, and I understand that reaching out may feel uncomfortable, especially if you are used to coping independently or have previously felt misunderstood.

I offer a free introductory telephone consultation where we can briefly discuss what brings you to therapy, answer any questions and consider how our work together can help you to achieve your goals, overcome your challenges and work on the difficulties you face.

Sessions are available in person in Central London and online.

You are welcome to get in touch, whether you have a particular concern you want to address or would simply like a space to begin making sense of what you are experiencing.

• Muslim marriage counselling

I offer a free 15 minute initial phone consultation prior to a first session.

My fees are:

• £195 for one individual session
• £250 for one couple session

Monday Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, in addition to weekends

In upholding ethical responsibilities, including confidentiality, within my practice I maintain adherence to UKCP, EMCC and Professional Standards Authority guidelines, including fully GDPR-compliant record-keeping and secure data handling.