Amanda Budden (Director and Founder)
Amanda is an integrative psychotherapist specialising in supporting neurodivergent children, teenagers and young adults. She works with anxiety, autistic burnout, school-related distress, challenging behaviour and trauma, taking time to understand the young person behind the difficulties.
As an AuDHD therapist and parent to a neurodivergent child, Amanda brings both professional knowledge and lived experience. She understands how much it matters to find someone who listens, takes parents’ concerns seriously and recognises their child’s strengths.
Her qualifications include an HND in Integrative Psychotherapy, further training in Child and Adolescent Counselling, Play Therapy, Autplay and Child–Parent Relationship Therapy, Aware Parenting, and diplomas in Child Psychology, SEND and PDA. She is also a certified Brainspotting practitioner, ADOS-2 assessor and a registered member of the BACP.
Amanda uses talking, play, creativity and video gaming to connect with young people in ways that feel comfortable for them. She works collaboratively with parents, schools and other professionals to build a shared understanding of each young person’s needs and support them at home, in education and beyond.
Her aim is for every young person to feel understood, accepted and able to be themselves.
Ellie Smith (SEN Consultant & EFT Practitioner)
Ellie supports children and families navigating Special Educational Needs (SEN) with both her professional experience and a calm, compassionate approach. As a SEN consultant with a background in counseling, she has extensive experience guiding families through the complexities of the SEN system.
In her role, Ellie offers psychotherapy support that is emotionally attuned, along with practical guidance. She utilizes techniques such as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Rewind Therapy to assist older children and adults in managing emotional regulation, anxiety, and feelings of overwhelm. This gentle form of neurodivergent therapy provides essential support to families during what can often feel like a challenging and uncertain time. She collaborates in partnership with ABC alongside her private practice at https://www.ebbandflowpsychotherapy.co.uk/
Ellie is adept at working with families on EHCP applications and reviews, attending Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings, and providing support through more complex SEN processes when needed. She carefully tailors her support to meet each family's unique circumstances and priorities.
Serving families locally and across the UK, Ellie ensures that children's needs are clearly understood and properly supported both within the education sector and in broader contexts.