About
About my journey to becoming a coach
Hi, my name is Vicky Coxhead and I’m super proud mum to my four, amazing, neurodivergent, (now mostly grown up) children. My eldest son is Autistic with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile. I also have a son with hyperactivity and attentional differences, otherwise known as, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and the other two have an inattentive form. and Aside from this my entire family, hubby and myself included, are dyslexic. My children inspire me every day and have been the making of me. My journey has not been easy, nor is it the one I had initially planned but, it has been epic - full of ups, downs, tears, tantrums, love, and laughter.
I’ve spent the last 25 years working with children both neurotypical and neurodivergent as well as those with other additional needs. I have worked as a nursery nurse, nanny, and teaching support. More recently I’ve worked as an advisor to schools and parents - helping secure better outcomes for autistic children.
Having shunned an academic path to be a mum and work with children, at the tender age of 40, I went ‘back to school’ to secure a first-class honours degree in ‘Special Educational Needs and Disability’. I enjoyed it so much, I went on to achieve a first-class Master’s in psychology, and work as an Assistant Psychologist within the field of autism. It was here that I learned my own AuDHD identity. It’s truly fascinating.
In my “spare" time I run a charity for families affected by the life limiting condition, Cystic Fibrosis (CF). As well as having a neurodiverse family, my two eldest were also born with CF. I was Chair the Governors at Cornwall’s pre-eminent special school, and volunteer for the National Autistic Society for many years, i have recently had to give these commencements up to focus on this venture.
I FOUNDED NEUROHAPPINESS BECAUSE THE
SUPPORT I NEEDED SIMPLY WASN'T THERE
I’ve coached and befriended many parents in similar situations to myself, whose children are autistic or are neurodivergent, through Scope’s ‘Face 2 Face’ initiative and now work with the Autistic Community of Cornwall CIC in the capacity. If I’d known when my eldest was born, what I know now, my journey navigating neurodivergence would have looked vastly different. That’s why I founded NeuroHappiness. The support I needed simply wasn’t there for me. I don’t want that to be the case for anyone else.
My perspective around autism is different to most you’ll find out there but one that supports the new culture of neurodiversity. It’s steeped in personal experience, as a mum that has been there and done it. But to credibly help others I knew I’d need more than personal experience; I also needed professional insight and also an insight from others within the neurodivergent community. Learning from Autistic children and adults is at the centre of my growth. My coaching approach uniquely blends my personal, community and professional experiences.
And that’s how I came to be where I am today, as a neurodivergent mum and a coach - sharing my new-found perspective and practical solutions to help families enjoy meaningful and positive lives together - no matter how complex your family may be.