Meet Morgan: Therapist & Clinical Social Worker

In this Q&A, we chat with Beehyve Therapist, Morgan, about her journey to understanding ADHD, how her own experiences shape the way she supports neurodivergent clients, and her insights on navigating overwhelm, trauma, and the unique strengths of ADHD brains.

Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a clinical social worker and how ADHD has shaped your work?

My ADHD came up incidentally when my husband and I were doing a work project involving a psychologist. During the screening, I realised I answered “yes” to more ADHD questions than he did. I’d already finished my degrees by then — I wanted to be a psychologist, but discovered social work was a more practical path that combined theory with real action.

It wasn’t until my early 30s, working in high-pressure social work environments, that ADHD started really impacting me. I’d always done well academically, so it hadn’t been obvious before. But in that environment, I hit burnout, which made me rethink how I worked, set boundaries, and defined success. That reflection helped me start unpicking which expectations were mine and which came from external systems.

How do trauma and ADHD intersect?

Most neurodivergent people experience an accumulation of microtraumas — constant feedback that they’re “not doing it right.” Many of us also come from families where neurodivergence went unrecognised, leading to more instability and emotional reactivity. Trauma often teaches masking — hiding our traits to stay safe — which can delay diagnosis and make ADHD harder to spot.

Later-diagnosed people often come from trauma backgrounds or have learned to camouflage their struggles so well that it takes years to unpick what’s really going on.

How do societal systems impact neurodivergent people?

Our systems are built for the majority. Schools, workplaces, and expectations are all designed for neurotypical functioning. When you don’t fit that mould, you end up internalising the idea that you’re the problem, rather than realising the system wasn’t designed for you.

A big part of my work is helping people see they can choose how much they buy into these expectations — to reclaim autonomy and build “mild rebellions” that make life more workable for their brains.

When did you reach the point of loving your brain?

It’s been a gradual process. I’ve always valued my ability to show up under pressure — my ADHD brain is brilliant in a crisis. The harder parts have been social things, like decoding unspoken rules. But I’ve learned that traits aren’t good or bad; they’re just traits. The key is knowing what’s hardwired versus what’s learned, so you can stop fighting what can’t be changed and focus on what can.

What does ADHD doing well look like?

ADHD brains thrive in fast-paced, creative, or problem-solving roles — anywhere we can hyperfocus on what’s right in front of us. We tend to think divergently, spot connections others miss, and are often highly empathetic and perceptive. Those same sensitivities that make life hard sometimes also make us great creators, communicators, and innovators.

What advice would you give businesses or schools?

Start with curiosity instead of consequences. Ask why a behaviour is happening instead of jumping to “fix” it. Be flexible wherever possible — so many “rules” exist out of habit, not necessity. And recognise that not everyone’s brain works the same way; that difference is valuable.

How do you support parents of neurodivergent children?

I help parents understand that difficult behaviour is often just dysregulation, not defiance. If both parent and child are neurodivergent, there’s even more potential for overwhelm. It’s about dropping unnecessary expectations, creating safety, and focusing on connection over control.

Parenting works better when it’s collaborative — recognising the child as a whole human rather than someone to manage.

What does understanding the “unique hardware” of our brains mean?

It’s realising you’ve been handed the wrong manual your whole life. ADHD isn’t about doing things badly — it’s about using the wrong instructions for your wiring. Once you understand your actual system, you get the power to choose what works for your brain instead of fighting against it.

How do you help clients with burnout or overwhelm?

We start by reducing stress and creating safety — you can’t process or change much when you’re overloaded. Then it’s about tiny, sustainable shifts rather than massive overhauls. I encourage small changes, rest, and permission to let go of nonessential things.

All behaviour meets a need — the goal is to understand that need and find better ways to meet it.

Can you explain therapy vs. coaching vs. counselling?

Coaching focuses on strategies and systems for now. Counselling explores how past experiences shape the present. Clinical social work sits in between — it’s practical but also deeply therapeutic, helping people make sense of their story and navigate daily life.

What approaches do you use?

I use ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), which focuses on values and accepting what you can’t control; DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy), which helps with emotion regulation and relationships; and polyvagal-informed approaches that work with the nervous system to build safety and regulation.

What is your advice for someone newly diagnosed or self-diagnosed with ADHD?

Take some time to explore what ADHD means and how it shows up for you. You don’t need to understand everything at once — focus on the areas that are causing the most disruption or distress. Start by creating small spaces to think, breathe, and manage your life better, then gradually work on changes that reduce chaos and improve daily functioning.

About Morgan:

Morgan loves supporting people to understand the unique hardware of their own brains so they can move forward to where they want to be. "I'm a natural problem solver, and I look at the development of us as individuals and how we fit into the systems of society."

Diagnosed with ADHD in her 20s, she was trained as a social worker and has worked in a variety of roles with children, families, and individuals, which has given her a breadth of both clinical and therapeutic experience and insight.

Morgan has a passion for working with people living with traits of ADHD and AuDHD, helping to figure out the impact in each person’s own life context. She also supports parents in the thick of parenting neurodivergent kids, making sense of intergenerational trauma and CPTSD, helping to understand the drivers in addiction, and with post-addiction work. Morgan’s experience sees her understanding LGBTQI+ clients and those disconnected from family through immigration or other circumstances.

She explains, "I like to share practical strategies to help people manage stress. It can be common for people with ADHD to feel stuck and overwhelmed. My approach uses behavioural interventions to help you get a different output from your brain. This can be powerful for managing stress, anxiety, mood issues, general life functioning, and more. "

A trained social worker, there are a great many skills Morgan helps her clients to understand and develop. These may include understanding the ADHD brain and nervous system.  Working through unmasking and cultivating skills that support a person to make meaning of their life, enabling engagement and personal choice in life’s direction. She can help you to understand and regulate emotions, develop coping mechanisms and boundaries (whatever that really means), manage through chronic overwhelm and burnout, and more.

Morgan was drawn to Beehyve's genuine commitment to its clients' best interests. She's known for validating people where they are and creating a space where they feel safe. When you work with Morgan, you'll see why we value her integrity and passion so highly.