How I thrive as a neurodivergent student with personalised coaching

Levan, a master’s filmmaking student and videographer, uses support from Brain in Hand to better manage his neurodiversity and general productivity. As a postgraduate student and social entrepreneur with big aspirations, Levan shares how Brain in Hand helps him to reach his full potential. 

“I have big aspirations, and having that support is essential and crucial to reach milestones. Previously, I wasn't aware of my neurodiversity and there were many barriers to the big aspirations that I had. By engaging with Brain in Hand, it enabled me to leverage more support, connect with a coach who's on my side and helps me to recalibrate and fine tune my way to success.”

Disabled Students’ Allowance recommended Brain in Hand to Levan after assessing his needs. He’s been using the service for nine months and gives us an insight into how he uses the app to stay productive and work towards his goals.  

“I signed up, met with my coach, we had some introductory sessions and onboarding sessions where we plugged in information about myself. Those were the building blocks for building up successful habits with using Brain in Hand and building a genuine, authentic relationship with my coach.” 

How Levan stays productive with Brain in Hand

“In my daily life, I use Brain in Hand for diary management, task prioritisation, blocking out my tasks, and just general productivity around managing my duties and obligations. Additionally, I work alongside my Brain in Hand coach who helps and supports me with things that might arise or crop up, and generally it just supports me with reaching my highest potential and managing my neurodiversity.”

Levan uses the digital tools within Brain in Hand to get the most out of his day. He highlights how our support goes beyond technology to offer real, human support in the form of personalised coaching. 

As a social entrepreneur and MA student, Levan often feels his time is “jumbled up”. Before Brain in Hand, Levan used regular calendars and software's but found these to be only temporarily effective and inconsistent. However, with the support of his coach, he can make the most of the Brain in Hand app and keep everything he needs in one place.  

“With coaching, I've noticed a huge improvement in my daily routines and habits. I'm blocking out time more effectively and being more productive. I'm working with to-do lists and solid diary management. With Brain in Hand, having my calendar built in and my coach and access to the 24/7 help, knowing that it's all in one place, it feels more conducive to my fast-paced lifestyle.  Now, I'm waking up with more purpose, more direction and more clarity in my mind.” 

Achieving academic goals and student life

“In education, Brain in Hand has helped me with keeping track of my time, ensuring that I'm able to meet my deadlines effectively, while simultaneously helping me to plan out my academic work with the back-and-forth liaison between my lectures and my coach. I feel like I have a solid support network around me, which helps me to attain, sustain, and achieve my academic success.”

Levan shares that having additional assistance from Brain in Hand has been crucial for him. With this support, he can work towards his academic goals, plan effectively, and feel supported throughout his academic journey.  

“If I didn't have Brain in Hand, I would find it more difficult with managing time, managing tasks, and also having the space to literally have my brain in my hand. Sounds cliche, but having everything laid out, organised, knowing that I can go to that space, it's finger tap away on my phone, I can check what's coming up the next day. I have access to 24/7 help and support if I need it.”

The power of personalised coaching 

At Brain in Hand, our personalised support system combines practical digital tools with 1-to-1 coaching. Levan opens up about his coaching experience and highlights how powerful it can be.

“My Brain in Hand coach is Stephenie Burke. She's been very helpful so far. She's taken time to understand me not only as a service user, but as a person and an individual with different needs. And ultimately, she's made me feel seen, heard, and respected.”

Our coaches, like Stephenie Burke, are committed and compassionate professionals who take a solution-focused approach to help their coachees grow and reach their full potential. Levan’s experience shows how we aim to provide meaningful support that goes beyond technology. 

“She's been patient. She's helping me to unravel different aspects of myself that maybe I didn't have access to before using Brain in Hand. Ultimately, the relationship is very fluid and dynamic, but professional and respectable at the same time. We have clear goals and milestones and metrics that we're working towards to ensure that I can elevate and reach my potential.”

Personalised coaching has helped Levan to develop his self-confidence and new ways of thinking. He feels better able to reflect and find flexibility in how he manages his life and time.  

“My coach has helped me the most with instilling more confidence in myself, reminding me that it isn't black and white. There is room for flexibility in my thinking, in the way I manage my life and my time. I can open up my world and expand my opportunities by tapping in and taking time to reflect and manage my neurodiversity more effectively with the Brain in Hand support.” 

Getting support from a neurodivergent coach 

“The most enjoyable aspect of the coaching sessions is the chance to connect with a neurodivergent coach. I've had many mentors and coaches in the past who aren't neurodivergent and while that's been effective, I found that it's extra special to connect with people in the community who understand my pain points, my experiences, and can resonate on a deep level. It makes such a difference in the way you're able to build rapport with a mentor and trust, which is essential for any relationship, personal or professional. Ultimately with that trust, you're able to go further in what you can achieve.”

Stephenie, a Brain in Hand coach, also identifies as neurodivergent and has lived experience of raising neurodivergent children. She leverages her professional expertise and lived experiences to really connect with her coachees. Levan shares how beneficial this has been for him, to connect with someone who has a deep understanding of his needs and challenges.  

“I feel like I have a stronger bond with my coach Stephenie. With both of us being neurodivergent, we have commonalities and common ground and similar experiences that help us to resonate with one another. In the space, I feel seen, heard and trusted and ultimately guided.” 

Levan also shares how connecting with a neurodivergent coach has been inspiring for him. His coach is also a role model and reminder that he can flourish and thrive as a person with big aspirations. 

“It's nice to have that role model, you can see another person who is neurodivergent, who is managing their time, who is full time working and engaging, and being an active member of society. Sometimes in the past, before I've accessed support, some of those things didn't always feel attainable to me because I didn't understand my needs or my diagnosis. seeing that role model, it inspires me to know that with the right support, I will be able to become a more active member of society and flourish and thrive in my chosen sector.” 

Managing mental health with Brain in Hand 

“My mental health has significantly improved since using Brain in Hand. I have more clarity and control over my life and more support. Rather than internalising struggles that may crop up, I have a safe space to express and to document how I'm feeling, which ultimately serves as a journal, which is important for expressing my thoughts and feelings.”

With Brain in Hand, Levan can not only manage his time effectively, but also manage his thoughts and feelings. Our mood tracking features help him to check in and navigate his feelings overtime. 

“I've engaged with the traffic light function in the Brain and Hand app. Throughout the day I have frequent reminders which help me to track my mood. This serves as a natural mood tracker, which is important because it helps me to identify the triggers that are causing these moods and ultimately, how can I best navigate around them, or work with them to ensure that I can be in the green most of the time.”

Levan has also benefited from our 24/7 on-demand support. Our team of responders are on-hand to have a quick chat when things get too much. Each responder will have access to some notes that allow them to understand the person and their needs before they reach out to support them.   

“When I do press red, there is access to 24/7 support, which has been helpful in moments where you feel like you need someone to have a quick chat with. It's beneficial to have a safe space again to express. In my personal bio section, I've been able to ensure that the person who picks up the phone knows how I work as a person and how I would like to communicate in those calls. Rather than it being a generic phone call, it's someone who is picking up and knows how best to deal with me and help me in that scenario.”