Kirstie Pickles BVMS PGCert(CounsSkills) MSc PhD CertEIM DipECEIM FHEA MRCVS
MHFA Instructor, Coach, NATP
Having been fixated on being a vet from a young age, I graduated from Glasgow vet school in 1996. After a bumpy first year in practice, I returned to the safety of vet school to undertake a residency and PhD, becoming a registered European and RCVS Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine.
As a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing with a perpetual love of learning, I have also completed a PG Certificate in Counselling Skills, Mental Health First Aid Instructor training, a coaching qualification, and most recently training with AT-Autism and Anna Freud to become a certified deliverer of their groundbreaking National Autism Trainer Programme.
Discovering my neurodivergence (autistic ADHD) in adulthood has been pivotal in my understanding of self and enabling myself to thrive rather than survive.
Having long struggled with an inherent sense of being defective, I now understand myself as whole.
Different not deficient, despite what the diagnostic criteria say!
I am passionate about driving meaningful change in society by raising neurodiversity awareness, advocating for mental health, and breaking down stigma to create truly inclusive workplaces where everyone’s unique strengths are embraced and diversity becomes our greatest asset.
