I grew up in the Southern part of Germany and now based in Oxford, UK.

I hold a BSc and MSc in Psychology from Leopold-Franzens University in Innsbruck and have worked with adults across a range of mental health and neurodivergence-related settings for over 8 years.

Early in my career, I joined a research team in the Papuan highlands of Indonesia, studying female sexual health. This sparked a lasting interest in human complexity, lived experience, and the different ways people understand themselves.

Today, my work focuses on neurodiversity, particularly autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, and synaesthesia. I’m autistic and experience more than 10 forms of synaesthesia myself, which informs both my personal and professional understanding of perception and cognition.

In 2023, I launched my podcast Let’s Talk Synaesthesia, where I interview experts by experience and professionals about synaesthesia, neurodivergence, and lived experience, particularly in late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD adults.

My work sits at the intersection of psychology, neurodiversity education, and lived experience. I support people in understanding their cognitive and sensory profiles, recognising patterns of overwhelm or masking, and finding ways of living and working that fit their needs. This is not therapy or clinical treatment. My work is psycho-educational coaching and consultancy-based.

More recently, becoming a mother has led me to train as a Doula. Going through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with our first daughter made me realise how little we sometimes acknowledge what a huge experience this is. Having a baby changes how you know yourself, your partner, and your life, while also being a time of vulnerability, recovery, and a lot of love. Being neurodivergent adds another layer to it. I’m excited to extend my work to support birthing people and their families through this period.

Maike