Bringing together lived experience, nursing education and public health service
People's minds are all so different. All capable of different things.
Elle McNicoll, Show Us Who You AreI am a Nurse and Sleep Consultant
Meet Laura
Hiya and welcome to my website!
I’m Laura Hellfeld, a Nurse, Author and Consultant based in Yorkshire, UK. I write, speak and teach about supporting neurodivergent and disabled people across everyday life and a range of settings, including home, education, healthcare and the wider community.
My work explores topics including sleep, eating and feeding, toileting, hygiene, puberty, distress, burnout, transitions and the practical realities of daily living. Alongside this, I support neurodivergent young people in education and help school staff and educators develop approaches that recognise different ways of communicating, learning, regulating and participating. Across all of this work, my approach is neuro-affirming and grounded in dignity, autonomy, presuming capability and understanding the person rather than trying to change their behaviour.
I work alongside parents and carers, educators, health and social care professionals, charities and community organisations. My work includes providing education, consultation, creating resources and speaking at events. I particularly enjoy taking complex ideas and turning them into practical ways of thinking about support that people can actually use in real life.
I’m also an author. My books include Flush Forward!: A Friendly Toileting Guide for Parents Supporting Disabled and Neurodivergent Young People and Belonging First: building connection and trust in the primary classroom (Bloomsbury, forthcoming), as well as co-authoring Creating Safe Spaces for Autistic People and Gabby’s Glimmers.
I’m here to help if you’re an individual seeking support, a family or caregiver, or a professional at a charity or organization. Explore my services and don’t hesitate to reach out to me for consultations, training, speaking engagements, and collaborations.
You can also keep up-to-date on all events, resources and projects by joining my newsletter here
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I'm a Nurse Educator, Speaker and Writer
Qualifications and Training
- Masters in Nursing (MSN), University of California at Los Angeles
- Bachelors of Science (BSN) in Biological Sciences, University of California at Irvine
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Public Health Nurse (PHN)
- Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
- Certified Sleep Consultant
- Certified Children’s Yoga Instructor
- Safeguarding Children, Level 3
- Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention, Level 2
- Enhanced DBS Check
Making Community Connections
Natalie
I have had a one to one consultation with Laura and subsequently attend the PDA workshop. Both of these have been invaluable in promoting my understanding around autism/ADHD/PDA. The workshop provided great information but also was an opportunity to get together with others in similar situations. I feel I’ve come away feeling less along and knowing how to support my children better. Highly recommend.
Jodie
Thank you for a great workshop at the weekend. It was really interesting, thought provoking & well structured with plenty of opportunities for discussion & reflection as well as exploring practical strategies.
Betty
My partner absolutely loved the food workshop. He said it must’ve been his best afternoon ever, and I’m also happy to report that meal times are now stress free. Before Laura, meal times were filled with high levels of anxiety, vomiting and so so much sadness. We all really just hated meal times. Now we all very much look forward to eating together! Thank you so much Laura, you’e saved us.
Autistically Scott
Laura is a kind, gentle and reassuring support for Autistic people, families and professionals. She is a very welcoming member of the Autistic community and does everything to ensure all Autistic people feel respected, valued and included. Laura offers a fresh and much needed perspectives on topics such as PDA, sleeping and eating. Our conversations together have led to me reflecting on my own food experiences as an Autistic person and helped me to process some of the shame I previously had with this throughout my life. She is a wonderful collaborator and very easy to work with. I highly recommend Laura to any Autistic person, family or professional as she provides so much knowledge, insight and validation that can help Autistic and otherwise Neurodivergent people to thrive.
Birgit
Laura showed us that there is so much more to food than just the nutrients and it is important to weigh up ALL the factors and to always consider that mental health and wellbeing is as important as physical health.
Little Hiccups
Laura’s knowledge of autism is extensive and deeply rooted in both current research and practical experience. She brought to our courses a wealth of insights, from the latest scientific findings to nuanced strategies for support and communication. Her passion for the subject matter is infectious, inspiring all of us to learn more and do more for the autism community.
Beyond her professional expertise, Laura’s genuine care for the well-being and success of our participants shone through in every interaction. She went above and beyond to ensure that the material was not only understood but that it could be applied in a practical, meaningful way in the lives of those with autism and their families.
In conclusion, Laura is truly a gem in the field, and we look forward to the opportunity to work with her again in the future.