Soft Ground; Neurodiversity-Affirming and Queer-affirming counselling.

Soft Ground is a counselling practice founded by Haze Brown, a counsellor, social worker, and autistic parent of AuDHD and PDA children. Working with young people and families, Soft Ground offers neurodiversity-affirming and queer-affirming counselling, with a particular focus on supporting parents and caregivers of children who experience the world differently either due to their neurodivergence, sexuality/gender or both. 

The work is gentle, practical, and collaborative, grounded in both clinical training and lived experience, and focused on helping families move through difficult stages and gain more clarity, acceptance, confidence, and connection.

In addition to individual and family counselling, Soft Ground offers group programs for young people and parents, focused on building understanding, connection, and positive neurodivergent and queer identity.

Counselling with Haze Brown

I am a queer autistic parent of two neurodivergent children. I am a social worker and counsellor working closely with young people, parents, and caregivers. I love to support families navigating autism, ADHD, PDA, and questions around gender or sexuality.

I have extensive professional experience having worked in family and youth counselling, play therapy, school wellbeing, and with LGBTQIA+ communities and people experiencing family violence. My approach is neurodivergent-affirming, person-centred, trauma-informed, and collaborative. It draws on neuroscience, developmental psychology, feminist and queer theory, and real-life experience.

My work is always centred around safety in relationship, getting to know families and young people — their personalities, quirks, strengths, and challenges. I work alongside clients to build understanding, connection, and practical strategies that support wellbeing, identity, and advocacy.

I offer counselling for young people aged 11–20, as well as parent and caregiver counselling & support, taking a flexible, whole-of-family approach tailored to each family’s needs.