The High Cost of Undiagnosed ADHD with Sarah Templeton

Today, we’ve got a heavy but necessary topic. We’re looking at what happens when ADHD goes unsupported and the stakes get high. In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Templeton, a counselor, activist, and author of The Prison Counselor. Sarah spent years working inside the UK prison system before getting her own diagnosis at age 51, which led to some massive realizations about the people she was working with.

In our conversation today, we look at the startling prevalence of neurodiversity in the prison population and how a lack of diagnosis fuels a cycle of reoffending. We explore the stark reality of the "school to prison pipeline" and the specific ADHD traits that land people in legal trouble. It’s not just about being a trouble-maker, but about impulsivity, risk-taking, and a heightened sense of justice. And I know that last one might sound counterintuitive, but don’t worry, we get into that in the episode.