About Us

Our why…

AJ believes this is her life purpose to be able to help people who are in that dark, lonely place and need help.  Not only has she got vast personal experience, she has a level 2 qualification in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health.

Andrea Jane Atkinson Founder/Director: AJ’s personal experience with grief, loss and mental health is extremely vast, she has unfortunately been through the most staggering amounts of grief and loss, losing her father, daughter, nearly her son, husband, brother and best friend and she is only in her 40’s.  That’s not including being involved in 7-7 in London and the loss of her darling dog sandy, her in-laws, grandmas, grandads aunties and uncles.

She has experienced rock bottom and managed to drag herself back from what felt like the bottomless pit….but she did it and has lived to tell the tale.

The Coping Specialist is all about personal experience, we are the people who have walked in our client’s shoes, we feel their pain, we know the feeling of loneliness and being lost with nobody who care’s or understands.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is….what counts is experience, and believe me that’s one thing AJ has in abundance.

In-fact she believes the reason why she has been dealt the hand she has, is to give her the experience to start The Coping Specialist…this is not just a business, this is AJ’s purpose.

AJ knows The Coping Specialist is her destiny, a must needed service she has been chosen to develop and provide for every person struggling with their-own inner demons.

AJ has over 20 years of business and management experience from across all sectors of the community.  AJs background lies within the charity sector where she managed a regional children’s charity for over 11 years of her career dealing with premature and ill new-born babies, this path was chose for her, and it was the loss of her baby daughter Ilicia that provided her the vision and passion for this role.  AJ provided the charity the opportunity to move forward as an independent charity, after she raised over 2 million pounds in her time working for them. 

With a proven track record of providing above and beyond clients’ expectations, AJ’s project management and administrative experience means she is always focused on the job that needs to be done. 

OUR VISION

At The Coping Specialist, we believe it’s time to change the conversation around death, grief, and loss. These experiences profoundly shape both our personal and professional lives, yet they remain taboo topics in society. We want to break the silence, get people talking, and create real change in how we approach mental health and emotional resilience.

Our mission is simple: CREATE, DELIVER, SUPPORT, and INSPIRE. We help individuals understand their daily challenges so they don’t become defining obstacles. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution when it comes to mental health—everyone’s journey is unique, and support should reflect that.

We are committed to making help accessible to anyone struggling with life’s challenges. That’s why we founded Inner Light Wellbeing CIC, a community interest company providing free peer support groups, affordable workshops, and events for those facing grief and loss. To ensure sustainability, The Coping Specialist Ltd donates 10% of its profits directly to Inner Light Wellbeing CIC. Our purpose is clear—to transform the UK into a more compassionate place to live and work.