Unfiltered thoughts, useful things, and life behind the work.

A Neurodivergent New Year: From “New Me” to “True Me”.

Posted January 2026

At this time of year, we’re often pushed towards “new year, new me”. New habits. New routines. A complete overhaul.

For many neurodivergent people, that pressure doesn’t inspire change, it creates overwhelm.

A more sustainable approach is shifting the focus from becoming someone new, to being more authentically you. From a neurodivergent perspective, meaningful change tends to happen when we work with our brains and nervous systems, not against them.

Instead of rigid goals or dramatic transformations, small and flexible steps are often far more effective.

What might this look like in practice?

• Reframing expectations and setting gentle, realistic intentions
• Allowing rest to be part of progress, not a failure
• Starting small rather than trying to change everything at once
• Using novelty to support ADHD motivation, or repetition to support autistic routines
• Creating environments that reduce overwhelm rather than increase it

Lasting change doesn’t come from forcing yourself into a version of success that doesn’t fit.
It grows when you build from who you already are.

Neurodiverse or Neurodivergent?

Posted 9th September, 2025

Julie here – I’m a neurodivergent counsellor, and one question I often see is: what’s the difference between neurodiverse and neurodivergent?

Here’s the simple answer:

• Neurodiverse = all of us (every brain is different).

• Neurodivergent = people whose brains work differently to the typical. This includes ADHD, Autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and Tourette’s.

Neurodivergent brains are different because the way they process information, emotions, and sensory input follows different pathways to a typical brain.

It’s easy to mix them up. Language around this is always changing and evolving. The important thing is that we keep learning together.

Why Can’t I Just Start Things?

Posted 4th July, 2025

You know what needs doing.
You’ve told yourself ten times to just start.
But hours go by… and nothing happens.

That’s ADHD task paralysis. When your brain is overwhelmed.

Here’s what might be getting in the way:

• Fear of getting it wrong (hello RSD)

• Wanting it to be perfect

• Too many steps

• Time blindness (you tell yourself you’ll do it “later”, but “later” never comes)

Here’s what can help:

• Do one micro-step (just open the document, or move the plate)

• Set a 5-minute timer — and only do 5 minutes

• Try body doubling (yep, we offer that here)

You’re not lazy.
You’re just dealing with a brain that freezes under pressure — and that’s something we can work with.

Want to try body doubling or talk to us about support options?

This week we’ve launched something new – ANA.

Posted 20th June, 2025

It stands for AI-powered Neurodivergent Assistant.
ANA isn’t a counsellor or therapist, but it has been trained by one (Julie Knowles).

The idea is simple: it’s a support tool for when you’re stuck, overwhelmed, spiralling, or just need somewhere to offload without judgement.

Whether it’s helping you plan what to do next, get started with something like cleaning, or just sort through your own thoughts — ANA is there when you need it.

It’s free, available any time, and made with ADHD and Autism in mind.

Want to try it?  click here.

* Please Note: This is a customGPT and needs a ChatGPT account to use it. Also make sure you have read OpenAIs Terms or service and privacy policy before using.

Why I’m Blogging Instead of Just Posting on Social Media

Posted 15th June,2025

Julie here - As a neurodivergent counsellor, I'm not great at keeping up with our social media.
Not because I don’t care — but because I find it hard to fit into 30-second reels and neat quotes...(before adding a sprinkle of my time-blindness and apps designed to distract me).

Blogging will give me (and the team) space to say the things that we want without trying to fit it into a social media post.

Social media is brilliant for awareness — but it can’t always show the full, debilitating side of ADHD and/or Autism. The stuff that’s not so shareable:

• The shame when you're late (again).
• Sensory overwhelm.
• The impact of spiralling thoughts.
• The piles of doom (pots, clothes, letters, unreturned parcels).
• The burnout. The paralysis. The crash after the mask.

This blog is about all of them things and a little extra. 

If you’re neurodivergent, tired, and trying your best — you’re exactly who this is for... so put your feet up, switch off from the distractions and keep reading...