Elspetherapy

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Elspetherapy

ADHD Therapist (MNCPS Accred.) | Certified ADHD Coach (AACC) |Online therapy to support adults with ADHD, Anxiety, Stress, Overwhelm, Burnout

05/03/2026

If you’ve ever opened a therapist’s website and thought,
“I don’t even know what happens next…”
you’re not alone.

I know that reaching out can feel like the hardest part. The overthinking. The second-guessing. The wondering whether you’re “bad enough” to need therapy. The fear of being pressured into something before you’re ready.

So I’ve written a blog explaining exactly what it’s like to start therapy with me.

What happens after you send that first email.
How I respond.
What the free chat involves.
What the first session feels like.
And what doesn’t happen (no pressure, no chasing, no obligation).

You’re allowed to be unsure.
You’re allowed to be ambivalent.
You’re allowed to explore without committing.

If part of you is curious but another part feels hesitant, this blog is for you.

You can read it in the link in the comments.

And if you’re thinking about reaching out, we can take it one small step at a time. 💛

04/03/2026

I was listening to a podcast about ADHD treatment recently and it really confirmed something for me.

The way I work isn’t about getting rid of ADHD symptoms.

So many adults I see are worn out from trying to “fix” themselves — be more organised, more consistent, less distracted, less emotional. They’ve spent years feeling like the problem.

In therapy, we don’t try to erase ADHD. We accept it’s part of how your brain works and get curious about what that means for you.

We focus on:
– how you feel about yourself
– the shame and self-criticism
– the patterns that keep you stuck
– what you actually want from your life

I adapt therapy to you and your goals — not a manual designed to make you more “normal”.

Living well with ADHD isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about building a life that works with your brain.

If that sounds like the kind of support you’ve been looking for, you’re welcome to message me for an informal chat 💛

26/02/2026

Reassurance helps… but only for a while.

You check.
You replay.
You ask if it’s ok.
You feel better for five minutes.

Then the doubt is back.

Anxiety isn’t actually looking for answers.
It’s looking for certainty — and that’s why the cycle keeps going.

You’re not broken for feeling like this.
But you don’t have to stay stuck in that loop either.

25/02/2026

Do you feel like you only have two speeds?

All in… or completely stuck.

A burst of productivity.
Then the crash.
Then beating yourself up for not being consistent.

This isn’t a discipline problem.
It’s what happens when you’ve spent years trying to force your brain to work in ways that don’t suit it.

You’re not failing. You’re exhausted.

There’s another way to work with yourself, not against yourself.

19/02/2026

Ever noticed how hard it is to actually rest?

You finally stop… and your mind won’t.
You feel guilty, restless, on edge.
There’s a voice saying you should be doing something.

For many of my clients, rest feels uncomfortable — not relaxing.
That doesn’t mean you’re bad at resting.
It means your nervous system hasn’t felt safe slowing down yet.

Rest is a skill.
And it can be learned with the right support.

You don’t have to carry this on your own. If you’re curious about how therapy could help, you’re welcome to get in touch for a no-pressure chat.

18/02/2026

One of the hardest parts of ADHD isn’t always visible.

It’s the mental load running in the background:
remembering
planning
anticipating
replaying conversations
trying not to forget the thing you forgot last time

From the outside, it can look like you’re coping.
Inside, your brain rarely switches off.

If you’re exhausted and can’t quite explain why — this might be why.
You’re carrying more than people realise. 💛

03/02/2026

No one really talks about the part after the ADHD diagnosis.

First comes the relief.
Then the questions.

Grief for the years you spent thinking you were the problem.
Confusion about who you are now.
Relationships that don’t change, even though you have.
That sense of “I thought I’d feel better than this…”

You’re not doing diagnosis wrong.
You’re adjusting.

And that can be messy, emotional and unsettling.

If you’re in that in-between space — making sense of things, feeling unsure, wondering what now — you’re not alone. 💛

If you’re nodding along and wondering whether some support might help, feel free to reach out. I offer a free initial chat to see if working together feels right for you. Pop me a DM.

29/01/2026

This year I’m starting slowly.
On purpose.

I can feel all the shoulds hovering — the ones telling me I should be full of energy, smashing goals, being productive from day one. But instead, I’m listening to myself and my nervous system.

Especially as I’ve just started a new job.

I’m letting things land.
Letting my body catch up.
Letting my brain settle before asking it to sprint.

There’s nothing wrong with easing into a new year quietly. Nothing wrong with taking a softer pace. Nothing wrong with choosing steady over spectacular.

For a long time I believed that if I wasn’t going full throttle, I was falling behind. Now I know that pushing before you’re ready just leaves you burnt out faster.

So I’m ignoring the noise and starting in a way that actually feels good — slower mornings, fewer expectations, more breathing space.

If you’re doing the same, you’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You’re listening.

And that counts for a lot.

(Photo from my recent trip to Bristol - part of my slower start ❤️)

10/12/2025

If Christmas leaves you overwhelmed, frazzled and secretly wishing you could hide under a blanket until January… this post is for you. I’ve written about what the festive season is really like when you have ADHD - the pressure, the chaos, the sensory overload, the family stuff and why it makes total sense if you’re struggling right now.

Link to read blog in comments.

27/11/2025

Authenticity vs Telling Everyone Everything

Something that comes up a lot in therapy is realising you’re allowed to make choices that protect your energy.

Many of us automatically say yes, go along with plans we don’t want, or share more than we feel safe to then wonder why we feel drained or exposed.

There’s a difference between:
✨ Being authentic and
✨ Over disclosing in emotionally unsafe situations.

Authenticity isn’t full transparency.
It’s choosing what, when and with whom you share in a way that honours your needs and boundaries.

Therapy can help you:
• Notice where you’re on autopilot
• Build emotional boundaries
• Choose what supports your wellbeing
• Stay connected to who you are, without overexposing yourself

You’re allowed to choose what feels right for you.
You’re allowed to protect your energy.
You’re allowed to be yourself - safely and thoughtfully.

26/11/2025

I hear this a lot in therapy:

“Coming here feels a bit self indulgent.”
“Other people need help more than me.”
“I feel guilty spending time/money on myself.”

Somewhere along the way, many of us (especially women) learned that looking after ourselves is selfish - that needing support is a weakness and that everyone else should come first.

But here’s what those same clients tell me after a while:

They feel less scattered and overwhelmed.
More in control.
Less stressed.
More present with their kids.
More confident at work.
More able to say no without guilt.
Sleeping better.
Fewer headaches.
More grounded.
More themselves.

And honestly?
If therapy helps you show up to your life with more calm, clarity and steadiness…
If it helps you feel human again…
If it helps your relationships, your work, your health…

Is that really self indulgent?

Or is it an investment?

Not just for you
but for the people you love,
your future self,
and the life you’re trying to build.

Therapy isn’t indulgent.
It’s brave.
And you deserve that kind of care too.

If this hits home and you want to chat about starting therapy, my DMs are open. 💛

20/11/2025

If you’ve ever found yourself spiralling after a tiny comment, a delayed reply, or even just a slightly “off” tone and your brain immediately jumps to “I’ve messed up… they’re annoyed… I’ve done something wrong” you’re not alone.

So many adults with ADHD experience this intense emotional crash around rejection or criticism, and I’ve been exploring why it feels so big and why self-criticism might actually be making it louder.

I’ve written a new blog on how our internal voice can shape RSD, make us more sensitive to perceived rejection, and what can help. If this is something you struggle with, please read on. Link in comments 🔗

Address

Gullane
EH31

Website

http://www.elspetherapy.co.uk/

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