Psychological Therapeutic Solutions Ltd

18/04/2026

🚨 COUNSELLORS: This change could encourage more of your clients to seek justice — and stay in therapy while doing it.
👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/WL_3M-A1Mgw?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=new-police-guidance-on-accessing-counselling-records

One of the hardest conversations in practice: a client who has survived abuse decides to report it to the police — then asks whether their counselling notes will be handed over. For many, that fear alone has been enough to make them withdraw.

New draft guidance in England and Wales, effective January 2026, changes this. Police can no longer routinely request victims' counselling records. Any request now needs to be necessary, proportionate, and relevant — and must be authorised at chief inspector level.

Ken and Rory break down exactly what this guidance covers, where it applies, and what it means for your day-to-day practice.
If you work with survivors of sexual abuse or r**e, this one's essential viewing.

18/04/2026

Thought this might be helpful

Equalising behaviour in Autistic and ADHD children 💥

🔹 1. What is “equalising”?

Equalising is when your autistic / ADHD child tries to make things feel “fair” or “even” again after feeling powerless, embarrassed or told off.
It often shows up as:
- Having the last word
- “Getting you back”
- Correcting you
- Needing to be right

It looks rude — but it’s usually their nervous system trying to get back to level.

🔹 2. What’s going on inside?

Their brain is not thinking “How can I be awful today?”
It’s more like:
- “I feel small”
- “That wasn’t fair”
- “You have all the power”

Equalising is a fast way to feel:
- Less ashamed
- Less powerless
- More in control

🔹 3. How it shows up at home 🏡

Spot any of these?

- Fairness police: “You were late, that’s not fair!”
- Score‑keeping: “You shouted at me, so I’m not helping you.”
- One‑up: “Well I’m better than you at that anyway.”
- Copying your limits: “I’m not talking to you while YOU’RE grumpy.”
- Joking / mocking back when they feel got at

🔹 4. What usually makes it worse ⚠️

These are super‑human reactions, but they often pour petrol on the fire:

- Power struggles: “Don’t you dare speak to me like that”
- Demanding apologies right now
- Long lectures about “respect” mid‑meltdown
- Telling them off in front of other people

Their brain hears: “You have even less power now” → equalising ramps up.

🔹 5. What helps in the moment ✅

Think: less battle, more detective.

- Pause: small breath before you answer
- Quiet tone, few words
- Name it: “That felt really unfair to you, didn’t it?”
- Offer real choice:
– “We can’t change X, but you can pick Y or Z”
- Repair if needed:
– “I was too sharp earlier. That wasn’t fair, I’m sorry”
- Park the argument and come back later when they’re calm

🔹 6. Turning the volume down over time 🌱

You don’t have to “fix” their personality.
Change the setup instead:

- Simple rules everyone follows
- Clear routines + warnings before change
- Daily chances to choose and lead (meals, games, plans)
- Sensory breaks and safe, quiet spaces
- Calm chats later:
“When I said X, you tried to get even by Y.
How could we both handle that more fairly next time?”

🔹 Support from me

I’m an advanced specialist and mental health nurse of 10+ years, and my focus is the crossover between neurodivergence, learning disability, learnt behaviour and mental health. I help families decode behaviours like equalising, show you the nervous‑system reasons underneath them, and then build low‑demand, realistic support that actually works in real homes and real schools – not just on paper. If you’re seeing this in your child and you’re stuck between “is it autism, ADHD, trauma, PDA or something else?”, that’s the space I work in every day. If you’d like some support with this, drop me a message – I offer a free 15‑minute consultation for new clients.

07940 506909
theyorkshireacademy@gmx.com

Joe Ramsay Mental Health & Neurodiversity Consultant

© 2026 All rights reserved – Joe Ramsay

17/04/2026

Today my office looked a little different 🌊

I spent the day on the beach doing a walk and talk EMDR session with a client. There is something powerful about being alongside someone in nature while they process. Feet on the sand, the rhythm of the waves, space to breathe and think.

Therapy does not always have to happen in a room. Sometimes the most meaningful work happens out in the open, with the sea as a steady backdrop.

Grateful for work that allows this kind of flexibility and connection 💙

15/04/2026

Abstract: Trauma therapists must make clinical judgments about what order to target memories for treatment. Study 1, of 146 self-identified trauma therapists, found a variety of reported strategies for deciding which trauma memory to treat first, including letting the client choose, treating the memory that caused the symptoms, or working in chronological order. Study 2a, of 159 therapists in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or progressive counting workshops, examined the impact on the distress level of a later memory after treating an earlier related memory. Study 2b, of 114 therapists in EMDR or progressive counting workshops, examined the impact on the distress level of an earlier memory after treating a later related memory. In each condition, the distress of the untreated memory was reduced; the effect was greater when treating the earlier memory. In study 3, 3 therapy clients rated the distress level of each trauma memory at the beginning of each session, as the trauma memories were being resolved in chronological order. The distress level of many (but not all) later memories did go down following the resolution of earlier memories, and this effect persisted over time. These findings suggest that treating trauma memories can reduce the distress level of related memories, with a greater effect when treating earlier memories. https://go.ticti.org/treating-early-trauma-memories-facebook

06/04/2026

You’ve been trying to understand yourself… but no one ever explained that ADHD doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Why ADHD Feels So Different From Person to Person

You might have seen someone with ADHD who is constantly moving, talking, full of energy…
and thought, “That’s not me.”

Or maybe you struggle quietly.
Forgetting things, zoning out, losing focus — while appearing calm on the outside.

And because of that, you start questioning it.
“Do I really have ADHD?”
“Why does mine look so different?”

The truth is… ADHD isn’t one experience.
It shows up in different ways, and understanding that changes everything.

Predominantly Inattentive — The Quiet Struggle

This is the type most people don’t notice.

You might sit still, stay quiet, and look like you’re paying attention…
but inside, your mind is somewhere else.

You lose track of conversations.
Forget small daily tasks.
Struggle to stay focused, especially on things that don’t interest you.

And because it’s not loud or disruptive, people often miss it.
Even you might miss it.

But that doesn’t make it any less real.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive — The Visible Side

This is the version people usually recognize first.

Restlessness shows up physically.
Sitting still feels uncomfortable.
Thoughts move quickly, and sometimes actions follow just as fast.

You might interrupt without meaning to.
Feel impatient waiting your turn.
Act before fully thinking things through.

And while others might see it as “too much,”
it’s often your brain trying to release energy it can’t hold in.

Combined Type — When Both Worlds Exist Together

This is where things get even more complex.

You experience both sides.
Moments of distraction and mental fog…
mixed with restlessness and impulsivity.

You can feel unmotivated and overwhelmed…
yet also have bursts of high energy and intensity.

You start things but struggle to finish them.
You want structure, but have trouble maintaining it.

And this mix can feel confusing.
Because it doesn’t fit into one clear pattern.

Why Understanding This Matters

When you don’t know these differences, it’s easy to misjudge yourself.

You compare your experience to others.
You wonder why things feel harder for you.
You assume you’re just inconsistent or not trying enough.

But once you understand that ADHD has different forms…
you stop forcing yourself into the wrong expectations.

Because your experience isn’t wrong.
It’s just your version of how your brain works.

And the moment you start recognizing that…
you begin to understand yourself in a way you never could before.

06/04/2026

For those who suffer from pmdd this is worth knowing.

05/04/2026

Whether you’re enjoying the holidays or visiting family, know where to turn for help. Being prepared helps health professionals focus on those who need urgent care most. https://lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/choosewell/

05/04/2026

There’s something about being wide awake at 3.30am, menopausal and neurodivergent.

My brain is lit up, making connections, solving problems, full of ideas that feel important and urgent… while my body is asking for rest.

It’s that familiar mismatch. A nervous system that doesn’t quite power down, now dialled up even more by hormonal shifts.

In some ways, it’s the same brain I’ve always had, curious, fast, creative. But menopause seems to amplify everything, including the times I’d really rather switch it off.

I’m trying to meet it with a bit more understanding rather than frustration, even if that’s easier said than done at 3.30am.

I’m curious how others are finding this. Are you noticing your mind behaving differently in menopause, especially if you’re neurodivergent?

There’s insight in it, no doubt. I’d just prefer it came at a more sociable hour.

03/04/2026

Easter often brings themes of renewal, connection, and time with family. But for many professional women navigating perimenopause, it can also bring into sharp focus the sheer volume of what you are holding.

Deadlines, leadership responsibilities, emotional labour at home, and the often unspoken expectation to deliver a seamless Easter weekend for others.

All of this alongside fluctuating hormones that can heighten irritability, reduce tolerance, disrupt sleep, and leave your nervous system feeling stretched and reactive.

This is not a failure of resilience or capability. It is a reflection of cumulative load.

Easter can be an opportunity to pause and take stock.

What is sustainable
What is expected
What is actually needed

You may notice your capacity is different. That is not a deficit. It is data.

Adjusting expectations is not underperformance
Setting boundaries is not letting people down
Stepping back is not weakness

When emotions feel heightened, like waves building intensity, remember they will pass. The task is not to override them, but to regulate and respond with awareness.

This might look like simplifying plans, delegating where possible, taking intentional space, or choosing rest over performance.

Professional women are often highly practised at meeting external demands. This weekend may be a chance to include yourself in that equation.

Be measured with your energy. It is one of your most valuable resources.

03/04/2026

Easter can be a time of hope, renewal, and connection for many. But it’s important to remember that for some people, this weekend can feel heavy, lonely, or overwhelming.

Easter Sunday often brings families together around the table. For some, this can feel supportive and warm. For others, it can feel intense, overstimulating, or even triggering. Family dynamics or conflict may heighten feelings of abandonment, rejection, or isolation.

For neurodivergent people, changes in routine, expectations, or environment can throw the nervous system into disarray. What might seem manageable to others can feel deeply destabilising.

If you’re struggling, you are not alone and support is available.

These emotions can feel like tidal waves, powerful and consuming, but they will pass. The most important thing is to do what feels safest and most regulating for your nervous system.

That might mean reaching out to a friend, stepping away for some space, or cosying up under a blanket and watching a familiar film.

💛 UK support lines:
Samaritans: 116 123
NHS urgent mental health helpline: 111 then select option 2
Shout (text support): text SHOUT to 85258
Mind: 0300 123 3393
HOPELINE247 (under 35s): 0800 068 4141 or text 88247
Papyrus HOPELINEUK: 0800 068 4141
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): 0800 58 58 58
Childline: 0800 1111

Be gentle with yourself this weekend. However you’re feeling is valid and help is always there when you need it.