Dr Matt Shorrock

30/05/2025

The barriers aren’t always visible... but the impact is.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s holding many neurodivergent professionals back - and what we can do about it.

29/04/2025

Isn’t it?

"AI Therapy" is not therapy — It’s an illusion

As an experienced psychotherapist and psychologist, we're seeing a worrying pattern:

More clients are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT for "mental health support" — and mistaking it for real therapy.

Let’s be clear:

AI can simulate listening. It can mimic empathy. But it cannot care.
It cannot see you. It cannot hold space for the complexity of your human experience.

Here’s what’s really happening beneath the surface:

🚧Lack of Accountability: AI doesn't have professional ethics. It can give advice without bearing the consequences.

🚧Superficial Responses: You’re getting preprogrammed text, not genuine attunement, depth, or clinical judgment.

🚧Invisible Risks: Crisis situations, trauma, or worsening mental health signs can go completely unnoticed.

🚧False Security: Quick AI reassurance can deepen avoidance of the real work therapy demands: vulnerability, discomfort, change.

🚧 Worsening Isolation: Talking to a machine often reinforces emotional distance instead of healing it.

We're already working with clients who come to therapy confused, misinformed, or emotionally stuck after over-relying on AI for "support."

If you're tempted to use AI as a substitute for therapy, watch for these red flags:

🚩You feel better momentarily, but no real change happens.
🚩You're avoiding hard conversations with real people.
🚩You find yourself trusting the AI’s advice over your own intuition — or over a trained professional’s guidance.

AI can be a useful tool for psycho-education, basic emotional vocabulary building, or self-reflection prompts. But it is no substitute for the relational depth, clinical insight, and accountability that real therapy requires.

Healing doesn’t happen through algorithms.
Healing happens through presence, challenge, attunement... and real human connection.

Hope this helps!

Warmly,

Dr Matt Shorrock

28/04/2025

"Does burnout hit expats differently"? 🌐

As a psychologist and psychotherapist originally from Britain, I've spent over ten years living and working in Austria. My own curiosity about the challenges of life abroad led me on a personal and professional journey, exploring how expats uniquely experience burnout. Over this period, I've worked with hundreds if not thousands of expats employed by large multinational organisations like The World Bank and the UN, based here in Vienna.

Burnout can impact anyone, but expats face distinct stressors that amplify their vulnerability. A key factor is the constant cultural and linguistic effort required. Simple, everyday tasks - such as grocery shopping, attending medical appointments, or engaging in workplace discussions - become mentally exhausting when they happen in a second language and unfamiliar cultural setting. I’d like to say I’m now fluent in German, but I can’t lie. Although it’s much better for me, I vividly recall the early experiences of feeling drained by routine interactions, simply because of the continuous cognitive load of translation and adaptation. Uurgh!

Another significant issue is the absence of familiar support networks. Expats leave behind established relationships, and it often takes considerable time and effort to build new supportive connections abroad. This lack of immediate emotional support can heighten stress, leaving expats especially susceptible to burnout.

🌟🌟🌟 If you’re living abroad or curious about undertaking such a substantial adventure, let me leave you with a golden tip to help mitigate expat burnout:

🔥 Implement a Weekly "Stress Audit"🔥

Once a week, spend just 15-20 minutes reflecting on recent situations that triggered stress or fatigue. Identify exactly what made these moments challenging—language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, isolation, or unrealistic expectations—and consider practical adjustments for handling similar future scenarios. This simple but powerful practice has helped me personally and supported many of my clients in proactively managing stress and preventing burnout.

By recognising and addressing these unique challenges early, you'll create a more sustainable, fulfilling, and utterly rewarding expat experience!

Hope that helps!

Matt 😊

25/03/2025

"For years, I thought I had to lead like everyone else…"

And for years, although successful and quickly promoted into senior management teams, it utterly drained me.

I've worked in management and leadership roles in both Central and Local Government, and I tried to fit into leadership models that weren’t designed for me - forcing myself into endless meetings, playing politics, and pretending I had the same energy levels as everyone else.

It worked… until it didn’t. It motivated me to become a mental health professional, treating thousands of other burnt out souls (but only after years of personal therapy and training).

The truth is, neurodivergent leaders don’t thrive by following the standard leadership playbook. We think differently, process deeply, and operate best in environments tailored to our strengths.

That’s why I created something different...

A private online mastermind for neurodivergent leaders - high-achieving entrepreneurs and executives who are done trying to force themselves into traditional leadership models and are ready to scale their success in a way that actually works for them.

In this online mastermind, we focus on:

💎 Energy & Efficiency – Leading in ways that
expand, not deplete you.

💎 Decision-Making Mastery – Leveraging your
unique thinking for powerful leadership.

💎 Scaling Without Burnout – Sustainable strategies
for high performers.

💎 A Like-Minded Inner Circle – Exclusive access to
a network of leaders who get it.

It's been running for several years now, but it isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who know they’re literally built differently - and are ready to lead that way.

If this resonates, DM me or comment below, and I’ll send you details. You can also email directly: drmatt@themindinstitute.at

Warmly,

Matt

18/02/2025

Signs You’re Masking at Work 🫣

(AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!! )

— the act of camouflaging neurodivergent traits to fit in — can feel like a survival strategy in the workplace. But trust me (personal as well as professional experience speaking!) it takes an inevitable toll on mental health, energy levels, and even career growth.

Many professionals don’t even realise they’re masking because it’s something they’ve done for so long. But awareness is the first step toward working in a way that feels more sustainable and authentic.

Signs You Might Be Masking at Work:

✅ You script or rehearse what you’ll say before meetings and conversations – Constantly planning responses to avoid awkwardness or misunderstanding.

✅ You mirror colleagues' behaviours or communication styles – Adjusting your tone, expressions, or mannerisms to match others, even when it feels unnatural.

✅ You force eye contact or suppress natural stimming behaviours – Prioritising neurotypical expectations of engagement over your own comfort.

✅ You feel drained after social interactions – Needing significant recovery time after work, even from minor interactions.

✅ You downplay your needs – Avoiding accommodations that would help you work more effectively, fearing they’ll make you stand out.

✅ You constantly self-monitor – Overanalyzing emails, Slack messages, or in-person conversations to make sure you "sounded normal."

What to Do About It:

👉 Identify where masking is most exhausting. Are there specific meetings, tasks, or interactions where you feel the most drained? This can help you pinpoint small changes to reduce effort.

👉 Experiment with small steps toward authenticity. Maybe it’s using noise-canceling headphones without apology, opting out of social events when you need downtime, or allowing yourself to stim in subtle ways.

👉 Advocate for neurodivergent-friendly workspaces. If possible, have conversations about flexible communication styles, sensory-friendly environments, and support that reduces the pressure to mask.

👉 Find safe spaces to unmask. Having even one trusted colleague, mentor, or professional network where you don’t feel the need to mask can make a significant difference.

👉 Challenge the idea that professionalism = neurotypical behavior. Your strengths come from your unique way of thinking, processing, and problem-solving. The right workplace will value that.

🔹 Final Thought: Masking at work is a learned survival skill, but it’s not sustainable long-term. The goal isn’t necessarily to unmask completely — it’s to create a work life where you can show up as yourself without burnout.

Have you noticed yourself masking at work? What’s helped you unmask in small ways? Would love to open up this delicate conversation, and raise awareness of masking, and the hidden costs of it!

11/02/2025

NEURODIVERGENT BURNOUT Is Different — Here’s What You Need to Know:

If you know anything about 'regular' burnout, it isn’t just about being tired. It's more complex than that. But for neurodivergent minds, it can be something deeper—sensory overload, executive function shutdown, emotional exhaustion, and the constant demand to "mask" in a neurotypical world.

As a psychologist and psychotherapist, I see this all the time. Only in the past week clients have told me:

🔹 “I’m doing everything right, but I still feel drained.”
🔹 “I used to love my work—why does it feel impossible now?”
🔹 “I push myself to keep up, but I’m always behind.”

Neurodivergent burnout often builds slowly. It’s not just about work stress—it’s the cumulative effect of navigating a world that wasn’t designed with your brain in mind.

So what can you do? Here are three shifts that make a real difference:

✅ Recognize the warning signs early.
If small tasks feel overwhelming, sensory input is unbearable, or social interactions leave you depleted for days—it’s time to listen to your brain, not push harder.

✅ Redefine rest to fit YOUR needs.
Not all rest is created equal. If scrolling or watching TV doesn’t help, try sensory-friendly downtime (weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, or stimming), or deep-focus activities that recharge you.

✅ Unmask where you can.
Masking is exhausting. Finding environments where you can be yourself—whether at work, with friends, or in small ways daily—reduces the long-term toll on your mental health.

Neurodivergent burnout recovery isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing differently.

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. I support neurodivergent folks navigate these challenges every day. Next month is NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek (18th - 24th March). Let’s not wait to start normalising the conversation about neurodivergent burnout— because thriving shouldn’t come at the cost of exhaustion. Right?

💬 Have you experienced burnout in a way that felt different from what others described? Let’s talk in the comments.

04/02/2025

If you’ve ever felt utterly exhausted, overwhelmed, or disconnected—despite trying your best—you’re not alone. Burnout in neurodivergent individuals often looks different than it does in neurotypical people, yet it’s rarely talked about. Today, I want to explore what neurodivergent burnout is and how to manage it with strategies that actually work for you.

🔥 WHAT IS NEURODIVERGENT BURNOUT?

Neurodivergent burnout isn’t just regular exhaustion—it’s a deep mental, emotional, and sensory fatigue that can come from masking, sensory overload, executive dysfunction, and constant effort to meet neurotypical expectations. It can look like:
✅ Feeling drained, even after resting ✅ Increased difficulty with daily tasks or decision-making ✅ Heightened sensory sensitivities ✅ Social exhaustion or avoidance ✅ Emotional overwhelm, shutdowns, or irritability
If this sounds familiar, you are not broken, lazy, or failing. You’re experiencing a real, valid form of burnout that requires specific strategies to recover from and prevent.

🛠 5 STRATEGIES TO MANAGE AND PREVENT NEURODIVERGENT BURNOUT

💡 1. Prioritize "Brain Breaks" Before You Need Them Don’t wait until you’re completely drained to rest. Regularly schedule sensory breaks, quiet time, or movement breaks to reset your brain before burnout takes over.

💡 2. Reduce Masking Whenever Possible Masking—hiding neurodivergent traits to fit in—is exhausting. Try to create spaces (at work, home, or with friends) where you can be yourself without filtering everything.

💡 3. Adapt Your Environment, Not Just Your Habits Instead of forcing yourself into neurotypical productivity methods, adjust your environment to support your needs. This could mean using noise-canceling headphones, dim lighting, body doubling for tasks, or using visual planners instead of written lists.

💡 4. Set Boundaries Around Social & Work Expectations Recognize what drains your energy and advocate for changes. If social interactions exhaust you, plan buffer time before and after. If work expectations are overwhelming, explore accommodations like flexible scheduling or communication preferences.

💡 5. Be Gentle With Executive Function Challenges Burnout can make even small tasks feel impossible. If you’re struggling with executive function, try: ✅ Breaking tasks into micro-steps ✅ Using external reminders (alarms, sticky notes, apps) ✅ Asking for help or accountability without guilt

💬 YOU DESERVE TO THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE

Burnout isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign that your brain is working too hard in an environment that doesn’t support it. Give yourself permission to rest, recharge, and create a lifestyle that works with your neurodivergence—not against it.
Have you experienced neurodivergent burnout? Share one strategy in the comments that has helped you recover—I’d love to hear from you!

02/09/2024

September is SU***DE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH… Simply knowing the red flags can reveal if / and to what degree somebody is thinking about su***de. Everybody is different of course, and people show different signs.

🔴 Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the list below of some of the red flags.

🔴 Listen to your gut if you are concerned about yourself or somebody you know.

🔴 Learn more and get support whether through a therapist, or an emergency hotline.

SU***DE RED FLAGS 🚩 🚩 🚩

🔔 Talks about death by su***de
🔔 Increase in alcohol or drug use
🔔 Loss of interest in school, work or hobbies
🔔 Preparing a will and making final arrangements
🔔 Significant changes in behaviour
🔔 Struggling with eating or sleeping
🔔 Is taking unnecessary risks
🔔 Reduced care in personal appearance or hygiene
🔔 Has recently experiences significant loss
🔔 Withdrawal from friends and social activities
🔔 Giving away precious or significant processions
🔔 Preoccupation with death and dying

If you are concerned about yourself, or someone you know, help is available!

***deprevention

04/03/2024

(A shameless plug for my latest online course, which is currently significantly reduced in price. If I say so myself, it's a powerful resource, and worth every penny)...

✨✨✨

🔵 Feeling rudderless and lacking purpose in projects that once excited you? �

🔵Often feel stressed, overwhelmed and irritated? �

🔵Had multiple burnouts in your life? (Is it possible that you never fully recovered from your first?!)

If this is not you right now, then this is surely your client, colleague, partner, child, or friend, and so please read on and share…

Breathwork & Breathers ™ is the foundational stage in my evidence-based burnout recovery process (The BALANCE ™). The focus is on highly effective breathwork strategies, for all manner of challenging circumstances, coupled with a strategic approach to quality downtime, from cheeky little breaks to year long sabbaticals.

This complete-at your-own-pace online course includes a rich bounty of tools and resources, carefully designed and selected to help you deepen insight, heighten awareness and restore balance in your life:

💛psycho-educational lessons,
💛motivational videos,
💛structured psychological questionnaires
💛Burnout Screening Test ™ (a psychometric assessment of current burnout risk and predisposition)

It also contains essential guidance and strategies for hard-workers and high-achievers (from business owners and leaders, to parents, teachers and healers!), a group that is particular prone to burnout, stress, and overwhelm.�

https://themindinstitute.teachable.com/p/burnout-recovery-101-breathwork-breathers

Please share 🫶

Breathwork & Breathers ™ is an online course for individuals looking to restore their VISION, VIGOUR and VITALITY. It is the foundational stage in Dr. Matt's evidence-based burnout recovery process (The BALANCE ™). The focus is on highly effective breathwork strategies, for all manner of challen...

13/02/2024

Have you considered how taking 'time AWAY' from work, can impact you very differently from taking 'time OFF' from your work? 🤔

My clients often conflate the two, yet research tells us that giving ourselves the permission for the former can be a complete game-changer when it comes to recovering from chronic stress or burnout; OR if you simply want to become aligned with your higher purpose and maintain peak performance and presence in your personal or professional life.

In this short video we explore the value of taking quality time away (aka 'Cultural Breathers') in some depth, as you are introduced to a powerful questionnaire that will help you:

1) assess the quality of the time you take away for yourself
2) reflect on how you may sabotage yourself from doing so
3) identify ways in which you can create this crucial time for yourself

so that you can (re)align with your passion and purpose... your 'True North'!

https://youtu.be/sUsg511Xr7k

Do let me know how get along!

Warmly,

Matt

Btw... if your found this video helpful, it is taken from my ​'Breathwork & Breathers'​ online course (currently heavily discounted in price), which is a complete-at-your-own-pace self-help programme for creative and ambitious people looking to recover their vision, vigour and vitality.

https://themindinstitute.teachable.com/p/burnout-recovery-101-breathwork-breathers

Have you considered how taking 'time AWAY' from work, can impact you very differently from taking 'time OFF' from your work?My clients often conflate the two...