Cognition Clinical Psychology

17/12/2025

🎄 Christmas reminder from a psychologist 🧠
…and a dad who is still working, slightly tired, and running on caffeine ☕

This is your permission slip to stop overthinking Christmas.

It’s not a performance.
It’s not a parenting assessment.
And it’s definitely not meant to leave you more exhausted than before.

From a psychological point of view:
Rest matters. Fun matters. Downtime matters.
Kids don’t need perfect — they need present.

From a dad’s point of view:
If everyone’s fed (even if it’s beige),
safe,
and laughing at least once…
we’re winning.

So if Christmas looks like:
🎮 Mario Kart marathons
🧀 pasta, yoghurt, Pom Bears
😴 pyjamas all day
😂 chaos with moments of joy

That’s not “doing it wrong”.
That’s actually doing it well.

Let’s lower the expectations, quiet the judgement (especially the one in our own heads), and remember:

Christmas is meant to be a pause — not another thing to survive.

Now excuse me…
I may be working, but I’m also mentally racing Mario Kart later 🎮😄

16/12/2025

As a psychologist, I see monotropism not as a limitation, but as a distinct attentional pattern — one that brings depth, clarity, and intensity to how a person engages with the world.

Monotropism describes a tendency for attention to organise itself around a small number of interests at a time. When focus is engaged, it can be sustained, immersive, and highly generative. This is often where deep learning, creativity, and expertise emerge.

What’s frequently misunderstood is the cost of interruption. Switching attention isn’t neutral for monotropic minds — it can be cognitively expensive and emotionally draining. That isn’t resistance or lack of effort. It’s how attention is wired.

In practice, I’ve seen people thrive when their environments respect this style: fewer unnecessary interruptions, interest-led goals, and enough time for focus to fully settle.

Monotropism isn’t something to fix.

It’s something to understand and support.

That’s why we’re sharing a small series focused entirely on monotropism — because the more we learn about it, the more fascinating (and affirming) it becomes.

I am all about changing the environment not the person and the people who know me well will have heard this but as time goes by you will come to learn that too.

Swipe to learn more 🧠✨

11/12/2025

✨ Monotropic Spiral — When Focus Becomes a Black Hole ✨

A monotropic spiral, a concept by Tanya Adkin and David Gray-Hammond, describes what happens when monotropic flow becomes intensified. It’s when attention narrows so tightly around one subject that it pulls in everything around it — like a cognitive black hole.

➰ What it feels like:
• Monotropic flow taken to the extreme — attention locks onto one idea.
• Associative thinking spirals outward, connecting everything back to that topic.
• Rumination makes the cycle stronger and harder to escape.
• Loss of insight can make it difficult to see the situation clearly or understand your own state.
• The whole experience deepens into a pressure-filled loop, overwhelming and consuming.

This spiral often shows up during periods of distress and can contribute to experiences like autistic burnout.

It’s not a flaw — it’s a response, a pattern of thinking shaped by autistic or ADHD neurology under strain.

Small shifts of attention, grounding techniques, or gentle support can help break the loop and bring the mind back to balance.

You’re not alone if you’ve been pulled into one of these spirals. Your mind isn’t broken — it’s doing its best to make sense of overwhelm.

08/12/2025

Honestly… this is ludicrous.
�We live in a country with around 69 million people, and somehow the group being singled out — yet again — is one of the smallest, most misunderstood communities: people with ADHD.

If the goal is supposedly to “save money,” why pick on a tiny group who already struggles to access basic support? Why not look at any of the far bigger systems that actually drain resources?

Why go after people who are just trying to function, advocate for themselves, and get the help they’ve often waited years for?

It feels targeted. It feels lazy. And above all, it feels deeply misguided.

People with ADHD aren’t the cause of a budget issue. They aren’t a political inconvenience. They aren’t a trend to be managed or a group to be “stood up to.”

They are human beings — many of whom have spent their whole lives feeling different, unsupported, or misunderstood before finally getting an answer that explains their struggles.

Headlines like this don’t “save money” or “start a conversation.”
�They create stigma.�They cause harm.�They make people feel mocked for having a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition.

Out of millions of people in this country, ADHD is the group being held up as some kind of problem? Really?

We deserve better than this.
�Better understanding.�Better compassion.�Better journalism.�Better leadership.

Because targeting a small, vulnerable group might make a dramatic headline — but it’s not truth, it’s not fairness, and it’s not helping anyone.

08/12/2025

✨ Monotropic Split: When your brain has two intense interests pulling in different directions at once ✨

If you’re monotropic, your mind naturally dives deep into one interest at a time. But sometimes… two interests pull with equal strength.

That’s the monotropic split — when your attention gets divided between two powerful pulls, and both feel impossible to ignore.

For some, it looks like:

➡️ Being absorbed in one project, but another special interest keeps tugging at your brain
➡️ Feeling mentally “stretched” between two deep-focus states
➡️ Switching back and forth in intense bursts instead of multitasking
➡️ Feeling overwhelmed because both interests matter so much

💥 Why it’s hard in school or at work

A monotropic split can make everyday expectations feel 10x heavier.

Because when your brain is being pulled in two directions, it becomes harder to:

• stay present in class or meetings
• follow long instructions
• complete tasks that don’t match your current focus
• shift attention on demand
• meet deadlines that don’t line up with your energy or interest

🧠 The consequences people don’t see:

• being labelled “distracted” or “unmotivated”
• slipping exam results or “performance issues”
• anxiety from trying to force your focus where it won’t naturally go
• burnout from masking and pushing through
• feeling guilty because you care, but your brain won’t cooperate with the expectations around you
• constantly playing “catch up” because you can’t split attention the way neurotypical systems expect.

But here’s the truth:

There’s nothing wrong with you.

You’re not lazy, flaky, or careless.

You’re navigating a brain wired for depth in a world built for rapid, shallow switching.

If you’ve ever lived in two hyperfocus modes at once — especially when you’re expected to “just concentrate” — you’re not alone.

Your brain isn’t broken. It’s just beautifully, intensely monotropic. 🌿💛

Have you experienced a monotropic split at school or work?

05/12/2025

I don’t often speak out like this, but today I felt I had to.

I’m a Clinical Psychologist, working both in NHS CAMHS and privately.

I spend my days with neurodivergent children, young people, adults and families who have spent years feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or told their struggles were “just bad behaviour,” “poor motivation,” or “personality.”

So when I hear public conversations (from people with no formal clinical training) questioning whether neurodivergent conditions are being “over-diagnosed,” it hits differently.

Because I’ve seen the reality;

The masking.
The exhaustion.
The self-blame.
The mental-health crises that come from decades of not having a name for your experience.

A rising number of diagnoses doesn’t mean people are being over-labelled.

It means more people are finally being seen.

A diagnosis isn’t a life sentence.

It’s often the first moment of relief someone has ever felt.

The first time things make sense.

The moment shame starts to fall away.

I’m a psychologist, yes — but I’m also human.

And I will always advocate for those who’ve been told their struggles don’t count, aren’t serious, or are “just a phase.”

Neurodivergent people deserve understanding, support, and respect.

Not suspicion.
Not minimisation.
Not political soundbites.

If we want a healthier society, we listen, we learn, we invest and we show compassion.

Nobody chooses to struggle.

But everyone deserves to be understood. 💛

04/12/2025

Monotropic Flow: When Your Mind Finds Its Perfect Focus

Ever get so deeply absorbed in a special interest that everything else fades into the background?

That’s monotropic flow — a concept often used in the autistic community to describe a powerful state of focus where attention narrows, creativity rises, and tasks feel naturally rewarding.

It’s not “being distracted.”

It’s not “obsessing.”

It’s a different cognitive style — one that can spark innovation, joy, and incredible depth.

When in monotropic flow:
 💡 Ideas connect effortlessly
🕰️ Time feels different
🎚️ Sensory distractions fade
😊 You feel grounded, motivated, and fully you

Instead of fighting it, we can celebrate it.

Honoring your flow means creating space for your interests, reducing interruptions, and letting your mind follow its natural rhythm.

Monotropic minds aren’t “too much” — they’re beautifully intense, curious, and capable of deep insight.

Give yourself permission to sink into your flow today. 💛

03/12/2025

02/12/2025

Monotropism vs. Polytropism — What’s the Difference? ✨

Our brains all focus in different ways, and understanding that can make life a lot easier — for ourselves and the people around us.

🌙 Monotropism�A monotropic thinking style means the brain naturally zooms in on one interest or task at a time.
�People with this style (common in many autistic individuals) often:�- Get deeply absorbed in one activity
- Find switching tasks difficult�- Thrive when they can focus without interruptions

🌈 Polytropism�A polytropic style means the brain spreads attention across multiple things at once.
�People with this style often:�- Juggle several tasks more comfortably�- Switch attention more easily�- Prefer variety and rapid changes

Neither is “better” — they’re just different ways of processing the world.
�Understanding how someone’s attention naturally flows helps us support each other with more compassion and less pressure. 🤍

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28/11/2025

✨Your Assessment Week: Designed Entirely Around You ✨

At Cognition Clinical Psychology, we believe a meaningful assessment starts with presence — real, focused, undivided presence.

And that’s why, when it’s your assessment week, the whole week is dedicated solely to you.

❤️A Week With No Distractions — Just Our Full Attention

Traditional services often juggle multiple assessments at once, but we choose a different path.

Your assessment is too important to squeeze into a crowded schedule.

So during your week, we don’t assess anyone else.

You receive our complete focus — your story, your needs, your pace.

🌱 Depth Takes Time — And You Deserve That Space
When we dedicate a full week to one individual or one family, something powerful happens:
• conversations unfold naturally
• insights deepen
• questions get space to breathe
• stress decreases
• clarity increases

This isn’t rushed.
It’s intentional.
It’s the way assessment should feel.

👫 A More Human, More Compassionate Way to Work
Your week isn’t about ticking boxes or pushing through tasks.

It’s about understanding you thoroughly and respectfully — without competition for time or attention.

By giving you an entire week, uninterrupted, we’re able to:
• tailor the process precisely to your needs
• observe your strengths more clearly
• explore challenges more thoughtfully
• ensure you feel seen, heard and supported throughout

🧠 Focused Time Creates Better Outcomes

Your life isn’t one-size-fits-all, and your assessment shouldn’t be either.

By structuring our service around dedicated assessment weeks, we’re creating a process that is calmer, more personal and genuinely neuroaffirming.

We don’t just complete assessments — we commit to you, fully, for the week that’s yours.

27/11/2025

The UK Budget 2025 promises SEND funding years from now — but neurodivergent communities are collapsing under the weight of today’s crisis.

Children are waiting years for assessments.
�Adults are losing access to essential ADHD medication.
�Families are fighting councils that are already on the brink.

We cannot wait until 2028/29.
�We need urgent investment, secure medication supply, and real support right now.

Neurodivergent lives matter — and delaying action is harming thousands every single day.
�Please share to raise awareness. ❤️‍🩹

26/11/2025

✨ Leading the Change in Modern Neurodevelopmental Assessment ✨�
At Cognition Clinical Psychology, we’re proud to be at the forefront of a more human approach to assessment.
�While traditional models still rely heavily on clinical settings, we believe the future is different — more flexible, more compassionate and far more reflective of real life.

And that’s why we come to your home.

🏡 A Modern Approach for Modern Needs�We’ve seen how outdated it can feel to assess someone in a space that’s unfamiliar, clinical or overwhelming.
�So when setting up Cognition over 5 years ago we chose a different path — one that places comfort, authenticity and wellbeing at the centre.
�We’re leading a shift towards assessments that work for you, not the other way around.

🌱 Comfort Isn’t Optional — It’s Foundational�When someone is relaxed and grounded in their own environment, everything changes:�• communication becomes more natural�• strengths appear more clearly�• challenges show up authentically�• anxiety reduces
�This is the kind of accuracy and depth that modern assessment should deliver.

✨ Changing How Assessments Feel — and How Well They Work�Home-based assessment allows us to see the real world you live in — not a version shaped by clinic walls.
�This isn’t just convenient.
�It’s smarter.�It’s kinder.�It’s more neuroaffirming.
�And it leads to clearer understanding and better outcomes.

🧠 Leading With Innovation and Compassion�We’re proud to be part of a movement that is rethinking how assessments should be done.
�By bringing our expertise to your home, we’re creating a process that feels calmer, more personal and truly respectful of the individual.

💛 We don’t just offer home assessments — we’re redefining what assessment can be.