Emma Ryland Positive About Neurodiversity

03/04/2026

I found this very informative and interesting- please feel free to share widely! 🌻

11/03/2026

Another wonderful piece by NeuroWild
Unmasking can be a really complicated and challenging thing; it’s something that is often the subject of exploration with many of my clients. If you’ve spent a lifetime acting in ways that were considered ‘acceptable’, what a cost there is to that, and how vulnerable it can make you feel to try and change….
If you’d like to unmask, what’s a tiny, safe place that you could start?
How could you support someone you love to be a little bit more truly themselves?
Please feel free to share this with anyone you think might appreciate it…🌻

01/03/2026

I was delighted to be able to go out on my bike again this week!

As many of you know, I'm not a natural cyclist and as winter wore on I was becoming more apprehensive about getting back on my bike - somehow the joy I'd felt in the autumn at owning my first adult pushbike, enjoying exploring, and feeling fitter, had morphed into a familiar fear of not being fit enough and being wobbly and in a bit of danger. Amazing what our brain will do, isn't it?!

In the past I'd have probably given into the thoughts and feelings, and quietly put the bike at the back of the shed and never mentioned it again. But I spend a lot of my time as a therapist encouraging people to explore and challenge their self-limiting beliefs, so it seemed a bit hypocritical not to do the same... and I'm SO happy I did!!!

I was not fit and found it ridiculously hard, and I was nervous and wobbly and glad to stay on cycle paths, but I laughed as I went down a wee hill, and I delighted at being by the sea, listening to the birds as I sat on a bench, waiting for my heart to calm down. I felt proud of myself for not just giving up.

And look at that blue sky, finally! Spring is a time of renewal and growth and I'm so excited to see what new things are going to come into my world this season, and wondering where my bike will take me, if I let it...

I wonder what you're feeling proud about this week? What are you looking forward to this spring? 🚴🌻🌺🌷💐

Image description: Emma's bike, black with colourful flowers on the crossbar and a basket on the back, stands in front of some grass, which leads to the beach and a grey-blue sea. Above is a bank of fluffy white clouds and above that is the blue sky.

25/02/2026

I've just come across this very helpful-seeming list of counselling and support services throughout Edinburgh, most of them free. I don't know the compiling organisation but I do know that counselling and therapy can be prohibitively expensive or inaccessible to many so please pass this on to anyone you think may find it useful...🌻

A complete list of Edinburgh Counselling Agencies in Edinburgh

08/02/2026

From Me to You - writing letters to people with cancer...

Yesterday, I joined a 24 hour letter writing marathon run by the lovely charity, From Me to You. The charity encourages us to write letters to people who are undergoing cancer treatment. Each week, hundreds of people who are feeling isolated receive a letter from a stranger and are maybe distracted for a few moments by a wee bit of cheer.

There were 35 of us online for the 3 hours I took part, from all over the world, and it felt gently wonderful and peaceful to be sitting with others all quietly writing. I wrote and decorated 5 letters in that time, mainly about my garden, dahlias, and the complications of the Scottish weather. It's tricky to pinpoint exactly why I enjoyed it so much but I think the light creativity without any pressure was part of it.

I heard about the charity several months ago, even signed up, and then did nothing, mainly because I wasn't sure what to say. The prompts, testimonies and community yesterday were enough to get me started and I'm so glad I did - I'm going to find a way now to write regularly, not just for others, but to give myself that quietly creative space.

If you're even slightly interested, I urge you to check the charity out and be inspired
https://www.frommetoyouletters.co.uk/donate-a-letter or https://www.facebook.com/FromMetoYouLetters

Happy writing!!

PS Several people on the call yesterday belong to letter writing groups that meet monthly. I'm thinking of setting one up - please do get in touch if you're interested in joining us 🌻

Image description: 5 letters, all decorated with cheerful mainly flowery borders, and five delicious berry teabags, which are going to be included with the letters. The writing and borders show that you don't need to be talented to write letters.

03/02/2026

I'm a qualified clinical supervisor!🎉

Consultation, training and supervision were a big part of my life when I was a teacher within autism outreach and I loved being able to work with education staff who were keen to support and understand their neurodivergent students. Seeing the relief when someone was able to admit in a safe place that they weren't sure if they were doing a helpful thing, and then watching the positive ripple effect when small but hugely significant neuro-affirming changes were made, was always a joy for me.

And I'm delighted to now bring the same to my therapy practice! I've been facilitating ad hoc training and consultation sessions since I was a student, and now that I'm offering supervision as well, I'm really hoping to support more people so that they can become genuinely more neuro-affirming, confident that their practical approaches are based in good understanding.

If this sounds interesting, please get in touch. And please share this with anyone you think might welcome it - let's spread the neuro-affirming love!🌻

https://emmaryland.co.uk/

Image description: A loch is in front of a hillside. What is remarkable about the picture is that because of the sun and dark cloud combination, both the clouds and the reflection in the water are many shades of orange, white and grey, and many shades of brown and grey are visible on the hillside. It is nothing to do with supervision, just beautiful.

27/01/2026

Unfortunately I can’t attend this but I’m sharing it because it looks like a great opportunity. I’ll definitely be looking out for future dates 🌻

Limited places available on an upcoming EASE course in Leith!

11 February, 18 February, (note break), 11 March and 18 March from 1-3pm.
Duncan Place Community Hub in Leith Duncan Place Leith

Book your free place by emailing samara@palliativecarescotland.org.uk

22/01/2026

Hooooorrrraayyyy! 🤸‍♂️🌻🌞

Here comes the sun! 🌞

16/01/2026

Happy New Year everyone!
I’ve been learning a lot about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and increasingly using it in my own life and with clients. I’m sharing this because it explains far more clearly than I could one of the key concepts. I’m going to be posting more about ACT as I learn and experience more- maybe you’ll find it interesting and useful too? 🌻

05/12/2025

I see this quite often with my clients - it can be a difficult balance to meet the needs of both ADHD and autism, often resulting in burnout. I don't know the guide to burnout mentioned at the end of the post, but I do know that it is really important to take burnout seriously, and not just try and power on through. And if we can take steps to avoid it in the first place, so much the better! At this time of year, with the cold and darkness, and the festivities, what are you going to do to look after yourself? My favourite techniques involve watching sunsets and sunrises, novels, a fire and a candlelit bath (not necessarily all at once, although I wouldn't object). Enjoy looking after yourself....📚🛀🌅🔥

19/11/2025

I'm very proud to be a trans ally!
Of all the many posts I could have shared this Awareness Week, I chose this one as it includes a link to a guide that explains in very practical terms how to be an ally. It can feel a bit intimidating if we're not sure of terminology, worry about offending, don't really understand what's happening politically etc etc etc - so I like how this guide answers questions.
Happy Trans Awareness Week Everyone!!! Love, Emma 🏳️‍⚧️🥰

13/11/2025

I'm not a huge fan of confetti but I LOVE this idea of throwing kindness around - random, spontaneous, fun, pretty, and makes people smile! And I love the idea of a World Kindness Day - My heart is singing at the thought of people seeing a post about kindness and smiling in appreciation! Happy World Kindness Day indeed - throw some of that stuff around!!! 🥰