http://www.mindgardenhypnotherapy.co.uk/

Mind Garden Hypnotherapy UK, Leeds, Leeds (2026)

17/04/2026

ADHD TAX

You know the one…

– The parcel sat by the door for 3 weeks… now it’s outside the return window
– Clothes with tags still on because the moment to wear them never quite happened
– Buying pasta… again… while there are already 6 bags hiding in the cupboard
– Subscriptions quietly draining your account that you forgot existed
– Re-buying things you know you own… somewhere

That’s the obvious ADHD tax. The financial one.

But there’s another layer to it…

The emotional tax.

– The “why am I like this?” spiral
– The frustration when something so simple feels so hard
– The guilt around wasted money
– That constant feeling of being a step behind
– Knowing what to do… but still not doing it

It adds up.

And it’s not about being lazy or careless.
It’s a brain juggling:

– task initiation
– time blindness
– working memory gaps
– and motivation that runs on dopamine, not deadlines

So yeah… returning a parcel can feel weirdly impossible, even when it makes total sense.

Most ADHD brains respond to interest, urgency, novelty or pressure…not “you’ve got 14 days to send this back”.

So things get delayed. Forgotten. Re-bought. Avoided.

And over time, it chips away at confidence more than anything else.

What actually helps is making life work with your brain:

– Returns go straight in the car
– “Start, don’t finish” (2-minute rule)
– Make things visible so they don’t disappear
– Build in accountability where you can

And dropping the shame piece as much as possible.

Because if just “getting more organised” was the answer… you’d have nailed it already.

This isn’t about trying harder.
It’s about doing it differently.

16/04/2026

ADHD BUSINESS OWNERS

My days consist of trying to remember what I have to do, while actively procrastinating over things I need to do, whilst then starting totally new, irrelevant other task. Rinse, repeat.

Running a business with an ADHD brain is a strange mix of creative chaos and survival systems.

Without things like:
– my booking system
– reminders
– my VA
– automation

…this whole operation would probably be running off sticky notes and good intentions.

The funny thing is, ADHD brains can be brilliant for business.
Ideas, creativity, problem solving, energy…

But the organisation, prioritising and finishing things part?
That’s where many of us quietly wrestle behind the scenes.

Which is exactly why I’m putting together a workshop for ADHD business owners.

Not the usual “just be more disciplined” advice.

But things like:
• how ADHD brains actually prioritise
• why traditional productivity advice fails us
• how to work with your brain instead of fighting it
• practical tools to stop the constant task-switching spiral

Because if you’ve ever:
started one task, opened six tabs, reorganised a drawer and somehow ended up on Amazon…

…you might be my people.

More details coming soon. 👀

15/04/2026

IS IT TRUE?

One thing I talk about quite a lot with clients are something called ANTS – Automatic Negative Thoughts, a term used by psychiatrist Dr Daniel Amen.

They’re the thoughts that pop up automatically in your mind:

“I’ve messed that up.”
“They must be annoyed with me.”
“Everyone else seems to manage except me.”

They arrive quickly, feel convincing… and usually show up when we’re tired, stressed, hormonal or already doubting ourselves.

The brain is wired to look for problems.
It’s part of our threat detection system, scanning for anything that might mean rejection, embarrassment or danger.

The problem is… when those thoughts go unchecked, they start to feel like facts.

I’ve had it myself many times.
Posting something online and within seconds thinking “That sounded stupid… people will think I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

No evidence.
Just my brain doing its thing.

The trick isn’t to suppress the thought… it’s to question it.

Ask yourself:

• Is this actually true? Is it really true?
• What evidence do I have?
• Could there be another explanation?

Often the thought softens once you step back from it.

Because thoughts aren’t facts.

They’re just messages from a brain that’s trying to protect you.

And sometimes… it gets it wrong.

14/04/2026

IN-PERSON GROUP SUPERVISION

If your idea of supervision is sitting quietly while someone talks through a client case… this probably isn’t that.

My in person supervision groups are much more like a room full of curious therapists sharing ideas, experiences, tools and the reality of running a practice.

Yes, we talk about client work.
Yes, we look at tricky situations.
But that’s only part of it.

What often ends up being just as valuable is hearing how other therapists think.

Different approaches.
Different modalities.
Different ways of handling the same situation.

My groups aren’t just solution focused either, which means you’ll hear perspectives from therapists working with all sorts of tools and backgrounds. And that mix creates really interesting conversations.

Sometimes someone shares a small idea that completely reframes something for you.

Other times it’s business stuff.

How people handle cancellations.
Pricing.
Boundaries.
What’s actually working in practice (not just what the textbooks say).

And quite often the most useful part is simply being in a room with people who get this work, because running a therapy practice can feel quite isolating otherwise.

There’s usually a lot of discussion, a lot of curiosity, and quite a few “oh that’s a good idea actually” moments.

It’s supervision…
but also a space to learn, share, reflect and grow as therapists.

If that sounds like your kind of supervision, you’re very welcome to join us. ☕

📅Next in person supervision session is 9th May,
📅Next online session is 24th April.

13/04/2026

SHAME, SHAME, GO AWAY

That heavy sinking feeling…
The “why am I like this?” moment.

The quiet spiral after something small doesn’t go to plan.

A lot of ADHD brains know this feeling well.

Not because you’re failing.
But because you’ve spent years trying to fit systems that were never really built for how your brain works.

So the mind fills in the gaps with self blame.

“I should be better at this.”
“I just need more discipline.”
“Why can everyone else manage?”

And before long that turns into shame.

But here’s the thing…

If “shaking yourself together” was going to work, it probably would have worked by now.

Shame doesn’t motivate the brain to change.
It tends to do the opposite.

It creates shutdown.
Avoidance.
Disconnection.

There’s actually a lot of neuroscience behind self-compassion and nervous system regulation. When the brain feels safer, it becomes much easier to think clearly, plan and take action.

So instead of seeing that shame spiral as proof you’ve failed, try seeing it as a message.

Something in the system is overwhelmed.

And sometimes the first step isn’t fixing everything.
It’s asking:

What’s one small thing that would help regulate me right now?

A walk.
A breath.
A glass of water.
Stepping outside for a minute.

From there, the brain settles.

And suddenly you can start thinking about the next steps…

Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong” with you.

It’s about understanding how your brain works, letting go of some of the stories you’ve been carrying, and building ways forward that actually support you.

Less pressure.
More understanding.

And that’s usually where real change begins.

🌿

07/04/2026

THE EASTER BUNNY HAS BEEN
Whether you’ve been celebrating Easter for the religious side of things, just in it for the chocolate, enjoying a few days off work, or simply using it as an excuse to spend time with family… I hope you’ve had a good one.

In our house we did a proper Easter egg hunt with riddles and clues hidden around the house.

Great idea in theory.

Less great when you’re the one who hid everything and then immediately forget where half of it went.

At one point I was quietly doing the entire egg hunt myself again before the kids even started… trying to work out which clue led to which room and where on earth I’d put the chocolate.

Very professional detective work from me.

Eventually it all made sense, eggs were found, chocolate was eaten, and chaos was restored to its natural order.

Which, to be fair, is probably the most realistic Easter experience going.

However you spent the weekend, church, chocolate, family time, or a bit of peace and quiet, I hope it gave you a moment to pause and recharge before the week starts again.

And the sun making an appearance is always a plus

🌼🐣🍫

04/04/2026

FEELING STAGNANT IN THERAPY?
Ever felt like therapy has stalled?

It happens more often than people think.

Sometimes people sit in front of me and say
“I don’t think anything is changing.”

And I get why it feels like that.

Change in the brain rarely feels dramatic while it’s happening.

A lot of the time it’s slow, subtle and a bit messy in the middle.

There are a few reasons therapy can feel stagnant.

Sometimes we’re brushing up against patterns the brain has relied on for years. The brain likes what’s familiar, even when those patterns are stressful, chaotic or exhausting.

So when therapy starts nudging you outside of that, it can feel uncomfortable rather than exciting.

Other times people are expecting a big “lightbulb” moment.

Like suddenly everything will feel different after one session.

That can happen occasionally. But most of the time the brain changes through repetition and experience, not one dramatic shift.

Hypnotherapy can add another layer to this.

Because it’s quite a different format to many therapies. We’re not just talking things through, we’re working with the calmer, more receptive part of the brain using imagery, relaxation and suggestion.

For some people that feels unusual at first.

And because of the way hypnotherapy works, it often doesn’t require years of sessions like some talking therapies.

We’re helping the brain practise different responses rather than analysing everything for months or years.

So the change tends to build gradually over a smaller number of sessions.

Often people don’t notice the shift immediately.

Then a few weeks later they suddenly realise:

“I didn’t react the same way as I normally would.”
Or
“That situation didn’t send me into the same spiral.”

That’s usually the moment they realise something has been changing all along.

Just quietly, in the background, while the brain learns a new way of responding. 🌿

31/03/2026

WHY I LIKE HYPNOTHERAPY

If knowing what we “should” do was enough…
none of us would be overthinking at 2am.

Over the years I’ve trained in different approaches and experienced a few myself.

Some focus heavily on analysing the past.
Some are very structured and cognitive.
Some rely mostly on talking things through.

They all have their place.

But the reason I love hypnotherapy is because it works with both the thinking mind and the emotional brain.

Most people already know what they should do.

They know they shouldn’t overthink.
They know they shouldn’t panic.
They know they shouldn’t fall into the same patterns.

But understanding something logically doesn’t always change how the nervous system responds.

You can understand something completely…
and your body can still react in exactly the same way.

That’s where hypnotherapy can be really helpful.

It allows us to work with the calmer, more receptive part of the brain, the part that learns through experience, imagery and repetition.

So instead of just talking about change, we’re helping the brain actually practice feeling different.

Over time those new responses start to feel more natural, and the old patterns don’t feel quite so automatic anymore.

For me, that combination of conversation, neuroscience and guided relaxation is what makes hypnotherapy such a powerful tool.

🌿

27/03/2026

JUST A PHASE

PMDD + ADHD isn't just hormones.

One minute you’re fine.
The next?

Everything feels off.

There’s this buzzing, agitated energy under your skin with nowhere to go.

You might:

Snap at people

Start arguments

Make random noises or movements

Feel like everyone’s against you

And then the thoughts creep in…

I’ve done something wrong
People hate me
I’m the problem

Even though nothing has actually changed.

That’s the part that messes with you the most.

Because it feels real.

PMDD isn’t just “bad PMS.”
And when you add ADHD into the mix, where dopamine, emotional regulation and impulse control are already a bit all over the place, it can feel intense, confusing, and honestly… quite scary at times.

For me, the hardest parts are:

Just after ovulation

Right before my period

And knowing that has helped.

Not because it makes it easy.

But because it reminds me:

This isn’t me. This is a phase.

I’ve written a full blog on this, what’s actually happening in the brain, why ADHD makes it hit harder, and what’s helped me manage it (without pretending I’ve got it all figured out).

If this sounds like you… you’re not alone.

And you’re definitely not “too much.”

Link in bio to read it 🤍

25/03/2026

SAFE SPACE

You don’t come here to be “fixed”.

You come here because
your brain won’t switch off,
your emotions feel all over the place,
and you’re exhausted from holding it all together.

From the outside, you look fine.
Inside… it’s a different story.

Overthinking.
Overwhelmed.
Snapping, then feeling guilty.
Starting things and not finishing them.
Wanting to change but not knowing how.

This room sees all of that.

No pressure to perform.
No pretending you’ve got it together.

Just space to understand your brain,
calm your nervous system,
and actually start feeling different… not just talking about it.

Because it’s not about trying harder.
It’s about working with your brain differently.

And that’s where things start to shift

If this hit a bit close to home… you already know it’s time.

26/02/2026

DOES HYPNOTHERAPY ACTUALLY WORK?

I get this question a lot.

Usually from people who’ve only seen stage shows…
Or watched someone cluck like a chicken on YouTube and thought, absolutely not.

I was sceptical too.

Before I trained, I’d already tried talking therapy, CBT, self-help, journalling, all of it. I understood my patterns. I could explain my triggers. I was very self-aware.

Still anxious.
Still wired.
Still overwhelmed.

That’s because understanding something isn’t the same as your nervous system feeling safe.

Hypnotherapy isn’t mind control.
You’re not “put under”.
You don’t lose control.

It’s more like guided nervous system regulation.

For me (ADHD brain and all), it was the first time my system actually slowed down instead of me analysing why it wouldn’t.

It didn’t make me a different person.
It didn’t erase anything.

It just helped things land.

And once my body felt calmer, all the insight I already had started to stick.

So does hypnotherapy work?

If you’re expecting stage show stuff — no.
If you’re expecting gentle, brain-based nervous system work — it absolutely can.

And if you’re sceptical? That’s fine.

Most of my clients were too.

23/02/2026

💸 OVULATION & ONLINE

If you’ve ever found yourself adding three new dresses, a supplement you saw on TikTok and a random home organiser to your basket and thinking,

“Why am I like this?”

…have a quick look at where you are in your cycle.

This isn’t about lack of discipline.
It’s about biology.

🧠 What’s happening around ovulation?

Around ovulation:
Oestrogen peaks
Testosterone rises
Dopamine sensitivity increases
Confidence and sociability often feel higher
Risk-taking behaviour can subtly increase

Research shows women tend to:
Spend more on appearance-related items
Be more impulsive with purchases
Feel more optimistic and reward-seeking

Your brain is biologically primed for attraction, novelty and “go for it” energy.

That same dopamine lift that makes you feel magnetic…
can also make “Buy Now” feel extremely justified.

💡 When dopamine is heightened:

The reward feels stronger
The future consequences feel further away
The decision feels exciting, not impulsive

And if you’re already someone who enjoys novelty (hello ADHD brains 👋), this effect can be amplified.

🛒 What Actually Helps

Not shame. Not “just be more disciplined.”

👉 Create gentle friction instead.

Here are practical, brain-friendly strategies:

⏳ 1. The 24-Hour Cart Rule

Add it to basket.
Leave it for 24 hours.
If you still want it tomorrow, reassess.

Ovulation impulses often pass once the dopamine settles.

💳 2. Disconnect Your Card

Remove saved payment details.
Make yourself manually enter your card.

That 30 seconds of effort can be enough for your prefrontal cortex to catch up.

💰 3. Ovulation Budget

If you know you tend to spend more mid-cycle, plan for it.

Give yourself:

A set “fun spend” amount
A beauty/clothes allowance
A no-questions-asked budget

Contain it rather than fight it.

📅 4. Track the Pattern

Notice:

When do you spend most?
What do you buy?
Do you regret it later?
Cycle awareness = power.

Understanding your hormones isn’t about restriction.
It’s about working with your nervous system rather than fighting it.
And sometimes… yes, buy the dress.
Just maybe not three of them at 10:47pm.

Mind Garden Hypnotherapy UK

17/04/2026

16/04/2026

15/04/2026

14/04/2026

13/04/2026

07/04/2026

04/04/2026

31/03/2026

27/03/2026

25/03/2026

26/02/2026

23/02/2026

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