Hazelwood Counselling Services, West Bridgford

02/03/2026

🌿 If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, I currently have in‑person and online spaces available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday afternoons.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, low mood, relationship challenges or simply wanting space to understand yourself better, I offer a calm, supportive environment where you can explore what’s going on at your own pace.

If you’d like to book a session or ask any questions, feel free to message me privately or email letstalk@hazelwoodcounselling.co.uk

Your wellbeing matters, and you don’t have to figure things out alone!

23/02/2026

🌿 What Is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)?

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a term often used to describe the intense emotional pain some people experience when they perceive rejection, criticism or disapproval. It’s especially common among people with ADHD and autism, although anyone can experience elements of it.

RSD isn’t a diagnosis, it’s a way of understanding a pattern of emotional responses that can feel overwhelming, sudden and difficult to regulate. For many neurodivergent people, it’s one of the most challenging aspects of daily life.

🔍 Why does RSD happen?
While research is ongoing, several factors are thought to contribute:
Differences in emotional regulation often seen in ADHD and autism
Heightened sensitivity to social cues, especially when communication has historically been misunderstood
Past experiences of criticism, masking or exclusion, which can make the nervous system more reactive
A strong desire to do well or not disappoint others, which can amplify perceived failure
RSD is not about being “too sensitive.” It’s about a nervous system that reacts quickly and intensely to social or emotional threat.

🧠 What does RSD feel like?
People often describe:
Sudden waves of shame or embarrassment
Feeling devastated by mild feedback
Avoiding situations where they might be judged
Overthinking interactions long after they’ve happened
People-pleasing or perfectionism as a way to avoid criticism
Feeling physically overwhelmed (tight chest, racing thoughts, shutdowns)
These reactions can be brief but powerful, and they can affect relationships, work, school, and self-esteem.

🌱 How can counselling help?
As a pluralistic counsellor and as someone who is autistic and ADHD myself (with a household who all are) I understand how deeply RSD can shape everyday life.
In therapy, we might explore:
Understanding your personal triggers
Building emotional regulation strategies
Developing self-compassion and reducing internalised shame
Strengthening boundaries and communication
Challenging unhelpful beliefs around failure or rejection
Creating personalised coping tools that fit your neurotype
Pluralistic counselling recognises that different people need different things at different times. We work together to find approaches that genuinely support you.

💬 If RSD resonates with you…
You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it. Many neurodivergent people experience these intense emotional responses, and with the right support, it is possible to understand them, manage them, and feel more grounded.
If you’d like to explore this in a safe, non-judgemental space, you’re welcome to get in touch.

letstalk@hazelwoodcounselling.co.uk
07753 742153

23/02/2026

Happy Monday everyone!

Contrary to most people I love Mondays!! When I say this I often get looked at strangely but here's why - and it's taken me a long time to understand/admit this.

I love my family and enjoy weekends filled with activities and fun ... but I also struggle.

I struggle with having people around me from the moment of waking to when I go to bed. I struggle having no set structure. I struggle with all the noises and movement around me. I struggle with the constant interactions and voices. I struggle with my environment changing constantly around me.

However for a long time I didn't realise this was why I felt awful. I couldn't understand why doing something I looked forward to felt so difficult. Why on a Monday I felt so wiped I could hardly function.

It wasn't until my autism diagnosis in 2024 that this began to make sense.

So what's changed?

* Reduced expectations - I no longer try and do everything at the weekend or feel bad if we don't, as a family, do what others seem to be able to manage.

* Build in rest time - Bringing in rest/slob days before and/or after a busy one.

*. Regulation toys - Bringing in activities that help bring calm and reduce over stimulation. For me this weekend that took the shape of lego, for my children that may be special interest exploration, creative activities or zoning out on the iPad.

Mondays has become a day where I put everything back together. I don't usually work or go to the office. I wash clothes, I rest, I don't speak to many people, I listen to music, I catch up and I ground myself. On Mondays I accommodate myself and get ready for the rest of the week.

I love Mondays!!

How do you accommodate yourself?

17/02/2026

✨ You don’t heal by becoming someone new.
You heal by loving who you’ve always been. ✨

So often, healing is spoken about as if it means reinventing yourself - shedding your past and stepping into a completely different version of who you are.

But in truth, healing is far gentler, and far more honest.

🌿 It’s about turning towards the parts of you that were ignored, silenced, or shamed… and meeting them with compassion instead of criticism.

💖 It’s remembering the child within you who did the best they could.

🔆 It’s recognising the strength that’s always been there, even when life felt overwhelming.

🌱 It’s reclaiming your story - not trying to replace or eradicate it.

At Hazelwood Counselling, we hold space for people to reconnect with themselves in this way: slowly, safely, and with support.

You don’t have to become someone new.
You just have to come home to yourself.

If this message resonates, you’re welcome to reach out whenever you feel ready.

www.hazelwoodcounselling.co.uk
07753 742153
Letstalk@hazelwoodcounselling.co.uk

11/02/2026

🌿 Autistic Burnout: What the Research Is Finally Catching Up On

I’m sharing this article because it puts language and evidence to something many autistic adults have been describing for years: autistic burnout is real, serious and very different from everyday stress or workplace burnout.

The research highlights what so many people already know and have experienced:

Autistic burnout is chronic and overwhelming, often showing up as deep exhaustion, loss of skills, and reduced tolerance to sensory input.

It happens when life demands outweigh a person’s capacity, especially in environments that expect constant masking or offer little support.

It can have a profound impact on health, independence, and quality of life.

Recovery isn’t about “trying harder”, it’s about reducing expectations, increasing support, and allowing people to live in ways that honour their neurotype.

The study also warns about the risks of teaching autistic people to mask, and calls for better understanding in both clinical settings and suicide‑prevention work.

For many autistic people, this research simply reflects lived experience but having it recognised in academic and clinical spaces matters. It opens the door to better support, more compassionate understanding, and fewer people being dismissed as “just stressed”.

If you’ve experienced autistic burnout, or you’re wondering whether that’s what you’re going through, you’re not alone. And you deserve support that understands the difference.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7313636/

letstalk@hazelwoodcounselling.co.uk
07753742153

Background: Although autistic adults often discuss experiencing “autistic burnout” and attribute serious negative outcomes to it, the concept is almost completely absent from the academic and clinical literature. Methods: We used a community-based ...

10/02/2026

⭐️What is a pluralistic counsellor?

Being a pluralistic counsellor means that I don’t believe one way of working therapeutically is better than another.

Instead I am trained in different approaches and carry a toolbox of skills I can call on, including

💐 Creative therapies
🌺 CBT
🌼 Psychodynamic
🍁 Person centered

The pluralistic approach is a collaboration between therapist and client, working together to find the right pathway for them.

I love the illustration below, taken from the Pluralistic Practice website. If you’d like to read the article for more information here’s the link …

https://pluralisticpractice.com/main-blog/pluralist-philosophy/what-is-the-pluralistic-approach-and-how-is-it-different-from-integrative-and-eclectic-practices/

09/02/2026

I love this. It underpins my therapeutic work, my mum life and helps me to be kinder to myself on days when I'm struggling.

05/02/2026

I often get asked what being neuro-affirming means so I've had a go at creating my first carousel.

* I really dislike learning new programs and putting things down into words so have rewarded myself with a gigantic flapjack

02/02/2026

Hi, I’m Jenny, and I’m delighted to be opening Hazelwood Counselling Services here in my hometown of West Bridgford.

I specialise in working with neurodivergent adults and young people aged 16+. As a pluralistic counsellor, I draw from a range of approaches and tailor our work to what feels most supportive for you, whether that’s creative exploration, gentle structure or focused, goal‑led sessions.

My practice is rooted in neuro-affirming and relational principles. Whether you're neurodivergent, supporting someone who is or simply looking for a space to reflect and reconnect with yourself, you're welcome here!

To celebrate opening I am offering the first 6 sessions at just £40 per session (applicable if sessions start in February only). After that, it will revert to the usual fee of £60. If you'd like to get in touch please contact

07753 742153
letstalk@hazelwoodcounselling.co.uk

02/02/2026

Happy birthday to Hazelwood, West Bridgford!! Today we officially opened our doors and celebrated with ribbon cutting and sparkling Elderflower!

28/01/2026

What a difference a week makes. Ready to welcome our first clients …