For most of my life I didn’t know I was autistic. I was social, (relatively) high-functioning and female, which means I didn’t fit the stereotype. I have high empathy and like to think that I read people well. So when a friend, who was studying how autism presents in girls, showed me a list of traits, it felt like I had been struck by lightning. I ticked nearly every box. My traits are subtle, and therefore they can be easy to miss. Over time, I’ve learned how they show up; f

One of the key insights from the science of happiness, (aka positive psychology) , is that other people matter. When we act altruistically - when we are kind, compassionate, or generous - our bodies reward us with a biological cocktail of feel-good chemicals. This is because we are physiologically designed to be kind and to connect with others. What’s more, research shows that people who volunteer their time, contribute to meaningful causes, and live in service of something b

Research indicates that children with ADHD are more likely to underachieve in literacy and numeracy, experience more teacher reported behavioural problems, hold less positive attitudes towards school and show poorer attendance with more unauthorized absences (May et al., 2021). This article explores the lived experience of ADHD in the classroom, highlights why attendance can be so difficult, and considers practical strategies schools can adopt to better support students with

Einstein believed that imagination is more important than knowledge. He would probably be very concerned today to learn that creativity has been declining for the past 30 - odd years. It might not surprise many of you that scientists believe the reason for this decline is that we are spending less time daydreaming, our minds now focused on tasks and/or on screens from the moment we wake up to when our eyes close at night. ...

Me & my Bestie A year ago, I was burnt out, off work, and feeling completely broken. I stayed home, listened to podcasts that made me...

Like many of you, I assumed we are all a little “on the spectrum” anyway, but the more I learn, the more I realise that this thinking is a disservice to those who really are on the spectrum..

How big is your ‘tribe’? Add together your family, friends, and work colleagues – what about your social media accounts? How many people do you follow? And how much news do you consume? These demands on our attention leave us depleted and exhausted. The constant barrage of news and social media affects sleep and makes us vulnerable to anxiety.  This then creates a vicious cycle of feeling low, being easily frustrated, lacking in motivation, and less resistant to doomscrollin

Be their parent   Like many parents, my husband and I were haunted after watching the Netflix series Adolescence . The impact of social...

Last I checked, the happiest children in the world live in The Netherlands. Dutch children (and parents) get better sleep, more exercise,...

Many of the clients I work with—both adults and teens—struggle with anxiety. Teens report panic attacks and feeling so overwhelmed they...

As it is February and the month of love, belonging seemed a good place to start for this article. From birth, humans have a basic need to...

End of January: how are those new years resolutions unfolding? Are you forming new habits or has it started to go a bit pear-shaped?  ...

The teenage years are about working out who you are and what space you want to occupy in the world. This natural shift towards...

I wrote this article for a local newsletter in a column for parents of teenagers. The happiness tip applies to all of us and I hope you...

As a psychologist and parent, the development of mobile phones and the internet (and the pairing of the two) has led to serious concerns...

The end of the summer holidays and it’s back to school or starting college for our teenagers – a new phase for some and returning to a...

You may have read the article “Parenting stress is a health issue – US surgeon general’s advisory report” with parents’ wellbeing...

LOVE REALLY IS THE ANSWER By Lauren Richards I read somewhere that love is a verb. An action. A “doing” word. We “do” love. We love...

For many people, December is a month of festivities. It is a time for family and friends, of decorating Christmas trees, presents in...

Autumn. For many the word conjures up images of golden, crunchy leaves, warm jumpers and longer nights. In many cultures autumn, or fall,...