Pause Purpose Play

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela welcomes clinical psychologist and knitting enthusiast Dr. Mia Hobbs. The conversation explores the therapeutic benefits of knitting, especially for those dealing with perfectionism, mindfulness challenges, and ADHD. Dr. Hobbs, co-founder of Creative Restoration and host of the YI Knit podcast, shares her insights on how knitting can be used as a tool for self-care and mental well-being. The episode delves into the common traps knitters face, such as perfectionism, and emphasises the importance of engaging with creative activities. It also touches on the social and psychological benefits of knitting, making it a metaphor for life and a means of active rest and relaxation.

 

creativerestoration.org

Many ADHD leaders are brilliant in a crisis.
Quick thinking. Pattern spotting. Calm under pressure.
But what if the same brain that thrives in urgency is also quietly creating it?

In this episode, Michaela explores:

Why ADHD nervous systems light up in chaos

The link between dysregulation and “micro-mistakes”

Shame loops around small accidents

The difference between responsibility and self-attack

Why slowing down sharpens your leadership rather than softening it

If you’re tired of constantly fixing fires - this conversation will help.
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Are you under performing… or are you under-supported?
In this episode, I reflect on delivering neurodivergence training to managers and unpack a powerful workplace question: when someone isn’t meeting expectations, is it capability — or context?

Through a compassion-focused lens, we explore:

The difference between equality and equity

Why clarity around feedback and expectations matters deeply

How rejection sensitivity can distort workplace communication

Why ADHD is an explanation, not an excuse

The shame–overwork–burnout cycle many high achievers fall into

How psychological safety improves performance for everyone

Neurodivergent performance may not look neurotypical — and that doesn’t make it wrong.
Whether you're a leader supporting staff or someone quietly masking and overworking to hide your struggles, this episode invites a shift: from blame to curiosity, from fear to compassion.

Want to build a more neuroinclusive workplace?
I deliver talks and training across the UK on neurodivergence, psychological safety and compassionate leadership.

Connect with me:
LinkedIn
Website

Let’s help your people thrive — not just survive.

When a child can’t get into school, it’s often labelled as “refusal”.
 But what if it’s not won’t… it’s can’t?

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist Dr Carolyne Keenan to unpack Emotion-Based School Avoidance (EBSA) — what it really is, what it isn’t, and how parents can navigate this incredibly complex space with compassion.

In this episode, we cover:

What EBSA actually means (and why it’s not about defiance or manipulation)

The difference between “won’t” and “can’t”

Early signs to look out for (tummy aches, shutdown, irritability, “fizzing” bodies)

Why children often seem fine at weekends or in holidays

Burnout in children — and why “push through” can backfire

The emotional toll on parents (work pressure, guilt, exhaustion)

Why making home “less fun” is not the answer

The tension between attendance targets and emotional safety

How to respond in the early stages to prevent escalation

The spectrum of EBSA — from subject-specific avoidance to full shutdown

Practical ways to seek support (schools, councils, local offers)

Why education is not one single narrow path

Key reminder
If reassurance alone fixed this, EBSA wouldn’t exist.
Sometimes the bravest parenting move is softening, pausing, and prioritising safety over forcing attendance.

About Dr Carolyne Keenan
Carolyne is a Registered Counselling Psychologist specialising in anxiety, family stress, and Emotion-Based School Avoidance. She offers 1:1 support, consultations, and runs a 12-week programme for parents called Survive EBSA.

Carolyne's website: www.carolynekeenan.co.uk

If this episode resonates, please share it with a parent who needs to hear:
 It’s not defiance. It’s distress.

A Therapist’s Reframe on Six “Healthy” Wellness Habits on Social Media
Many wellness habits shared online are well-intentioned. But when taken to extremes, they can quietly feed pressure, perfectionism and burnout.
In this solo episode of Pause Purpose Play, Clinical Psychologist Michaela Thomas offers a gentle therapist’s reframe on six “healthy” wellness habits often promoted on social media - not as a takedown of influencers, but as an invitation to explore with what actually supports psychological health in an evidence-based way.

In this episode, Michaela explores:

Why constant optimisation keeps us stuck in performance mode

The myth that being “regulated” means always being calm

How overfunctioning gets mistaken for resilience

When self-care tips into self-absorption

The difference between assertiveness and aggression when setting boundaries

Why attacking your inner critic often backfires

This episode is for anyone who’s doing all the “right” things — yet still feels exhausted.

✨ Ready to step out of performance mode?
If this resonated, you’re invited to The Reset — a short, therapist-led nervous system reset as a mini-course you do on your own, designed to help you slow down, soften, and create steadiness without self-criticism.
👉 www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset