Pause Purpose Play

In this episode of the Pauses Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas discusses the challenges and tensions that arise during festive holidays and offers advice on maintaining compassion and connection with partners, especially in neurodivergent families. Michaela highlights the importance of self-compassion, meeting emotional needs, and understanding the dynamics of relationships. She talks about her book, 'The Lasting Connection,' and its accompanying online course, 'The Compassionate Couple,' which aims to help couples strengthen their bond. Michaela reflects on the book's release during the COVID-19 lockdown and expresses her desire to revive its message by engaging in more public discussions and events. She concludes with a special Christmas discount code for the online course.

Already feeling stretched by the festive season? This episode is your invitation to slow down and protect your energy. In this solo episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, Clinical Psychologist Michaela Thomas explores why the holiday season can feel so overwhelming and draining, especially for women with busy brains, ADHD traits, or perfectionistic tendencies - and how to move through it with more intention and self-compassion. Michaela introduces the idea of balancing what drains you with what sustains you, and shares how using a visual schedule can help you manage energy more realistically, plan ahead, and reduce burnout. Rather than striving for a “perfect” Christmas, this episode encourages lowering expectations, setting boundaries, and prioritising rest before you reach exhaustion. Michaela also shares more about Golden, her immersive in-person experience for high-achieving ADHD women who need space to pause and recharge, reconnecting with their purpose and values. The episode ends with little permission pieces in reflections from women who attended the previous Golden event - gentle reminders that you’re not alone and that slowing down is allowed. ✨ In this episode: Why the festive season can feel especially draining for busy, ADHD brains The concept of drains vs. sustains and why energy matters more than time Using a visual schedule to plan with compassion Letting go of perfection and choosing rest Permission slips from other women just like you Join the next Golden event on the 30th of January in London, grab your ticket here: https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/golden-in-person-event-jan-2026/ 

If you’ve been wondering what actually happens in an ADHD assessment, or you’re thinking about booking one but feel unsure about the process, this solo episode walks you through everything you need to know.    Michaela breaks down what to expect before, during and after an adult ADHD assessment, based on her clinical process at her psychology practice The Thomas Connection.   Whether you’re exploring a diagnosis for yourself or supporting someone you care about, this episode brings clarity, reassurance and practical guidance.   In this episode you’ll learn: • What happens before the assessment  Why a clarity call can help you feel safe and informed, what forms you’ll complete, and how childhood history fits into the picture. • What the initial screening session is really for  How clinicians decide whether full ADHD assessment is appropriate, and why ruling in or out overlapping conditions is essential. • What a full diagnostic assessment looks like  A gentle, structured interview process (usually spread over a month if virtually, or all in one day if choosing the home retreat option in Michaela's home), how your life story is explored, and why input from someone who knew you as a child can be helpful. • What gets assessed — and what doesn’t  The difference between ADHD traits, burnout, anxiety and perfectionism…and why good clinicians never diagnose from a single questionnaire. • What happens after the assessment  What your diagnostic report includes, how to share it with your GP for medication or shared care, and what support options like therapy, coaching or community groups look like whether you receive an ADHD diagnosis or not. • Why a thoughtful assessment matters  How a proper evaluation offers clarity, validation, compassion and a personalised plan, and a lens to see yourself through rather than just a label.   •  Who this episode is for: Anyone curious about ADHD assessment, already booked in for one, or supporting a partner, friend or colleague through the process.   Book an ADHD assessment clarity call with Michaela here: https://tidycal.com/michaela-thomas/adhd-assessment-clarity-call

Have you ever wondered whether running is helping your mental health… or draining it? In this episode, we dig into the real relationship between running and wellbeing - when it is helpful and when it is less helpful, or even outright harmful, to push the body through running exercise and marathons. I’m joined by Counselling Psychologist and passionate runner Dr Chloe Bedford for an honest, compassionate conversation about the complex dynamics between running, identity, and emotional regulation,  especially for busy, perfectionistic, or neurodivergent minds. We explore both the light and dark sides of running - the clarity, calm, emotional regulation, and resilience it can bring… and the perfectionism, guilt, pressure, and burnout that can creep in when movement becomes another place we strive or push too hard to beat a personal best or complete a particular race despite it making us ill or injured. Dr Chloe Bedford is a Counselling Psychologist working with adults, teens, and children struggling with their mental health. She has over 15 years experience of working in both the NHS and private practice. Chloe has spent time working in a specialist eating disorder service for teens and through this, as well as her own love of running, developed an interest in the complex relationship we can have with our bodies, eating and exercise. Chloe is an enthusiastic runner, and has run many half marathons and 10kms. One day she dreams of making it to the start line of a marathon, but as a mother she accepts that this might have to wait.  Together, we unpack how to approach running in a way that supports your wellbeing rather than drains it. We also talk about how fitness culture, social media, and societal expectations shape our beliefs about what running “should” look like - and the liberation that comes from choosing your own pace, your own goals, and your own rhythm. This episode is for you if you’ve ever: Used running to cope or regulate your emotions Slipped into all-or-nothing thinking around movement Felt guilty when you “didn’t do enough” Compared yourself to others or felt pressure to perform Wanted a more compassionate, sustainable relationship with exercise Chloe brings both psychological expertise and lived experience to help you create a version of running - or any kind of movement - that genuinely supports your mental health. Chloe is acutely aware of the benefits that running has had on her own mental well-being, as a psychologist, as a mother, and as a human. She shares her experience and the science behind how it can help, along with other mental health information, on her Instagram account (@the.running.psychologist), in the hope that this might help others. Connect with Chloe: www.marathonpsychology.com 

Black Friday is basically engineered to hijack an ADHD brain.  Countdown timers, flashing banners, urgency emails — it’s the perfect storm for impulsive buying and dopamine-driven decisions. In this short solo episode, Clinical Psychologist and ADHD specialist Michaela Thomas shares three quick, compassionate strategies to help you navigate Black Friday with intention, self-trust, and calm, rather than getting pulled into impulsive spending. You’ll learn how to pause before you buy, check your emotional state, and create a tiny, intentional “YES list” that keeps you grounded instead of overwhelmed. Whether you’ve overspent before or simply want to approach the season with more steadiness, this episode offers practical tools you can use today — without shame, restriction, or perfectionism. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why Black Friday is especially triggering for ADHD brains How urgency and dopamine hijack your decision-making The 10-second pause that protects you from impulsive buys How to spot when you’re “emotion spending” vs. choosing consciously How a micro 3-item “intentional yes” list keeps you grounded How to honour your needs and your values during the sales If you struggle with impulsivity, emotional regulation or burnout… You’re not alone — and you’re not broken.  These tendencies are part of your wiring, not a personal flaw. You might need support in learning to slow down for long enough to notice how you feel so you can regulate your emotions and nervous system. Connect with Michaela: Instagram: @the_thomas_connection Website: thethomasconnection.co.uk Join the newsletter for tools on slowing down with compassion on www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/newsletter

What happens when midlife hormones, ADHD traits, and the demands of running a business all collide? For many women, it’s the beginning of a powerful - and often messy - transformation and evolution. In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, Clinical Psychologist Michaela Thomas speaks with Candice Mason, founder of Mother Cuppa Tea, about the realities of female entrepreneurship, hormone upheaval, and navigating neurodivergence in midlife. Candice shares her candid journey through endometriosis, peri-menopause symptoms, and building a product-based business from the ground up. Together, Michaela and Candice explore the pressures of social media visibility, the emotional load behind brand growth, and the overlap between ADHD traits and entrepreneurial resilience. You’ll hear: Candice’s journey into launching Mother Cuppa Tea and being loved by Fearne Cotton! How ADHD shows up in entrepreneurship - the strengths and the struggles Why self-compassion matters when you’re juggling hormones, business, and visibility Behind-the-scenes realities of running and growing a wellness brand Candice’s recent win - being selected by Mary Portas for a high-impact pop-up retail opportunity This is an honest, warm conversation about ambition, identity, and wellbeing - and how to build a business without burning yourself out. 💛 Connect with Candice: Website: www.mothercuppatea.com  Instagram: www.instagram.com/mother_cuppatea ✨ Connect with Michaela: Website: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_thomas_connection 📘 Download Michaela’s free guide: 👉 Calm the Overwhelm – your grounding companion for busy, neurodivergent minds www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/calm 

What if the way you’ve been taught to succeed is the very thing burning you out? In a world that glorifies overwork, perfectionism and endless productivity, it can feel almost radical to rest, slow down, or say “no”. But that is where your business freedom lies.  In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, Clinical Psychologist Michaela Thomas speaks with Jo Hooper, founder of the Me First Method, about the mental health impact of patriarchal and capitalist work cultures — and how to build a business that supports your wellbeing instead of sabotaging it. Jo shares her experience of hitting breaking point in the corporate world, navigating multiple breakdowns, and reshaping her life and business around rest, boundaries and ease. Together, they explore how to step away from hustle culture, value your time and energy, and give yourself the permission slaps you need to reclaim your life. You’ll hear:  How patriarchal and capitalist structures fuel burnout  What meaningful, self-honouring boundaries actually look like  Why ease, rest and slowness are essential for long-term success  Practical ways to make your business easier to run  How to stop proving your worth through productivity This is an honest and compassionate conversation about redefining success on your own terms — and choosing spaciousness over self-sacrifice. 🎙️ About Jo Hooper Jo Hooper is the founder of the Me First Method, helping powerhouse women build businesses that support their mental health. After a decade in the corporate world — and two breakdowns — she rebuilt her work around rest and sustainability. Known for her Permission Slaps and belief in slow, spacious living, Jo now helps women work less, live more, and rediscover joy in their businesses. 🔗Connect with Jo Website Instagram Download Michaela's free guide to Calm the Overwhelm here

You can be passionate about your exercise or sport, and still burn out from it. Have you ever pushed yourself so hard to “do better” or beat a personal best, that the joy disappeared? For many perfectionistic or ADHD minds, exercise can be too much of a good thing, so how to balance that is exactly what this episode unpacks. In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, Clinical Psychologist Michaela Thomas speaks with Dr. Josephine Perry, Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, about the complex relationship between ADHD, high performance, and perfectionism in sport and exercise. Together, they explore how the drive for achievement can become both a strength and a struggle — especially for those with busy, high-achieving minds. Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, or someone using exercise to manage ADHD, this conversation offers insights into balancing motivation, wellbeing, and self-compassion. Dr. Perry shares her practical ‘coins system’ for tracking energy expenditure and understanding when you’re pushing too hard, offering strategies to prevent burnout, injury, and loss of joy in movement. Michaela brings her signature compassionate approach to exploring how ADHD traits such as hyperfocus, impulsivity, and perfectionism can show up in exercise habits — and how to turn these into sources of balance and fulfilment instead of exhaustion. You’ll hear: How ADHD and perfectionism affect motivation, recovery, and performance The fine line between discipline and overtraining Why self-compassion is the missing piece for sustainable success How societal pressures and body image ideals shape our relationship with sport Ways to bring more joy, purpose, and play into your training or movement routines About the Guest Dr Josephine Perry is a chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who works with high performers in sport, stage and a range of sectors where people will be working outside of their comfort zones. She specialises in those struggling with performance anxiety and those who have ADHD. She is the author of 6 books including Performing Under Pressure, I Can: The teenage athlete's guide to mental fitness and, most recently, ADHD in Sport: Strategies for Success. Connect with Dr Perry: performanceinmind.co.uk josephineperry.co.uk Download Michaela's free guide to Calm the Overwhelm here: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/calm 

(A compassionate nudge for busy, neurodivergent women and perfectionists) You know you should prioritise yourself — but what does that actually look like when you’re juggling ADHD, business, motherhood, and perfectionism? In this episode of Pause Purpose Play, Clinical Psychologist and ADHD specialist Michaela Thomas explores what real self-care looks like beyond bubble baths and quick fixes. She shares the three types of clients she sees — from those running on empty to those beginning to create balance — and how each can benefit from more compassion and support. You’ll also hear real success stories from Burn Bright members who learned to set boundaries, manage their energy, and finally put themselves on their own to-do list. If you’ve been thinking, “I’ll prioritise myself later,” this is your gentle (but firm) reminder that now is the time.   🌿 You’ll hear about: Why self-care feels so hard for perfectionists and ADHD women The three types of clients Michaela works with — and where you might fit Real-life examples of women who learned to prioritise themselves How to choose between therapy and coaching for the right kind of support A final invitation to join Burn Bright before doors close Ready to stop running on empty? Inside Burn Bright, Michaela helps ADHD women in business find balance between ambition and rest through support, systems and self-compassion. ✨ Book your clarity call now: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright

You’ve seen the posts - “If you’re not up at 4am journalling and hitting the gym, do you even want success?” Michaela says: that's the pressure of perfection coming from the patriarchy - let that stuff go. In this short solo episode, Clinical Psychologist and ADHD specialist Michaela Thomas shares why you don’t need to burn out to build something brilliant. She unpacks how hustle culture is ableist, unsustainable, and particularly harmful for neurodivergent women and mums with ADHD, whose energy is already stretched thin. You’ll learn how to redefine success on your terms, protect your nervous system, and build a business that feels balanced - not punitive. Ready to build success without self-sacrifice? Inside Burn Bright, Michaela helps ADHD women in business find sustainable success through support, systems and self-compassion. ✨ Book your clarity call: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright Doors close for applications 24th of October and the programme starts 5th of November!