Becky Richens - Independent Mental Health Nurse

03/09/2026

Many autistic people spend years being misunderstood because stereotypes and media don't reflect real-life autistic experiences.

In Beyond The Label: Understanding Autism, we'll look beyond outdated assumptions and explore the diverse ways autism can present across individuals.

Whether you're supporting a young person, awaiting an assessment, exploring your own neurodivergence, or simply curious to learn more, this session aims to provide practical, compassionate, evidence-informed understanding in a neuroaffirming way.

🎟️ Book here:

A neuroaffirming exploration of autism, discussing traits, myths, strengths, challenges and diagnosis.

02/09/2026

Anxiety doesn't always look like worry.

Sometimes it looks like:

• School avoidance
• Irritability
• Social withdrawal
• Perfectionism
• Constant reassurance seeking
• Exhaustion

Many young people are working incredibly hard to manage feelings that others can't see.

In this workshop we'll explore how anxiety can present in teenagers and why understanding what's happening beneath the surface is often the key to helping.

Sunday 6th September

🎟️ Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1997843903897

01/09/2026

Beyond The Label: Understanding ADHD

ADHD is one of the most talked-about forms of neurodivergence, yet so often it is misunderstood and misrepresented.

Many people think ADHD is simply about being distracted or hyperactive, but there's so much more to the story.

This neuroaffirming online workshop explores what ADHD really is, how it can affect everyday life, and the strengths and challenges that can come with it.

Whether you're supporting a young person, exploring ADHD for yourself, or simply want to learn more, you're very welcome at this 2 hour online workshop.

🎟️ Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/199784571932

01/09/2026

💙 Understanding Teen Anxiety Online Workshop

Sunday 6th September

It can be heartbreaking watching your teenager struggle with worry, overwhelm, or stress and not knowing how to help.

This supportive online workshop is designed for parents and carers who want to better understand anxiety, what drives it, how it shows up, and what genuinely helps.

Together, we'll explore the teenage brain, anxiety triggers, coping behaviours, and practical strategies you can use to support your young person with confidence and compassion.

🎟️ Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1997843903897

31/08/2026

Unmasked: Neurodivergent Women starting September

A small, supportive weekly programme for women exploring or living with neurodivergence. Over six weeks, each session focuses on a different theme, offering practical tools, gentle guidance, and time for reflection and sharing in a calm, judgement-free space. Connect with others who understand your experiences, explore new ideas, and leave each week with new strategies to navigate life with confidence and kindness.

When: Tuesdays | 5.30-7.30pm
Where: Old Town, Swindon
Cost: £260 for the full 6-week programme | Payment plans available

Sessions:
Session 1 - Understanding your Neurodivergent Nervous System
Session 2 - Executive Dysfunction
Session 3 - Sensory Based Coping
Session 4 - Emotional Awareness and Regulation
Session 5 - Communication
Session 6 - Celebrating Strengths and Planning Forward

What the Group Does
- Explores neurodivergence from multiple angles: understanding strengths and challenges, managing daily life, and navigating relationships
- Offers practical, low-demand tools and strategies to try at home
- Provides time for optional peer sharing, connection, and support
- Creates a calm, non-judgemental environment where curiosity, self-compassion, and personal growth are encouraged
- Encourages reflection and self-awareness through prompts, exercises, and discussion

Want to know more or reserve your place? Drop me an email - [email protected]

31/08/2026

Upcoming Online Workshop: Beyond The Label: Understanding Autism

There's a lot of noise about Autism in the media and social media but often it is misunderstood or misrepresented. Rarely does it delve in to the actual autistic experience, what it means to be autistic or what the diagnosis process is.

If you're a parent, carer, family member, or someone exploring autism for yourself, this online workshop offers a welcoming, neuroaffirming space to learn more about what autism is, challenge common myths, and better understand autistic experiences.

Together we'll explore topics including sensory differences, masking, communication, strengths, challenges, and the diagnostic process.

This is about understanding, not fixing.

Find out more and book your place here: 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1997844881822

30/08/2026

Unmasked: Neurodivergent Women is back for September!

A small, supportive weekly programme for women exploring neurodivergence.

Over six weeks, each session focuses on a different topic, offering practical tools, gentle guidance, and time for sharing in a calm, judgement-free space. Connect with others who understand your experiences, honour your energy, and leave each week with strategies to navigate life with confidence and kindness.

When: Starting September 8th
Where: Swindon Old Town

Interested in joining me? Drop me an email for more information and to book your place - [email protected]

30/08/2026

Struggle with self-doubt or harsh self-talk?
Feel stuck in procrastination or avoidance?
Find yourself people-pleasing or overcommitting?

Break Free From Your Inner Bully and Embrace Your Inner Cheerleader is a gentle, realistic approach to self-growth.

This workbook supports you to:
- Understand and soften your inner bully
- Develop a kinder, more supportive inner cheerleader
- Break cycles of self-sabotage & procrastination
- Reduce people-pleasing and difficulty with boundaries
- Build self-trust, confidence & emotional awareness
- Work with your nervous system (not against it)

Available now - https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4527943337/inner-critic-workbook-self-esteem-self

30/08/2026

Online Workshop Next Sunday
Understanding Teen Anxiety Workshop
13:00 - 15:00
Only £35

You don't need to have all the answers to support an anxious teenager.

Sometimes understanding what's driving the anxiety is the most powerful place to start.

This workshop is packed with practical insights and realistic strategies for parents and carers.

The timing is particularly useful as many young people are navigating the transition back into school routines, which can often amplify existing worries.

🎟️ Grab your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1997843903897

29/08/2026

Ok I’m slightly obsessed with something I’ve been doing with ChatGPT 😂

I’ve basically outsourced a chunk of my family’s meal planning to it and honesty WHY DID I NOT DO THIS YEARS AGO?!

I’ve built it a library of meals that we actually eat, then once a week I give it what’s in the freezer and cupboards and it works out what we can make, what needs using up, what can be batch cooked or frozen and what I actually need to buy.

Then it gives me the meal plan AND the shopping list.

I’ve also got it keeping track of packed lunches, breakfasts, snacks, baking etc, and I’ve built in all our family quirks so it knows I’m vegan, what the kids will actually eat, ARFID safe food options for the youngest and all the other random things that usually live permanently in my head 😂

Its really making me have to think less!! And THAT is the bit I’m really noticing.

Because meal planning isn’t difficult.
It’s the remembering.
The deciding.
The checking.
The initiating.
The “what are we having tomorrow?”
The “sh*t, I forgot about packed lunches.”
The “we have loads of food but somehow nothing to make.”
The mental load of constantly having to hold all of that in your head.

And it’s got me thinking about AI and using AI to support us more generally.

Because what if we stopped thinking about tools like ChatGPT as something that does things for us and started thinking about them as a kind of external executive function? A place to dump all the stuff your brain is struggling to organise.

I’m really curious What bits of your life have you managed to outsource, organise or make easier with AI?
Planning?
Lists?
Admin?
Meal planning?
Work?
Decluttering?
Getting started on tasks?
Breaking down overwhelming things?
Remembering stuff?
Decision making?

Tell me what you’re doing because I’m convinced I’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg