What does a neuro-affirming practice look like in the therapy room?

As awareness of neurodivergence grows, many therapists want to work in ways that better support their neurodivergent clients. But moving beyond theory and knowing how to apply neuro-affirming practice in real life can feel challenging.

In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, I'm delighted to welcome back Louise Lucas who described how she'd discovered her own autism and ADHD in episode 7, and how this had transformed her personal life and practice.

Since then she's continued to develop her Neurodivergent Wellbeing Model and has written a book: A Therapeutic Workbook for Supporting the Wellbeing of Neurodivergent Clients.

In this conversation, Louise explains how her own experiences shaped her work and why neuro-affirming practice is about far more than understanding a diagnosis. We explore how therapists can help clients move from shame and self-criticism towards self-understanding, compassion and a sustainable wellbeing.

Takeaways:

• What neuro-affirming practice means in everyday therapy
• The Neurodivergent Wellbeing Model and the Two Spirals
• Why knowledge, understanding and acceptance all matter
• Understanding "spiky profiles"
• Why context is essential when working with neurodivergent clients
• Helping clients move from shame to self-compassion
• Supporting regulation through basic needs and sustainable self-care
• What every therapist should understand about working with neurodivergent clients

Louise Lucas is a therapist, supervisor and trainer specialising in neurodivergent wellbeing and neuro-affirming practice. She developed the Neurodivergent Wellbeing Model to help therapists and clients better understand regulation, self-compassion and sustainable wellbeing.

Her new book, A Therapeutic Workbook for Supporting the Wellbeing of Neurodivergent Clients, is published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in September 2026.

You can find out more at Louise's website curiosityspot.co.uk

Find out about Therapy Growth Group or join to participate in the Make Your Profile Work Sprint HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

You spend years working towards a qualification. But after the structure of assignments and placements - and the company of tutors and fellow students - comes to an end, it can leave you wondering what comes next.

Should you look for employment, start a private practice or something else?

In this episode, I share my own experience of finishing counselling training, share why this stage can feel unsettling - and most importantly, how you can move forward without needing to have everything worked out in advance.

Takeaways:

• The loss of structure that newly qualified counsellors experience and how that impacts them
• How self-doubt can show up after qualification
• Why you don't need the whole plan before you begin
• The importance of support, supervision and community
• Taking the next step towards setting up in private practice

Remember: you don't need to have everything worked out in advance. You don't need the full plan. You just need the next step.

Training: to help you get started in finding clients, I have some short training webinars coming up. You can find out more about them HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

Many therapists are concerned about the rise of AI and whether it will replace therapy altogether.

In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, I'm joined by Ken Kelly, author of Ethical AI Practice. Ken believes that while AI has an important role to play in private practice, it can never replace the human connection at the heart of therapy.

We explore the ethical boundaries, how therapists can use AI safely and the ways it can help us with tasks such as content creation, research and policy writing.

Takeaways:

• How to protect client information when using AI
• How to assess different AI tools from an ethical perspective
• How AI can support therapists in private practice
• Using AI to create blogs and posts while still using your own voice
• The "reverse interview" exercise for writing your website copy and profiles
• The ways that clients are already using AI
• The future of counselling in an AI world

Resources:

• perplexity.ai
• wisprflow.ai
• Ethical AI Practice by Ken Kelly, available here: ethicalaipractice.com

Want help finding your professional voice?

Many therapists know they're different but struggle to explain what makes them distinctive to potential clients.

Inside Therapy Growth Group, I help counsellors and psychotherapists identify their niche, communicate their strengths, write profiles and websites that sound like them, and market their practice without feeling pushy or salesy.

Find out more HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords: counselling, AI in therapy, ethical AI practice, mental health technology, private practice tips, client confidentiality, AI for therapists, digital mental health, AI and mental health, counselling ethics, AI in psychotherapy, content generation for therapists

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

Social media can be a great way to connect with potential clients but it can also be a place that is filled with hostility. This stops many therapists from either setting up a page or from posting on it.

Some of the worries I've heard about from therapists include saying "the wrong thing", being publicly corrected, receiving criticism and being subject to a "pile on". So in this first of a series of episodes around social media boundaries, I explore how you can make your therapy page feel safer for you to use.

Drawing on my own experience of managing online communities and navigating difficult interactions, I share how you can protect your wellbeing and those of your followers - so that you can feel more confident to reach people via your page.

Takeaways

• Why social media platforms thrive on outrage
• What to do when a comment or interaction leaves you feeling shamed and upset
• Why it's important to regulate before responding
• Creating boundaries around comments, messages and engagement
• Deciding on what atmosphere you want for your page
• Why some interactions don't deserve a response
• Choosing spaces that are the right fit for you
• How boundaries can help you feel more comfortable and confident online

I also share some ideas for social media posts for July 2026, including themes around body image, friendship, loneliness, grief and summer family life.

For information about my training courses, please click HERE and you can find out more information about Therapy Growth Group HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

What happens when someone receives a genetic diagnosis? In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, I'm joined by Uruj Anjum of Saina Therapy.

Before training as a psychotherapist, Uruj spent nine years working within NHS genetics services, supporting individuals and families navigating conditions such as Huntington's disease and other complex inherited disorders. She now specialises in working with clients affected by genetic diagnoses, reproductive decision-making, grief, loss and family dynamics.

We talk about what therapists need to know when supporting clients living with genetic uncertainty, and how genetics may be lying behind presenting issues such as anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties and identity struggles.

• The emotional impact of genetic diagnosis on individuals, couples and families
• Anticipatory grief and living with uncertainty
• Carrier guilt and the complex emotions that can follow a diagnosis
• How attachment patterns can influence the way people respond to genetic testing and diagnosis
• The impact of inherited conditions on relationships and family dynamics
• Reproductive decision-making and termination for medical reasons
• Supporting clients affected by genetic conditions in the therapy room
• How therapists can work confidently with clients affected by genetic diagnoses without needing specialist medical expertise

You can connect with Uruj via her website saiynatherapy.co.uk and on instagram @saiynatherapy

If listening to Uruj's story has got you thinking about your own niche, your marketing or how to attract more of the right clients, I'd love to help.

I run workshops, training and coaching for counsellors in private practice, helping you communicate clearly with potential clients and build a practice that works for you.

Find out more here: josephinehughes.com

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords: genetic counselling, therapy for genetic conditions, mental health and genetics, emotional impact of genetic diagnoses, family dynamics in genetic counselling, genetic testing and therapy, attachment theory and genetics, anticipatory grief in genetic conditions, supporting clients with genetic diagnoses, carrier guilt in genetics, navigating genetic testing decisions, anxiety and genetic diagnoses, therapeutic approaches to genetic issues, stigma around genetic conditions, building confidence in genetic counselling.

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

It’s tempting to look at other therapists, coaches or creators and think:

“It’s easier for them because they’re bigger.”

But what we often forget is that every established business once started small.

In this solo episode, I reflect on the early days of my own private practice and Therapy Growth Group as we approach its sixth birthday. I talk about fear, comparison, visibility and the courage it takes to keep showing up when you’re still finding your feet.

Because behind every “overnight success” are usually years of small steps, awkward beginnings and learning as you go.

I also explore why helping just one person still matters, why growth can actually be easier to manage when it happens gradually, and how success often looks very different from what we imagine.

Whether you’re just starting out in private practice or feeling discouraged because your audience, client list or confidence still feels small, I hope this episode encourages you to keep going.

In this episode:

• Why comparing yourself to more established therapists can stop you taking action
• What people don’t see behind business growth
• The importance of courage over confidence
• Why helping one person still counts
• How consistency builds confidence over time
• Why starting small can actually help you grow sustainably
• The ripple effects that can happen when you keep going

I also share:

• The story behind starting Therapy Growth Group
• What six years in business has taught me
• Why I still feel fear even now

Training mentioned in this episode:

• Five Ways to Attract New Clients
• Exploring Your Niche
• Ask Me Anything

You can find details of all current training here:

https://josephinehughes.as.me/training

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love it if you shared it with another therapist who needs reminding that starting small still counts.

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords: private practice growth, starting a counselling business, success in therapy practice, building confidence as a therapist, therapy marketing strategies, finding your niche in therapy, private practice challenges, therapist training and development, encouraging small businesses, client attraction strategies, therapy visibility, successful counselling practices

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this episode, I'm joined by Annie Jones from Rayleigh Marketing to talk about why Facebook is a useful tool to promote your private practice.

We explore how local Facebook groups, recommendations, consistency, and good quality content can help therapists become more visible without needing to post every day or share your entire personal life online.

In this episode:

• why Facebook still works for local businesses
• the importance of recommendations and local groups
• how often you really need to post
• planning content without burning out
• why consistency matters more than quantity
• ideas for therapists who dislike having their photo taken
• simple ways to make posts more engaging
• mistakes small businesses often make on social media
• Facebook ads, hashtags, keywords, and location tags
• how to stay visible without becoming overwhelmed

You can connect with Annie on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE and find out more about her club HERE

For more information about Josephine's training courses, please click here: https://josephinehughes.as.me/training

Social Media Ideas for June 2026:

Pride Month and Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Awareness Month

7th: Tourettes Awareness

8th: Carers Week

15th Loneliness Awareness Week (listen to ep 64 on using AI for social media for a deep dive into ideas)

18th: Autistic Pride

27th: PTSD Awareness

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords: Facebook for small businesses, recommendations on Facebook, social media tips for therapists, local Facebook groups, social media visibility, social media content planning, engagement on Facebook, client recommendations, Facebook advertising for therapists, marketing for private practice, Facebook engagement techniques

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.