MyND-MAP Integrative Psychology

www.myndmap.com.au

MyND-MAP

Integrative Psychology

Neurodiverse affirming and trauma-informed therapy

About MyND-MAP

Neurodiverse affirming and trauma-informed therapeutic services.

Based in Melbourne, Australia.

MyND-MAP was started by Holly Mosse in response to the need for neurodiverse affirming and trauma-informed therapeutic support for female and gender diverse adults who had received, or identified with, an ADHD diagnosis.

The challenge of finding support in this space became apparent as Covid-19 disrupted coping/masking skills and previously ‘hidden’ neurodiversity emerged. This was especially the case for high-functioning females and gender-diverse individuals who had experienced trauma.

As an experienced Psychologist who clinically specialises in complex trauma, who herself is ADHD, high functioning (mostly!) and has experienced trauma, Holly decided to make this area the main focus of her private practice work.

Who can MyND-MAP support?

MyND-MAP supports adults or couples wanting a trauma-informed therapist who is inclusive and celebrates all forms of diversity. Holly works with a wide range of clients (including those without ADHD) and can offer support with,

Relationships
Anxiety
Depression
Neurodiversity
Trauma
Complex trauma

Stress
Self-identity
Confidence
Self-esteem
Life transitions
Mental wellbeing

About Me

I’m Holly Mosse

Psychologist for over 20 years

Neurodiverse (ADHD) for life

I am a culturally inclusive and queer-affirming Psychologist and I hope to provide a safe and inclusive space for everyone. I welcome clients from all genders, sexualities, cultures, abilities and professions. I’m always open to feedback and guidance on how I can better support you and where I need to further my understanding on inclusivity and intersectionality.

I am neurodiverse myself, having combined type ADHD. My journey through the mental health system, both as client and clinician, highlighted the scarcity of resources for women and gender-diverse adults with ADHD. Most frustrating is the often deficit/disorder focus used to describe our neurodiversity, and the lack of integrative understanding about ADHD.

My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, integrative and client-centred. This means I work with you on the goals you want to focus on, and I respect your preferences for how we work together. I work from a 'social determinants of health' model, as opposed to a ‘medical/disorder’ approach focussed on symptom management. I use a range of evidence-informed interventions tailored to best support your needs and therapy preferences.

I’ve worked mainly in the area of complex trauma, ranging from clinical roles to being Deputy Director of a statewide mental health service for trauma-impacted children and adolescents. Currently, in addition to MyND-MAP, I work as a Principal Practitioner in the not-for-profit sector providing expert practice advice, consultations, training and supervision.

Outside work I spend my time on our small farm caring for a menagerie of adopted animals (my personal therapists) and repairing the fences they frequently like to break.

My core values are Respect, Empathy, Integrity and Justice.

What to Expect

At MyND-MAP,

how you approach therapy is up to you.

If you haven't been to therapy before it can feel a bit daunting. Please be assured that we will work together in a way that feels safe for you, and you have control over what we discuss in our sessions. Psychologists might be good at observing people, but you’ll be glad to know that we cannot actually read your mind!

My role is to facilitate the therapeutic process, keeping you emotionally safe, and using my clinical knowledge and skills, plus insights from my own lived experience, to help you achieve your goals. When I first start working with someone I regularly check in to see how they are finding the process and what style works for them.

Some people like to have 1hr a week/fortnight with their Psychologist and prefer not to do therapeutic tasks between sessions, whereas other people want to dive right in and be active between sessions with reading, resources and practicing new skills.

Both of these approaches are respected, and for those who want to dive in, a range of resources, reading, and activities can be provided to support this and help maximise the benefit of the therapeutic sessions. We can discuss this in our first session when we chat about the goals you are hoping to achieve in therapy.

Lastly, but most importantly, it’s crucial that you find a therapist who is the right fit for you. To assist this process, I offer a free 15min phone consult to all new prospective clients. This way you can make an informed decision before committing to a session.

My Views on ADHD

First up, I don't think the term 'ADHD' really represents what is happening in our brains. It's not really a deficit of attention, more that our attention is strongly influenced by our reaction to what is happening around us and within us. I prefer to use the term 'stimulus sensitive attention'. This can manifest by,

really focussing on things that interest and excite you
not focussing well on things that don't
constantly seeking stimulus that interests your brain
getting overwhelmed if there is too much stimulus
retreating inwards if the external world isn't stimulating

Some of these behaviours may resonate with you, others may not. The reality is that ADHD looks different between different people and we don't yet have a clear and universally agreed upon understanding of this type of neurodiversity. Part of the challenge is that ADHD isn't a 'thing', but a construct based on a cluster of symptoms that often co-occur. This tells us very little about the underlying neurobiology or causative origins.

What we do know

Research suggests that dopamine (a neurotransmitter) and a lateral thinking style are involved with ADHD. Stimulant medication is currently the most effective treatment for increasing stimulus-independent focus and attention. Likewise, physical exertion/exercise and therapy have shown positive impacts on ADHD.

There is a lot of crossover, and controversy, between ADHD and trauma. Given the clear genetic aspect to ADHD, it may be that in-utero and neo-natal experiences influence gene selection towards ADHD. The emerging research on epigenetic brain development will hopefully clarify the nature of this relationship in the near future.

Support for ADHD

MyND-MAP offers an integrative therapeutic model to support your journey as an adult with ADHD.

MyND-MAP stands for My NeuroDiversity: My Action Plan, because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all therapy for ADHD.

Life events, circumstances, strengths and challenges vary immensely between individuals. Plus, we are all at different stages of our journey with ADHD. MyND-MAP provides both a framework for understanding your unique brain and its neurodiversity, and a client-centred plan tailored to your specific therapy goals.

The MyND part of MyND-MAP offers a framework for exploring how your particular brain functions and how to harness your strengths. This helps to build self-awareness and an evidence-informed integrative understanding of your unique brain and body.

The MAP part provides a clear action plan to achieve your personal goals and monitor your progress. I believe that ‘incite’ is just as important as ‘insight’ when it comes to therapy and making changes that last.

The action-plan aims to incite you to try new behaviours and ways of experiencing the world, to reflect on how this goes and to plan what you'll try next. This cycle of idea-practice-reflection helps build new skills and habits, while ensuring they are right for you and your unique situation.

How much you delve into the various components of MyND-MAP, and which areas you focus on, is up to you and will be guided by your goals for therapy.

The MyND-MAP Model

1- We are each a unique combination of epigenetics, culture, environment and experience- 'nature through nurture'.

2- This shapes our brain/mind as we grow, which in turn filters how we experience and make sense of the world.

3- We are much more than our ADHD 'symptoms'- the human brain is an amazing labyrinth of interwoven capacities.

4- The more we understand our brain, the better we can navigate the journey through life in a way that works for us.

The MyND

(My Neurodiversity)

Strengths (flow)
Neurodiversity type
Neurodevelopment
Learning style
Attachment style
Relational health
Emotion regulation
Life stressors
Trauma impacts
Health/Physical

The MAP

(My Action Plan)

My ADHD journey
What's working well?
What do I want to change?
Therapy goals
My action plan
Review and revise
My wellbeing plan

Mind- psychological health

Heart- relational health

Body- physical health

Fees and Bookings

Session Fees

Sessions are $220 and are 55 minutes long. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP you can receive a rebate of $93.35 per session for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.

Bookings and Enquiries

Please email holly@myndmap.com.au or call (03) 5910 7722 for bookings and enquiries. I offer an initial free 15 minute consultation to see if MyND-MAP is the right fit for you. Sessions are delivered and billed via Halaxy Telehealth, a purpose built and secure Telehealth platform.

For Professionals

MyND-MAP offers clinical supervision to Psychologists and other therapists, as well as secondary consultation services and training packages on a range of topics. For all enquiries please email holly@myndmap.com.au or call (03) 5910 7722.

Please Note

MyND-MAP is not offering assessments for ADHD and Psychologists cannot prescribe medication for you.

As a part-time practice we are unable to provide support outside set appointment times. If you require intensive or urgent support your GP can provide suitable options.

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of Naarm (Melbourne)

I pay my respect to the Elders past, present and emerging

I acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded

It always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.