Elaine Collins is an Irish Psychologist who works with clients, organisations, and communities, offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for adults living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, alongside Clinical Intervention Training for Health Professionals and Mental Health Therapists.

Born, raised and educated in Ireland, Elaine moved to Perth, Australia in her early thirties. With over 20 years of experience in health services across Ireland and Australia, her work has been shaped by supporting individuals presenting with a wide range of behavioural and mental health challenges.

Earlier in her career, Elaine worked one to one with clients and gained deep insight into the lived experience of adults with ADHD. Many describe feeling overwhelmed, inconsistent, and exhausted from trying to keep up with everyday demands. There is often a pattern of knowing what needs to be done, yet finding it difficult to start, follow through, or maintain consistency, leading to frustration, self doubt, and a sense of falling behind.

For many adults, particularly those diagnosed later in life, masking has played a significant role. In earlier years, individuals often develop ways to compensate for or hide their difficulties in order to meet expectations, perform well, and maintain a sense of control. While this can be effective for a period of time, it often comes at a personal cost, contributing to ongoing stress, emotional fatigue, and reduced self confidence.

Over time, this capacity to mask can become harder to sustain. For many, particularly during midlife, the strategies that once helped them cope no longer work in the same way. This can lead to increased overwhelm, reduced resilience, and a sense that things have become more difficult or harder to manage than before. For some women, this shift may coincide with perimenopause or menopause, where changes in cognitive and emotional regulation can further reduce the ability to compensate, bringing underlying ADHD patterns more clearly into view.

Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is also a key area of focus within Elaine’s work. Many adults with ADHD experience intense emotional responses to perceived criticism or rejection, which can impact relationships, confidence, and decision making, often shaping how they engage with others and approach opportunities.

Alongside her work with clients, Elaine observed that many early career and developing health professionals understand therapeutic models in theory but lack confidence in applying them clearly and effectively in practice.

These insights shaped the direction of her work.