The Overbooked Brain Club
You Hold It All Together at School—But Inside, You’re Falling Apart.
Online Group therapy for educators with ADHD, burnout, overwhelm, and a brain that never turns ‘off.’
This group helps you unhook from burnout, quiet the shame of falling behind, and gently reconnect with your brain, your body, and your why, on your terms.
What if the goal wasn’t to be perfectly productive, but to feel like yourself again?
You’ve tried structure. You’ve tried lists. You’ve pushed yourself through exhaustion, through Sundays spent planning, and weekday nights spent catching up.
And still, there’s always more to manage, more to prove, more to hold.
This group isn’t about optimizing your schedule. It’s about softening the shame and pressure that run it. It’s about feeling steady, even when the day doesn’t go as planned. It’s about remembering that your value doesn’t come from how much you accomplish.
Because your capacity matters. Your joy matters. You matter, even when the list isn’t done.
Online Group Therapy for Educators with ADHD, Burnout, and Overwhelm
The Overbooked Brain Club
You can manage 25 students before lunch, but your own calendar, laundry pile, and unread emails? Forget it. As a teacher with ADHD, you’re juggling lesson plans, school politics, and emotional labor, while internally battling shame, decision fatigue, and a brain that won't slow down.
This group is a space just for you. A place where your mess is met with compassion, not correction. Grounded in ACT, we’ll explore how to build systems that work with your brain (not against it), interrupt burnout cycles, and create a life that honors your actual energy, not just what others expect.
You’ll also engage in creative arts-based reflection to reconnect with your why, express what words can’t, and nurture the part of you that still loves to learn.
Led by Emily MacNiven, LPC
Click here to learn more about this group!
Want to Learn More About How Group Therapy Works?
Explore this blog post from Emily:
I Can Hold It Together at School—So Why Is Everything Else Falling Apart?
You’re not lazy. You’re over-capable, overextended, and overdue for support.
Join when you’re ready—this group has flexible, ongoing enrollment. Covered by most insurance plans.
Day & Time
Mondays: 3:30-5:00pm MST
This Group Is for You If…
✔️You manage a whole classroom, but can’t manage your own inbox
✔️You’re amazing during the school day—and then crash at 3:45
✔️Your weekends are for “catching up,” but you never actually feel caught up
✔️You forget your lunch but remember everyone else’s needs
✔️ You beat yourself up for dropping the ball—even when you’re juggling 50
This isn’t about being more productive. It’s about being more whole.
What if you could stop organizing your life around guilt—and start building from what matters?
The Overbooked Brain Club
If you feel scattered, inconsistent, and constantly behind, you’re not broken. You’re carrying more than most people can see—lesson plans, emotional labor, and a brain that doesn’t power down.
You don’t need another planner. You need space to be real about what it’s like to be an educator with a brilliant, sensitive brain that wasn’t made for nonstop output.
In this group, we’ll gently explore how to:
Take action even when motivation disappears
Interrupt shame spirals before they hijack your afternoon
Unhook from the belief that rest has to be earned
Build systems that feel flexible, sustainable, and actually human
*Participant
“For the first time, I feel like someone really gets how my brain works. I can talk about things I used to shut down around, and that’s a huge shift for me.”
*Participant
“You make space for me to show up as a full person, not just a mess to fix. That means more than I can say.”
*Participant
“I’m grateful for how you balance softness with honesty. You don’t sugarcoat, but you don’t shame, and that helps me stay with the hard stuff.”
There’s nothing wrong with your drive. But the weight you’ve been carrying? That’s not meant to be carried alone.
This group was built for the moments when:
You forget what you were doing halfway through doing it
You stay after school to "catch up," then leave more behind
You’re praised for being a great teacher, but feel like a mess behind the scenes
You keep showing up while quietly wondering if you’re falling apart
You might find yourself saying:
“I feel behind before the bell even rings.”
“I’m always managing everything—except myself.”
“I’m so overwhelmed, but I don’t know where to start.”
“Rest feels like something I have to earn, not something I deserve.”
This doesn’t mean you’re failing. It just means it’s time to let yourself be supported.
In this group, we’ll gently explore how to:
Take action even when motivation disappears
Interrupt shame spirals before they hijack your afternoon
Unhook from the belief that rest has to be earned
Build systems that feel flexible, sustainable, and actually human
*Participant
“Our sessions help me name what I’ve been carrying underneath the surface. I didn’t realize how much was there until I felt safe enough to explore it.”
*Participant
“This is the first time I’ve had a therapist help me recognize my patterns and believe I can choose something different. It’s empowering.”
*Participant
“I’m learning how to have my own back instead of just pushing through all the time. That’s new for me.”
When you give yourself the chance to be seen, really seen, without judgment or fixing, something shifts.
What's Possible Through Group Therapy
It’s letting your guard down and feeling accepted anyway…It’s feeling…
✔️Safe to show up as your full self—messy, emotional, in-process, and still worthy.
✔️Connected without fear, because here, nobody expects you to shrink or perform.
✔️More trusting of your own voice, because you’re learning to hear it through the noise.
✔️Less alone in your struggles, because you realize, "Oh. It's not just me."
✔️Grounded in your truth—not perfection, not certainty, but presence.
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in connection.
This isn’t another productivity hack. This is a space to be fully seen.
You’ve likely done this work alone—reading late at night, trying to self-diagnose, pushing through the day with mantras and willpower. But burnout thrives in isolation. And ADHD needs structure and support.
This group offers what self-help never could: being seen, mirrored, and gently challenged by people who get it. In real time. In real life.
Why this group works:
✔️ Trauma-informed + ACT-grounded: Learn emotional regulation strategies that stick.
✔️ ADHD-affirming: We design around your brain, not against it.
✔️ Creative Expression: Arts-based reflection to access clarity beyond words.
✔️ Educator-Only Space: No explaining your job, your schedule, or your exhaustion.
This is a low-pressure, high-empathy space to practice boundaries, self-trust, and rest, without guilt.
*Participant
“The metaphors you use stay with me. I caught myself reacting differently this week, and it felt like real progress.”
*Participant
“I actually used what we talked about in real life, and I didn’t spiral. I didn’t think that was possible for me before.”
*Participant
“I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to slow down my thoughts, but the grounding exercise made it feel possible.”
“You reflect things back in a way that helps me see through the chaos. I leave feeling capable, not broken.”
*Participant
What You’ll Walk Away With
By the end of this group, you’ll have:
✨ ADHD-friendly tools for managing stress, not masking it
✨ Real-time practice in boundary setting, rest, and self-compassion
✨ A community that speaks your language and sees your heart
✨ A system to check in with yourself—without shame
✨ Validation and perspective from others on the same path, so you don’t keep thinking you’re the only one
You’ll begin to recognize when your shoulders rise with stress, and practice how to soften them.
You’ll notice how shame speeds your speech, and learn to pause instead of apologizing.
Your nervous system will learn that it’s safe to rest. Safe to connect. Safe to need.
📅 Weekly Support, Your Way
75-minute telehealth sessions via Simple Practice with rolling enrollment.
📓 Optional Between-Session Support
Use of The Red Door ACT Toolbox + Therapy Companion Journal.
🧠 Real Tools, Real Growth
ACT-based tools and practical exercises to support change between sessions
🧾 Insurance-Friendly
Most plans cover the group. We’ll help verify during your consult.
👥 Intimate, Safe Community
7 people max—so you feel known, not lost in the crowd.
🔒 Private & Secure
Sessions are hosted on HIPAA-compliant Simple Practice with a private link each week
Group therapy and individual therapy serve different but equally important purposes. One is not better than the other, they simply meet different needs.
➕ Individual therapy offers space to focus deeply on your story, your past, and your inner world. You get undivided attention, personalized support, and the freedom to process at your own pace.
➕ Group therapy, on the other hand, brings healing through connection. It gives you a front-row seat to the experience of others—and that can shift something inside. You realize you’re not the only one thinking the way you do. You practice sharing vulnerably and receiving support in real time. You witness what courage looks like in someone else, and begin to embody it yourself.
Many people find that group therapy enriches the work they’re doing individually, giving them more real-life moments to apply their insights, tools, and awareness. You get to move from learning to living.
If you already have a therapist, a group can be a powerful complement. If you’re not in individual therapy, that’s okay too. This space can still be deeply transformative on its own.
Want to Learn More About How Group Therapy Works?
Explore this blog post from Emily: You Don’t Have to Hold It All Alone: Why Group Support Might Be Exactly What You Need
Want to explore the emotional experience behind it all?
Read this blog post from Emily: Exploring the Emotional Side of ADHD: It’s Not Just About Focus
Why Group Therapy?
What to Expect in Group
Every group session lasts 75 minutes and is intentionally structured to offer both safety and flexibility. Here’s a general flow so you know what to expect:
🔹 1. Settling In
⏱️ 5–10 min
Gentle check-in or grounding practice
→ No pressure to share
→ Just arrive as you are
🔹 2. Topic Exploration
⏱️ 20–25 min
Guided skill-building or themed discussion
→ ACT, ERP, mindfulness, or self-compassion
→ May include metaphors, reflections, or brief teachings
🔹 3. Group Discussion & Support
⏱️ 30–35 min
Open space to share or listen
→ Explore emotions, thoughts, relationships
→ Where insight and connection deepen
🔹 4. Closing & Integration
⏱️ 5–10 min
Wrap-up with reflection or grounding
→ Gently transition back into daily life
→ Takeaways or intentions to carry forward
💬 Always Your Choice
Speak up. Sit back. Take space. Just be.
Group is capped at 7 people to keep it safe and intimate.
Meet Your Guide
This isn’t just a group, it’s a space to exhale, connect, and grow at your own pace, with guidance that meets you where you are.
Emily MacNiven, LPC, is a therapist, educator, and founder of The Red Door. She brings warmth, wisdom, and realness to every group, not to fix you, but to walk with you. Emily believes that something powerful happens when people come together with honesty and care, group work can soften isolation, spark insight, and remind us we’re not alone in what we carry. Healing doesn’t happen under pressure. It happens in the presence of safety, clarity, compassion, and connection.
With deep experience supporting folks tangled in mental noise, relationship uncertainty, people-pleasing, and identity-level self-doubt, Emily leads with grounded skill and steady gentleness. Her approach blends structure with softness, offering clear tools, meaningful reflection, and space to show up exactly as you are. In her groups, you don’t just learn to manage life. You learn to reclaim it.
Questions?
Safety + FAQs
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Many people come into this with past experiences that made them feel ignored, judged, or like they had to perform to belong.
This group is different.
We take time to build trust, not rush it. You’ll never be forced to share more than you want to. You’ll never be “called out” or put on the spot. Everything we do is rooted in consent, gentleness, and honoring your pace.
The group is intentionally small—just seven people max—and everyone is carefully vetted through a 1:1 intake process to ensure the space stays emotionally safe and affirming. If something doesn’t feel right, we talk about it. If you need to pause or regroup, that’s welcome too.
You’re not entering a room full of strangers. You’re stepping into a space where real humans show up with softness, courage, and care.
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Yes. Most people haven’t. We ease in gently. No pressure, and no need to share until it feels right for you.
Many people find that even just listening, hearing others name what you’ve been feeling, can be powerful and healing. -
You don’t need a formal label. If you find yourself stuck in spirals of overthinking, reassurance-seeking, or relationship doubt—this is a space that understands.
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This group offers rolling enrollment, so you can start whenever you're ready. There’s no fixed end date, and you're welcome to attend as many sessions as feel helpful. Most folks attend weekly 75-minute sessions to build momentum, but we’ll work together to find a rhythm that honors your energy, schedule, and capacity. You can also schedule a free 20-minute consult to see if it’s a fit.
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We start with a free consultation and a one-on-one intake session to get to know you and your goals. If this group isn’t the best match, we’ll connect you with another offering that better meets your needs.
Getting Started Is Simple
✅ Step 1: Schedule Your Free Consult
Book a no-pressure, 20-minute video call to see if this group is the right fit for you.
🎧 Step 2: Join a Private Intake Session
Meet one-on-one for a 60-minute intake to talk through your goals, needs, and how group support can help.
💬 Step 3: Begin Group When You’re Ready
If it’s a good fit, you’ll join the group and start your journey. If not, we’ll help you connect with one of our other supportive offerings.
Everything’s online. All you need is a quiet-ish space and a willingness to show up. Pajamas welcome. 🧦💻
💸 Payment Details
Most insurance plans cover group therapy.
We’ll help verify your benefits during your consult and let you know your weekly co-pay.
*These reflections are representative of common themes shared in individual and group sessions and are not direct client testimonials.
Take the next step
Ready to Join—or Just Exploring?
Whether you’re all in or still figuring things out, the next step is the same: fill out the form below. I’ll reach out personally to answer your questions, help verify your insurance if needed, and guide you through what comes next, whether that’s scheduling your intake session or simply starting a conversation.
No pressure, no rush, just real support, at the pace that works best for you.