The M&H Kindling Collective
An Ongoing Group for Maintaining Progress After Burnout
The Kindling Collective is an ongoing group offered at Minds & Hearts for individuals who have completed the 10-session Group Therapy for Neurodivergent Burnout: Recover & Rebuild Program.
Why the Kindling Collective exists
Following completion of the Recover & Rebuild Program, many participants describe:
- increased awareness of their patterns
- greater understanding of their needs
- early shifts in how they relate to themselves
However, maintaining these changes in the context of everyday life can be challenging.
Old patterns can re-emerge, particularly during periods of stress, change, or increased demand.
The Kindling Collective was created to support this next stage of the process.
The meaning of “Kindling”
The metaphor of kindling (small sticks that reboot a small fire) reflects the gradual and ongoing process of burning energy in a mindful sustainable way. A reference to kin is also included to acknowledge a sense of kinship and belonging in the group and connection to other neurodiverse members who have shared many similar experiences. Many individuals who arive at our clinic tell us that they feel like an alien on this planet and don’t know many people who have had similar experiences to them. This has often led to the masking that drove the burnout cycle. An important antidote to reducing masking is connecting with a community where one can feel and act in ways more authentic to themselves which in turn will help with energy management.
What the group focuses on
Recovery from burnout is rarely about making one single change or completing a 10-session course and it is done. It is about learning (or unlearning) old and deeply entrenched ways of relating to parts of ourselves. It is a long journey of understanding and accepting one’s differences, and one’s strengths and challenges and of certain painful limits of reality underneath grief, anger, and sadness needs a place for processing with others who have walked a similar path.
The ongoing sessions are an opportunity to maintain the skills from the previous group of noticing how one’s energy is spent and what replenishes it. Secondly, it is helping to detect old patterns of detachment or denial of one’s own core needs to catch the cycle earlier and reduce the intensity and increase the duration between future burnout cycles. Moreover, participants reconnect with the framework developed in the initial program, and to explore what is emerging in their lives, including patterns, pressures, or internal responses that may be getting in the way of maintaining this new way of being.
How the group works
Sessions typically include a balance of:
- connection and shared reflection
- review of key concepts and skills
- discussion of real-life application and challenges
The group is facilitated in a way that supports both individual reflection and peer learning.
Goals of the Kindling Collective
- maintain awareness of early burnout signs
- increase consistency in using strategies and skills
- improve confidence in setting limits and responding to needs
- ongoing reduction in shame and self-criticism
- increase sense of connection and shared experience
- support during periods where old patterns begin to re-emerge
Program structure
- Ongoing group (no fixed number of sessions)
- Sessions are typically held once every four weeks
- 2-hour sessions
- Small, therapist-facilitated group
Groups are offered at different times across the year depending on demand and clinician availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
This group is suitable for individuals who:
- have completed the 10-session Recover & Rebuild Neurodivergent Burnout Group
- are interested in maintaining and consolidating progress
- would benefit from ongoing reflection and support
- value connection with others who have had similar experiences
This group is not designed as a primary intervention for acute burnout or crisis.
Participants should:
- have completed the initial program
- have the capacity to engage in a group setting
- have appropriate supports in place if experiencing higher levels of distress
Participants are expected to engage respectfully with others in the group process.
Participants may be able to access the group through NDIS funding or Medicare with an appropriate referral.
We recommend discussing suitability with your support coordinator or plan manager prior to enrolment.
Do I need to complete the Recover & Rebuild Program first?
Yes. The Kindling Collective is designed as a follow-on group and assumes familiarity with the concepts and framework introduced in the initial program.
Sessions are typically held once every four weeks.
It sits between both. The group is therapist-facilitated and grounded in a clinical framework, while also allowing space for connection, reflection, and shared experience.
Participants can engage at a level that feels manageable. Ongoing reflection and willingness to revisit patterns supports the process.
Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and referrals. Please contact the clinic for more information.
Register your interest
If you would like to learn more about the Kindling Collective or be considered for an upcoming group, please complete the Minds & Hearts contact form.
Our team will be in touch to discuss suitability and availability.
Ready to get started?
Feel free to contact us, book an appointment and start your journey with Minds & Hearts NOW