A Bunch of Therapists

Food, Love and Attachment: The Psychology of How We Eat | Dr Andrea Oskis

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around grief, loss, relationships, attachment, and food psychology.

🎧 Join us for an entertaining and enlightening conversation with academic, cook, Financial Times Book of the Year Author and psychotherapist Dr Andrea Oskis as she shares insights from her new book 'The Kitchen Shrink: How the food we eat is the key to how we love', exploring how food stories from therapy reveal the deeper truths about our relationships and psychological wellbeing.

This thought-provoking discussion explores how food is fundamental to our emotional lives, profoundly affecting how we deal with life's big challenges - love, loss, separation and jealousy.

Hosted by:
Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast. Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach and Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).

In this compelling episode, Dr Oskis openly shares:
• How food stories told by clients in therapy explain how we form and sustain relationships
• The 'fried egg theory of grief' and what it reveals about loss
• The 'hot sauce paradigm' and its connection to relationship dynamics
• Combining storytelling, recipes and Attachment Theory in therapeutic practice
• How food affects our psychological wellbeing beyond basic nutrition
• Understanding the emotional connection between what we eat and how we love
• Practical insights for grieving partners and parents of picky eaters
• Why there's a lot of discussion about eggs in this episode
• How academic research, cooking and psychotherapy intersect
• Recognising food as more than just sustenance in our emotional lives

This essential conversation offers valuable guidance for anyone interested in the psychology of food, attachment patterns in relationships, or understanding how our eating habits reflect our emotional world.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The intersection of food, psychology and relationships
• Attachment Theory and how we form connections with others
• The 'fried egg theory of grief' explained
• The 'hot sauce paradigm' and relationship dynamics
• How food stories reveal deeper psychological truths
• Using recipes and storytelling in therapeutic practice
• Food as a lens for understanding love, loss and separation
• The emotional significance of what and how we eat
• Consoling grief and supporting parents through food psychology
• Why eggs feature so prominently in food and relationship narratives

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🗓️ New episodes every other Thursday

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Work Addiction, Perfectionism and Choosing a Softer Life | Maryane Mwaniki

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses childhood hardship, caring responsibilities, racism, perfectionism, overwork, stress, and serious health issues.

This episode of A Bunch of Therapists is proudly sponsored by TAC Training School. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a therapist or are looking to enhance your clinical skills, TAC Training School offers a complete, supportive pathway into the profession. From foundation-level counselling courses to their BACP-accredited Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Diploma in Clinical Supervision, their programmes are led by expert tutors and designed to help you grow into a confident, ethical, and skilled practitioner. To find out more, visit http://www.tactrainingschool.com/ and take the next step in your therapy journey.

🎧 Join us for an honest and inspiring conversation with counsellor, coach and public speaker Maryane Mwaniki as she shares her journey from growing up with constant money struggles and caring for her mother from a young age, to becoming a high achiever in a demanding professional world before being forced to confront the cost of overwork.

This thoughtful discussion explores how childhood experiences can shape perfectionism and work addiction, and why slowing down can be the beginning of a more balanced and fulfilling life.

In this compelling episode, Maryane openly shares:
• Growing up in a family affected by ongoing money struggles
• Caring for her mother, who lived with chronic ill-health and did not speak English as a first language
• Advocating for her family from a young age
• Becoming highly driven and high-achieving at work
• Studying English and going on to work in Higher Education
• Being the only young, Black female in a space dominated by older White men
• Building a successful career at pace
• Reaching a point of personal stress and overwork that led to serious health issues
• Being forced to slow down and re-evaluate her priorities
• Addressing what she describes as 'a work addiction'
• Retraining as a counsellor after her recovery
• Choosing to live a 'softer life' centred more on balance than perfection
• Working now as a counsellor, coach and public speaker with individuals, couples and groups

This essential conversation offers valuable insight for high achievers struggling with perfectionism, overwork, and the pressure of trying to 'have it all'.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Childhood hardship and early caring responsibilities
• Growing up with financial pressure and family advocacy
• The roots of perfectionism and overachievement
• Navigating race, gender and identity in professional spaces
• The impact of chronic stress and overwork on health
• Recognising and addressing work addiction
• Slowing down and re-evaluating priorities
• Recovery and career change
• Retraining as a counsellor
• Living a softer, more balanced life
• Supporting individuals, couples and groups through counselling and coaching

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
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🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sex, Relationships and Compulsive Behaviours | Silva Neves

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses sex therapy, compulsive sexual behaviours, relationship dynamics, monogamy, conversion therapy, sex education, and pornography.

This episode of A Bunch of Therapists is proudly sponsored by The Awareness Centre, a leading counselling and psychotherapy practice in London with over 300 therapists, offering therapy both in person and online. With a range of fee options designed to make support more accessible, no GP referral needed, no waiting list, and appointments available seven days a week. Visit https://https://theawarenesscentre.com/ to find the right therapist for you.

🎧 Join us for a refreshing and insightful conversation with sex and relationships therapist and author Silva Neves as he shares his transformative approach to understanding compulsive sexual behaviours through psychotherapy rather than addiction frameworks.

This honest discussion explores how childhood experiences shape adult patterns, and why compassion and non-judgment are essential when working with complex relationship and sexual issues.

In this compelling episode, Silva openly shares:
• His radical approach to treating compulsive sexual behaviours
• Why addiction frameworks don't fit sexual behaviour patterns
• Using psychotherapy to understand root causes formed in childhood
• The stories behind compulsive behaviours
• His perspective on monogamy
• Thoughts on conversion therapy
• Sex education and its impact
• The role of pornography in relationships
• Working with clients with compassion and non-judgment

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in sex therapy, relationship dynamics, or understanding compulsive behaviours from a psychological perspective.

Key Topics Discussed:
• Compulsive sexual behaviours and psychological roots
• Childhood experiences shaping adult patterns
• Moving beyond addiction models in sex therapy
• Monogamy and relationship structures
• Conversion therapy and its implications
• Sex education and awareness
• Pornography and relationships
• Compassionate, non-judgmental therapeutic approaches
• Understanding clients' stories and experiences

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every other Thursday

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The Footballer Who Became a Therapist | Anthony Bedward

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses supporting survivors of sexual abuse, undiagnosed dyslexia, overcoming adversity, football, youth work, and vulnerability.

This episode is sponsored by The Awareness Centre. The Awareness Centre offers counselling and psychotherapy in a way that feels genuinely accessible. From NHS talking therapies, private therapy, and a low cost counselling service, we love that they're making good therapy available to more people. To find out more about their services, please visit https://https://theawarenesscentre.com/

🎧 Join us for an inspiring conversation with Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapist Anthony Bedward. Once a promising footballer, Anthony’s journey took a dramatic turn after an injury forced him to leave the sport behind. Facing undiagnosed dyslexia and leaving school unable to read or write, he went on to build a career as a youth worker and mentor before finding his calling in therapy. Anthony shares the emotional and financial challenges of training as a counsellor, the struggle with vulnerability, especially for young Black men, and his dedication to supporting survivors of sexual abuse and promoting emotional literacy.

In this compelling episode, Anthony openly shares:
• Growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia and leaving school without qualifications
• His early promise as a footballer and the impact of injury
• Building a career as a youth worker and mentor
• Facing redundancy and choosing a new path in counselling
• Overcoming emotional and financial barriers as a student therapist
• The challenge of vulnerability for young Black men
• His work supporting survivors of sexual abuse
• Advocating for emotional literacy in young men

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone overcoming adversity, navigating career changes, or interested in the importance of vulnerability and emotional support.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:

• The impact of undiagnosed learning difficulties
• Football, identity, and life after sport
• Youth work as a foundation for therapeutic practice
• Navigating redundancy and career transition
• Barriers to training as a therapist
• Emotional literacy and vulnerability in men
• Supporting survivors of sexual abuse
• Advocacy and private practice

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overcoming an Eating Disorder | Sabine Tendas

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This episode discusses eating disorders, cultural stoicism, vulnerability, depression, and body image.

🎧 Join us for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Transactional Analyst Sabine Tendas as she shares her transformative journey from struggling with an eating disorder in a culture that valued toughness to becoming a therapist who heals through the power of movement and embodied expression.

This honest discussion explores how vulnerability and self-compassion can transform our relationship with our bodies, and why integrating movement into therapy offers profound possibilities.

In this compelling episode, Sabine openly shares:
• Growing up in Sardinia in a culture that encouraged stoicism and toughness
• Struggling with an eating disorder as a young woman
• The shame and isolation of her eating disorder
• Seeking therapy and experiencing the power of being supported and held
• Learning to embrace vulnerability through her therapeutic relationship
• The inspiration to train as a psychotherapist herself
• Being a keen dancer throughout her life
• Experiencing the healing power of movement during a period of depression
• The realisation that dance could be integrated into therapeutic practice
• Training internationally in Dance Movement Therapy
• Her journey from Sardinia through Spain and Brazil to the UK
• Developing a unique approach combining talking therapy with movement and bodywork
• Working with clients to heal distress through physical expression
• Using embodied therapy to access what words alone cannot reach
• Transforming her own pain into compassionate therapeutic practice

This essential conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone struggling with eating disorders, body image issues, depression, or interested in somatic and movement-based approaches to healing.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Cultural messages about stoicism, toughness and emotional expression
• Eating disorders as a response to emotional pain
• The mind-body connection and embodied trauma
• The healing power of being held and supported in therapy
• Learning vulnerability and self-compassion
• Depression and finding solace through movement
• Dance and creative expression as therapeutic tools
• Somatic therapy and body-centred approaches
• Training in Dance Movement Therapy internationally
• Integrating multiple therapeutic modalities
• Accessing emotions through the body
• Healing distress through physical expression
• Using lived experience to support clients authentically
• The transformative power of movement and embodiment

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every other Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Teenage Dad to Doctorate | Dr Derek McKenzie

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains themes of around racism, colourism, shame, educational inequality, and systemic discrimination.

🎧 Join us for a powerful and deeply personal conversation with psychotherapist Dr Derek McKenzie as he shares his extraordinary journey from facing severe racism and internalised colourism in 1970s South London to becoming a doctor who challenges Eurocentric norms in the therapy world.

This honest discussion explores how childhood adversity and systemic barriers can be transformed into purpose, and why centring Black voices and experiences is essential for authentic therapeutic practice.

In this compelling episode, Derek openly shares:
• Growing up in South London during the 1970s
• Facing relentless racism on the streets as a child
• Internalising colourist messages from family and society
• Experiencing shame at being darker skinned and African
• Struggling in school and leaving without learning to read and write
• Becoming a young father at 16
• Working hard to support his family from a young age
• Training as a youth worker
• Learning to read and write in his 30s
• Aspiring to become a social worker
• Excelling in exams but being rejected for a university degree in social work
• The pivotal decision to train in counselling instead
• Building a private practice as a psychotherapist
• Completing a doctorate in recent years
• Centring Black authors and voices in his PhD research
• Challenging Eurocentric norms in the therapy world
• Using his lived experience to transform therapeutic practice

This essential conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone navigating racism, colourism, educational barriers, or interested in decolonising therapy and creating more inclusive mental health spaces.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Racism and racial trauma in childhood
• Colourism and internalised shame about skin colour and heritage
• The intersection of racism and educational inequality
• Systemic barriers to education and professional advancement
• Young parenthood and early responsibility
• Resilience and self-education despite institutional rejection
• Career pivots and finding your path
• The importance of representation in therapy training
• Decolonising therapeutic practice
• Centring Black voices and Black authors in academia
• Challenging Eurocentric norms in mental health
• Using lived experience to transform systems
• Building authentic therapeutic relationships across difference

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every other Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dual Heritage, Belonging and Finding Your Place | Mary-Claire Wilson

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This honest discussion explores how early experiences of not belonging can shape our sense of self, and why therapy became the catalyst for understanding and embracing her unique identity.

This episode explores themes of dual heritage identity, racial identity, belonging, feeling like an outsider, and cultural displacement.

🎧 Join us for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with psychotherapist and trainer Mary-Claire Wilson as she shares her transformative journey from feeling like an outsider in two different worlds to becoming a specialist who helps others navigate the complexities of dual and multi-heritage identity.

In this compelling episode, Mary-Claire openly shares:
• Growing up in a village in Nigeria with her mother's family
• The experience of dual heritage in a Nigerian community
• Moving to the UK with her White father to a small village in Norfolk
• Being singled out as the only person of dual heritage in both environments
• Asking herself as a child: 'what's wrong with me?'
• Feeling profoundly different and like an outsider
• Studying at Oxford University and continued feelings of not belonging
• Training as a primary school teacher
• Experiencing a persistent feeling of emptiness she couldn't shake
• Seeking therapy to address her emotional struggles
• The transformative and healing power of her own therapeutic journey
• The decision to change careers and train as a psychotherapist
• Specialising in dual and multi-heritage identity work
• Lecturing for various counselling and psychotherapy organisations
• Running workshops on inclusion and social equity
• Using her lived experience to support others navigating identity

This essential conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone navigating dual or multi-heritage identity, struggling with belonging, or seeking to understand how cultural displacement shapes our sense of self.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Dual heritage identity and cultural displacement
• Feeling like an outsider in multiple environments
• The impact of being visibly different in predominantly White spaces
• Racial identity development and self-perception
• Childhood experiences of not belonging
• Identity struggles at university and in professional settings
• The persistent feeling of emptiness and disconnection
• Therapy as a path to understanding and accepting yourself
• Career transition from teaching to psychotherapy
• Specialising in dual and multi-heritage therapeutic work
• Creating inclusive spaces and challenging social inequity
• Using lived experience to support clients authentically
• Finding belonging and peace with your identity

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every other Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abandonment, Anger and Attachment Theory | Alina Badescu

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This essential conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone struggling with abandonment fears, anger management, relationship difficulties, or seeking to understand how early experiences shape our adult lives.

🎧 Join us for a warm and deeply personal conversation with integrative therapist Alina Badescu as she shares her transformative journey from childhood abandonment and anger issues to becoming a counsellor who helps others heal through understanding attachment.

This honest discussion explores how early childhood experiences shape our relationships, and why discovering Attachment Theory became the catalyst for profound personal and professional transformation.

In this compelling episode, Alina openly shares:
• Growing up in Romania in the countryside with her grandmother and aunt
• The shock of being reclaimed by her mother and moving to town
• Struggling to adjust to living with parents she barely knew
• Developing abandonment and anger issues in childhood
• How these unresolved issues impacted her romantic relationships
• The strain on her bond with her own children
• Facing workplace challenges stemming from unhealed trauma
• Coming to England in 2013 and working a succession of dead-end jobs
• Hitting crisis point during the Covid pandemic
• Discovering a Facebook video about Attachment Theory that changed everything
• The pivotal decision to train as a counsellor
• How therapy transformed both her personal and professional life
• Using her lived experience to support clients with similar struggles
• Finding compassion for herself and others through healing work

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Early childhood separation and its lasting impact
• Abandonment trauma and attachment patterns
• How unresolved childhood issues affect romantic relationships
• The impact of parental trauma on parenting your own children
• Anger as a response to unmet emotional needs
• Career and workplace challenges rooted in trauma
• Life transitions and crisis as catalysts for change
• The transformative power of understanding Attachment Theory
• Training as a therapist following personal healing
• Using lived experience to support clients authentically
• Breaking cycles of trauma through therapeutic work
• Finding hope and healing after crisis

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every other Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Outsider to Renowned Psychosexual Therapist | Silva Neves

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around homophobia, family dynamics, identity, feeling different, sexual health, heteronormative standards, and therapeutic practice.

🎧 Join us for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with psychosexual therapist and author Silva Neves as he shares his extraordinary journey from feeling like an outsider in a tiny rural French Alpine community to building a thriving practice in London challenging conventional approaches to sex and relationship therapy.

This engaging discussion explores how feeling different can become your greatest strength, and why seeking out environments where you truly belong is essential for personal and professional fulfilment.

In this compelling episode, Silva openly shares:
• Growing up as an only child in a complex family dynamic in the French Alps
• Feeling different from an early age and longing to 'see the horizon'
• Discovering a diverse London environment on a school trip aged 15
• The bold decision to leave home at 18 with just £50 and a one-way ticket
• Working a succession of low-paid jobs whilst building a new life
• Finding his calling supporting schizophrenic patients in the community
• Discovering a capacity for listening and curiosity about clients
• Training as a therapist and specialising in psychosexual therapy
• Challenging heteronormative standards in sex and relationship therapy
• Building a successful practice and becoming a published author
• The transformative power of seeking out where you belong

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone feeling like an outsider, navigating identity, or interested in progressive approaches to sex and relationship therapy.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Growing up feeling different in a small community
• Family dynamics and early identity formation
• The courage to leave home and start afresh
• Finding your people and your place in the world
• Career discovery through meaningful work
• Psychosexual therapy and relationship dynamics
• Challenging conventional approaches to sex and intimacy
• The role of curiosity and listening in therapeutic practice
• Building a successful therapy practice
• Using lived experience to inform professional work

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Language, Belonging and Resilience | Ezgi Erik

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around migration, language barriers, childhood responsibilities, cultural identity, and personal therapy experiences.

Join us for a moving and insightful conversation with therapist, psychologist and researcher Ezgi Erik as she shares her transformative journey from arriving in the UK at age 6 speaking no English to becoming a qualified therapist who specialises in reading the unspoken language of her clients.

This powerful discussion explores how early adversity and cultural displacement can become unexpected strengths in therapeutic practice, and why understanding our own migration story is crucial for healing and connection.

In this compelling episode, Ezgi openly shares:
• Arriving in the UK from Turkey at age 6 with no English language skills
• Struggling to understand teachers, classmates and school routines
• Mastering English largely through watching British soap operas
• Becoming a family interpreter and advocate whilst still in primary school
• Managing doctors' appointments, bills and adult responsibilities as a child
• The profound impact of early childhood displacement and responsibility
• Processing her migration experience through personal therapy during counselling training
• Discovering how her unusual childhood shaped her therapeutic abilities
• Developing exceptional skills in reading body language, tone and non-verbal cues
• The advantages of being a non-English speaker in developing emotional intelligence
• Launching a career in clinical psychology and running a private practice
• Balancing therapy work with psychology research

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone who has experienced migration, cultural displacement, childhood responsibilities, or who is curious about how our early struggles can become our greatest strengths.

Key Topics Discussed:
• The experience of arriving in a new country as a young child
• Language barriers and the challenge of fitting in at school
• Parentification: children taking on adult responsibilities
• Cultural identity and belonging in a new country
• Using unconventional methods to learn language and culture
• Processing childhood trauma through personal therapy
• How non-verbal communication skills develop in multilingual environments
• The connection between migration experiences and emotional attunement
• Reading body language and tone as therapeutic superpowers
• From struggling child to skilled clinician
• Integrating personal experience into professional practice
• The role of psychology research in understanding migration and identity

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cult Survivor to Therapist | Bruno Nice

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around high control organisations, cults, religious trauma, coercive control, and therapeutic harm.

Join us for an eye-opening and deeply personal conversation with counsellor Bruno Nice as he shares his extraordinary journey from being born into a high control religious group to becoming a therapist specialising in cult recovery and organisational trauma.

This powerful discussion explores how surviving coercive control can inform therapeutic practice, and why understanding these dynamics is essential for helping others break free from harmful systems.

In this compelling episode, Bruno openly shares:
• Growing up in a high control religious sect from the 1980s
• How the group controlled every aspect of his life - music, relationships, movement and identity
• Feeling 'different' and struggling to fit in within the group's rigid framework
• His parents' concern and encouragement to seek therapy
• A traumatic experience with an unethical therapist who later abused other young men
• The brave decision to leave the religion and his family home
• How his negative therapy experience inspired him to train as a person-centred counsellor
• Understanding coercive, threatening and exploitative group behaviours
• Specialising in working with current and former cult members
• Recognising the signs of high control organisations - religious and secular
• The journey from survivor to healer and expert

This essential conversation offers profound insights for anyone affected by high control groups, religious trauma, or seeking to understand cult dynamics and recovery.

Key Topics Discussed:
• What defines high control organisations and cults
• Coercive control tactics used to demand total loyalty
• The psychological impact of growing up in restrictive religious environments
• Identity suppression and the struggle to be yourself
• Recognising red flags in religious and secular organisations
• The lasting effects of religious trauma
• Therapeutic harm and unethical practitioner behaviour
• Finding courage to leave family and familiar systems
• Person-centred counselling as a healing approach
• Supporting survivors of cults and high control groups
• From victim to expert: using lived experience in therapeutic practice

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday
Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:
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Burnout, Anxiety and Living in the Here and Now | James Gellatley

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around burnout, anxiety, workplace stress, redundancy, and career transitions.

Join us for an inspiring and honest conversation with corporate executive coach and mentor James Gellatley as he shares his transformative journey from a successful 25-year career in the City to discovering his true calling after burnout and redundancy.

This thought-provoking discussion explores how personal crisis can lead to profound self-discovery, and why vulnerability and self-awareness are essential for genuine wellbeing and leadership.

In this compelling episode, James openly shares:
• His 25-year career trajectory in banking, rising to senior level at Credit Suisse
• The hidden cost of outward success and the burden of maintaining a professional image
• Struggling with burnout whilst hiding health challenges from colleagues and clients
• Experiencing long Covid symptoms and the impact on his wellbeing
• The fear of vulnerability damaging his reputation in the corporate world
• How Credit Suisse's collapse became an unexpected turning point
• Facing redundancy, financial responsibilities and loss of identity
• Enrolling in a Foundation Course in Counselling at the Awareness Centre
• The transformative power of personal therapy and self-reflection
• Retraining as an Executive and Teams Coach
• Using decades of banking experience to help others find happiness and productivity
• Breaking free from workaholism and rediscovering purpose
• Living in the here and now and reconnecting with personal needs

This essential conversation offers hope and practical insights for anyone struggling with burnout, workplace anxiety, perfectionism, or searching for greater meaning in their career and life.

Key Topics Discussed:
• The psychology of burnout in high-pressure corporate environments
• Maintaining a facade of success whilst struggling internally
• The impact of long Covid on mental and physical wellbeing
• Fear of vulnerability in professional settings
• Career identity and loss of purpose following redundancy
• Therapy as a catalyst for career transformation
• Transitioning from corporate executive to executive coach
• Reconnecting with personal values and needs
• Breaking patterns of overwork and self-neglect
• Male vulnerability and emotional honesty in the workplace
• Finding authentic purpose beyond job titles and status
• Mindfulness and living in the present moment

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Rebuild Your Life | Joy Zheng

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around ADHD, cultural expectations, gender inequality, relationship breakdown, depression, and career transitions.

Join us for an inspiring and honest conversation with counsellor and former DJ Joy Zheng as she shares her transformative journey from struggling with self-worth in a society that valued boys over girls, to building a thriving private practice in London.

This compelling discussion explores how overcoming cultural expectations, navigating ADHD, and embracing therapy can lead to profound personal reinvention and professional fulfilment.

Hosted by:
Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast. Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach & Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).

In this compelling episode, Joy openly shares:
• Growing up in China and internalising messages about her worth as a girl
• Being diagnosed with ADHD and struggling through school
• Finding creative escape through music and the DJ scene
• Building a successful career as a DJ in Shanghai
• Meeting her husband through the music industry and moving to London
• The devastating impact of relationship breakdown and lost dreams
• Experiencing depression and feeling lost after separation
• A pivotal conversation that sparked her interest in therapy
• Training as a therapist whilst managing ADHD and learning in English
• Overcoming academic and group work challenges
• Building and growing her private practice in London
• Redefining self-worth beyond societal and relationship expectations
• Creating a new life on her own terms

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone struggling with self-worth, navigating ADHD, recovering from relationship loss, or considering a career transition into therapy.

Key Topics Discussed:
• Cultural gender expectations and internalised feelings of inadequacy
• ADHD in school settings and the lack of support
• Using creativity as a coping mechanism
• Career building and finding your place in the world
• Relationship breakdown and grief
• Depression and the journey towards recovery
• The transformative power of therapy
• Training as a therapist with ADHD and language barriers
• Redefining identity after major life changes
• Building a successful private practice
• Self-worth beyond external validation

#TherapyUK #ADHD #SelfWorth #CulturalExpectations #RelationshipHealing #CareerTransition #DepressionAwareness #TherapyTraining #MentalHealthUK #PersonalGrowth

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Turbulent Relationships and Helping Gang-Affected Youth | ShediYah HatNebMaoo

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around relationship breakdown, low self-esteem, vulnerable young people, gang involvement, and creative therapy approaches.

🎧 Join us for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with Child, Adolescent and Family Therapist ShediYah HatNebMaoo as she shares her unconventional journey from struggling in a turbulent relationship with low self-esteem to becoming a compassionate therapist who helps vulnerable young people imagine new possibilities for their lives.

This honest discussion explores how therapy can transform our confidence and self-belief, and why creative, person-centred approaches are so powerful when working with young people facing difficult circumstances.

In this compelling episode, ShediYah openly shares:
• Her unconventional journey into therapy as a young mother
• Struggling in a turbulent relationship with low self-esteem
• Being encouraged to try therapy by her partner's probation officer
• Feeling unsafe leaving her children with someone else
• Finding a therapist who allowed her to bring her children along
• How therapy helped her rebuild her confidence
• Contemplating a career change whilst raising young children
• Spending 4 years volunteering before committing to training as a counsellor
• Working with children and young people, many of whom are vulnerable
• Supporting young people with experience of gangs
• Using gentle, person-centred approaches in her work
• Incorporating creative therapy and dreamwork into her practice
• Helping young people to 'imagine something else for themselves'
• Her role as a lecturer and Clinical Supervisor

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone working with vulnerable young people, navigating difficult relationships, or interested in creative therapeutic approaches.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Seeking help whilst managing childcare responsibilities
• The impact of turbulent relationships on self-esteem and confidence
• Therapy as a catalyst for personal transformation
• The power of person-centred approaches
• Creative therapy and dreamwork with young people
• Supporting vulnerable young people and those affected by gangs
• Building hope and possibility with young people facing adversity
• The journey from client to therapist
• Volunteering and career transitions
• Clinical supervision and training others
• Reimagining futures for young people in difficult circumstances

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebuilding Your Life After Child Loss | Charlotte Allocca

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around child loss, cancer, bereavement, grief, family resilience, and rebuilding after tragedy.

🎧 Join us for a deeply moving and inspirational conversation with psychotherapist Charlotte Allocca as she shares her extraordinary journey through unimaginable loss, from the devastating diagnosis of her daughter Rose's rare bone cancer to rebuilding her life and finding profound purpose through helping others navigate grief.
This gripping and honest discussion explores how loss can transform us, and why finding the right support and community is essential for healing after bereavement.

In this compelling episode, Charlotte openly shares:
• Becoming a mother in her late 20s filled with anxiety and self-doubt
• How she embraced motherhood with confidence by the time her daughter Rose was born
• The shock of Rose's diagnosis with a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer
• Two years of hospital visits, surgeries and intensive treatment
• Witnessing her daughter's remarkable resilience throughout her illness
• The moment doctors declared nothing more could be done
• Rose passing away at home aged 8
• The profound grief and loss that followed
• Facing additional difficult challenges whilst trying to rebuild her family's life
• Struggling to find the right therapeutic help during her bereavement
• Finding solace in volunteering for a bereavement charity
• The decision to train as a therapist herself
• Running a private practice in London and the Isle of Wight
• Using her experience to support others through loss and grief

This essential conversation offers invaluable guidance for anyone navigating child loss, bereavement, grief recovery, or seeking to rebuild their life after tragedy.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The journey into motherhood and early parenting anxieties
• Childhood resilience and coping with serious illness
• The impact of child loss on families
• Navigating grief and bereavement after losing a child
• Finding appropriate therapeutic support during loss
• The role of community and bereavement charities
• Rebuilding family life after tragedy
• Training as a therapist following personal loss
• Using personal experience to support grieving clients
• Finding purpose and meaning after loss
• The healing power of helping others

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADHD, Male Vulnerability & Hidden Trauma | Simon Jacobs

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around ADHD, overwork, male vulnerability, family trauma, ancestral trauma, and career transitions.

🎧 Join us for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation with Gestalt psychotherapist Simon Jacobs as he shares his remarkable journey from building a highly successful advertising business to discovering his true calling in therapy, uncovering how childhood competitiveness and hidden family trauma shaped his adult struggles with overwork and perfectionism.

This honest and inspiring discussion explores how becoming a father can trigger profound personal transformation, and why understanding ancestral trauma is essential for breaking free from inherited patterns of behaviour.

In this compelling episode, Simon openly shares:
• Growing up as an artistic child with a high-achieving mother
• Struggling at school because of his ADHD
• Finding solace and expression through creativity
• Building a highly successful career in the advertising industry
• Being encouraged to be competitive from childhood
• Overworking and obsessing over failures in his business
• The overwhelming pressures of work, relationships and fatherhood
• His transformative experience seeking help from a therapist
• Making the bold decision to pivot careers within weeks
• Beginning his own therapy training and leaving advertising behind
• Running a successful private practice and long-running men's therapy group
• Becoming a facilitator in Family Constellations therapy
• Addressing ancestral trauma and difficult family dynamics
• Breaking down barriers around male vulnerability

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone struggling with overwork, competitiveness, ADHD, or the pressures of balancing career success with family life and personal wellbeing.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Living and thriving with ADHD
• The impact of high-achieving parents on childhood development
• Competitiveness and perfectionism in business
• Overwork, burnout and obsessing over failure
• Male vulnerability and seeking help
• The transformative power of fatherhood
• Career transitions from corporate success to therapeutic practice
• Men's therapy groups and creating safe spaces for vulnerability
• Family Constellations therapy and ancestral trauma
• How hidden family dynamics affect present-day behaviour
• Breaking free from inherited patterns and family trauma
• Using creativity as a coping mechanism and form of expression

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Recognise the Language of Your Body: Gestalt Therapy, Young People's Mental Health & Repairing Family Relationships | Jo Small | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 23

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around family relationship breakdown, young people's mental health (including self-harm and suicide ideation), body-based therapy approaches, and post-pandemic challenges.

🎧 Join us for an insightful and compassionate conversation with Gestalt psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor Jo Small as she shares her journey from growing up in a northern town before mental health was widely discussed to becoming a specialist in body-based therapy and working extensively with young people.
This essential discussion explores how our bodies communicate what words cannot, and why understanding the physical language of emotions is crucial for healing troubled relationships and supporting young people in today's challenging world.

In this compelling episode, Jo openly shares:
• Growing up in a northern town before mental health was widely discussed
• How she would have benefitted from therapy during her parents' relationship breakup
• Her transformative experience working with a Gestalt therapist
• Using specific techniques to repair troubled relationships, particularly with her father
• Training as a Gestalt therapist, trainer and supervisor
• Working extensively with the body to understand emotional communication
• How gesture, posture and physical feelings reveal what clients are experiencing
• Her work in schools supporting young people's mental health
• How challenging life has become for children and teenagers post-pandemic
• The impact of social media on young people's wellbeing
• Recognising and interpreting the language our bodies speak

This essential conversation offers valuable guidance for anyone curious about body-based therapeutic approaches, working with young people, or understanding how thoughts and feelings manifest physically.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The importance of mental health support during family breakdown
• Gestalt therapy techniques for repairing damaged relationships
• How the body communicates emotions through gesture and posture
• Working therapeutically with physical feelings and sensations
• Young people's mental health in schools
• The post-pandemic impact on children and teenagers
• Social media's effect on young people's wellbeing
• Body-based approaches to therapy and healing
• Training and supervising in Gestalt therapy
• Recognising what your body is telling you about your emotional state

Chapters:

00:00 From Difficult Childhood to Becoming a Therapist
02:36 Addressing Self-Harm and Post-Pandemic Challenges in Schools 08:50 The Here and Now: Awareness and Relational Patterns
14:57 Using Gestalt to Repair a Difficult Father Relationship
18:28 How Embodied Practice Reveals Emotions and Anxieties
26:18 Marathons, Authenticity, and Social Media's Impact
30:22 The Value of Self-Disclosure in Podcast Conversations

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Post-Communist Romania to London Therapist: Overcoming Pandemic Anxiety & Male Vulnerability | Sorin Floti | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 22

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around anxiety, depression, male vulnerability, and pandemic mental health experiences.

Join us for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation with counsellor, business-owner and economist Sorin Floti as he shares his unconventional journey from post-communist Romania to becoming a therapist in London, sparked by his own mental health struggles during the pandemic.

This inspiring discussion explores how personal crisis can lead to profound career transformation, and why understanding our own mental health challenges is often the first step towards helping others.

In this compelling episode, Sorin openly shares:
• Growing up in post-communist Romania and moving to the US for university
• Working towards a Masters Degree when Covid disrupted everything
• Being removed from usual routines and coping mechanisms during the pandemic
• Experiencing anxiety and depression for the first time
• His transformative experience with phone therapy and a skilful practitioner
• How therapy helped him manage his mental health during lockdown
• Recognising the potential for a counselling career through his own healing
• Balancing his practice in London with work as a business-owner and economist
• The challenges of overachieving and self-criticism
• Breaking down barriers around male vulnerability
• Why men often struggle to seek help and express emotions

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone who has experienced pandemic mental health challenges, career transitions, or struggles with perfectionism and self-criticism.

Key Topics Discussed:
• The mental health impact of pandemic disruption and isolation
• How personal therapy experiences can inspire career changes
• Overachieving, perfectionism and the pressure to succeed
• Self-criticism and developing self-compassion
• Male vulnerability and breaking down emotional barriers
• Why men find it difficult to seek mental health support
• Balancing multiple careers and finding your calling
• The transformative power of skilled therapeutic intervention
• Cultural perspectives on mental health and therapy
• From client to practitioner: using personal experience professionally

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Music Business to Desert Retreats: Blending Eastern Wisdom with Western Therapy | Ben McKie | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 21

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around nomadic childhood experiences, career transitions, therapy training, and alternative therapeutic approaches.

Join us for an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation with psychotherapist, executive coach and businessman Ben McKie as he shares his remarkable journey from the music business to founding innovative therapeutic projects that blend Eastern wisdom with Western psychological practice.

This thought-provoking discussion explores how following your calling can lead to unexpected paths, and why stepping outside traditional frameworks can create profound opportunities for healing and growth.

In this compelling episode, Ben openly shares:
• How his nomadic childhood shaped his worldview and approach to life
• His journey into therapy as a young father working in the music business
• The pivotal moment of turning down a lucrative job to follow his therapeutic calling
• Building and running a successful private practice for several years
• Growing frustrated with traditional therapeutic approaches and seeking alternatives
• Founding innovative projects that integrate Eastern wisdom with Western psychology
• Juggling private client work with desert retreats in Egypt
• Developing social impact projects across the UK
• The lies we tell ourselves and how to recognise them
• What really happens when we courageously leave our comfort zone
• Why doubt can actually become our greatest ally in personal growth

This essential conversation offers profound insights for anyone questioning conventional paths, seeking deeper meaning in their work, or curious about innovative approaches to healing and personal development.

Key Topics Discussed:
• The impact of nomadic childhood experiences on adult perspectives
• Career transitions and following your authentic calling
• Integrating Eastern wisdom with Western therapeutic practice
• Building alternative therapeutic frameworks outside traditional models
• The role of doubt in personal and professional growth
• Creating meaningful work that aligns with your values
• Desert retreats and experiential therapeutic approaches
• Social impact projects and community healing
• Recognising and challenging the lies we tell ourselves
• The transformative power of leaving your comfort zone

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:40 Why Ben went into therapy
05:00 Believing fabricated stories about yourself that are different from the truth
06:45 Growing up in different countries
08:03 Ben’s Dad who was a monk
10:44 Setting up desert retreats
14:45 Sitting in an Oasis
15:36 The beginning of the desert retreats
19:35 The transformation that happens in the desert
20:43 Therapy alone isn’t enough
21:55 Eastern philosophy, medicine and wisdom
23:00 Returning from the desert and working online
27:20 Working in the music industry
28:38 Ben’s career change
30:00 Pushing against authority
31:25 The newer generation coming to therapy
32:54 Ben’s values as a therapist and being brave
33:51 The Greater Good Consultancy
38:00 Exposing ourselves to other ways of seeing and being
39:28 Ben’s final message
39:54 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Break Free from Toxic Relationships: Boarding School Trauma, Attachment & Healing | Dr Jane Halsall | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 20

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around boarding school experiences, grief, attachment trauma, addiction, and toxic relationships.

🎧 Join us for a profound and insightful conversation with Counselling Psychologist Dr Jane Halsall as she shares her transformative journey from career change to specialising in grief and attachment, uncovering how early boarding school experiences shaped her ability to trust and form meaningful relationships.

This honest and enlightening discussion explores how personal therapy can reveal hidden trauma, and why understanding our attachment patterns is crucial for breaking free from toxic relationship cycles.

In this compelling episode, Dr Halsall openly shares:
• Her mid-twenties career pivot from her original path to studying Psychology
• Training in Addiction Counselling and working at a women-only rehab facility
• How witnessing trauma in others revealed her own unresolved issues
• The profound impact of boarding school on her ability to trust and form relationships
• Using personal therapy to understand her own attachment patterns
• Specialising in grief and attachment as a Counselling Psychologist
• Working with clients who struggle to form and maintain relationships
• The psychology behind toxic relationships and why they're so difficult to escape
• The art of sitting with yourself and developing self-awareness
• Practical insights for breaking destructive relationship patterns

This essential conversation offers valuable guidance for anyone struggling with relationship difficulties, trust issues, or the lasting effects of early separation and institutional experiences.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The long-term psychological impact of boarding school experiences
• How early separation affects adult attachment and relationships
• Recognising and addressing unresolved trauma through therapy
• Understanding the psychology of toxic relationships
• Why we repeatedly find ourselves in harmful relationship patterns
• The role of grief in attachment and relationship healing
• Developing the capacity to sit with difficult emotions
• Career transitions and finding your therapeutic calling
• Using personal experience to inform professional specialisation
• Practical strategies for building healthier relationship patterns

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:03 How Jane found herself in the world of therapy
02:36 Jane’s placement in a women’s only rehab centre
05:01 Treatment centres being geared towards men
05:44 Jane’s own challenges surfacing
08:10 Jane’s experience at boarding school
10:30 Struggling to fit in, bullying and feeling isolated
11:40 Attachment Style and being ‘hard’ in relationships
12:50 Is everyone traumatised?
13:40 The traits of being traumatised
15:34 Feeling guilty about being privileged and traumatised
16:26 How Jane’s family and friends viewed her going to therapy
17:56 What Jane has learnt from the world of therapy
18:34 Grief and the different types of loss
21:30 Is phone use and social media problematic?
22:35 How working with grief has changed Jane as a person and as a single parent
24:26 Toxic relationships and the subtle changes
26:30 Attachment styles
28:16 Family trauma and recreating patterns
32:04 Jane’s final message to viewers and listeners
33:30 Outro

#TherapyUK #AttachmentTherapy #ToxicRelationships #BoardingSchoolTrauma #GriefTherapy #CounsellingPsychology #RelationshipTherapy #MentalHealthUK #TherapyTraining

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Childhood Bullying to CBT Pioneer: 50 Years of Innovation in Therapy | Professor Windy Dryden | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 19

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around childhood bullying and stammering.

🎧 Join us for an extraordinary conversation with Professor Windy Dryden, one of the most influential figures in modern psychotherapy, as he shares his remarkable 50-year journey from a bullied schoolboy with a stammer to becoming a pioneering force in CBT and creator of revolutionary ONEplus therapy.

This fascinating and wide-ranging discussion explores how personal adversity sparked a lifelong passion for understanding human psychology, leading to groundbreaking contributions that have shaped therapeutic practice worldwide.

In this compelling episode, Professor Dryden openly shares:
• How childhood bullying and stammering ignited his interest in feelings and motivations
• His transformative experience on a kibbutz in Israel
• The early development and evolution of CBT as a therapeutic approach
• Creating ONEplus therapy - a revolutionary single-session therapeutic method
• His prolific writing career spanning 290 books on psychotherapy
• The crucial difference between self-esteem and self-acceptance
• Tackling procrastination through innovative 'anti-crastination' techniques
• What can realistically be achieved in just one therapy session
• Insights from five decades at the forefront of therapeutic innovation

This essential conversation offers invaluable insights for therapists, students, and anyone interested in the evolution of modern psychotherapy and the power of turning personal challenges into professional purpose.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The origins of CBT and its development over the decades
• How personal adversity can fuel professional innovation
• ONEplus therapy and single-session therapeutic interventions
• Self-acceptance versus self-esteem in therapeutic practice
• Procrastination and practical strategies for overcoming it
• The academic journey from personal struggle to professorship
• Writing and sharing knowledge across 290 published works
• What makes therapy effective in different timeframes
• The evolution of psychotherapeutic approaches over 50 years

Chapters:
00:00 Guest Introduction
01:10 How Windy got into the world of psychology through having a stammer
03:09 Windy’s father's relationship with money and deciding Windy’s career
04:00 Dropping out of University and going to Israel to a Kibbutz
04:40 Returning to University and beginning his career as a therapist
08:35 Rational Emotive Psychotherapy
09:58 Windy’s career progression
11:28 Windy’s experience at Goldsmiths and being turned down for lecturing jobs
14:10 Windy’s stammer
15:15 Going to America for CBT training
19:14 Rational Emotive Psychotherapy being ‘wiped out’ in the UK
20:25 Writing 290 books
22:46 Single session therapy
30:53 Windy’s current writing
31:46 Building a relationship with a client during single session therapy

37:27 Windy’s thoughts on the NHS’ first contact being an assessment

38:12 Windy’s one piece of advice for listeners

39:02 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Overcome Shame Around Sex | Julie Sale Part 2 | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 18

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around sex, shame, intimacy, and relationship diversity.

🎧 Join us for the second part of our fascinating conversation with psychosexual psychotherapist and trainer Julie Sale as she tackles the big questions about love, intimacy, and what's truly 'normal' in relationships.

With her trademark irreverence and humour, Julie addresses some of the most common concerns people have about sex and relationships, offering expert insights that challenge conventional thinking about intimacy and connection.

In this compelling episode, Julie openly discusses:
• Why there's so much secrecy and shame around sex in our society
• What actually constitutes 'normal' when it comes to relationships and intimacy
• Whether your sex life is over if you don't share a bed with your partner
• Understanding and embracing relationship diversity beyond traditional models
• How shame impacts our ability to connect intimately with others
• Practical insights from her work as founder of CICS (The Contemporary Institute for Clinical Sexology)
• Breaking down myths and misconceptions about sex and relationships

This essential conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone questioning what's 'normal' in their relationship or struggling with shame around intimacy and sexual expression.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Challenging societal norms around sex and relationships
• Understanding the roots of sexual shame and secrecy
• Exploring different relationship models and what works for different people
• Practical advice for couples navigating intimacy challenges
• The impact of shame on sexual and emotional connection
• What psychosexual therapy can offer individuals and couples
• Redefining 'normal' in relationships and sexual expression
• Julie's irreverent and humorous approach to serious topics

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:22 Training as a Sex Therapist
01:46 Why specialising in fertility wasn’t the right decision for Julie
04:07 Training as a Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist
04:35 Setting up The Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology (CICS)
07:28 You can’t avoid yourself in the subject of sex and relationships
08:24 What is sex and relationship therapy, and how is psychosexual therapy different from psychotherapy?
09:48 What is ‘good sex’ and what are the external factors impacting our sex lives?
10:39 Why sex carries a lot of shame, according to Julie
13:34 Where do you go to learn about sex?
14:38 Psychotherapy is obsessed with trauma, not shame
15:55 Older generations vs younger generations
16:30 The loss of relational connection
17:41 One relationship can’t meet all our needs
17:58 The Romance Myth
19:09 Sex doesn’t always happen at bedtime
20:53 Having more than one intimate relationship
22:41 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Be Your True Self: Family, Sexuality & Mental Health | Hilton da Silva | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 17

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around mental health in the family, bipolar disorder, coming out, and psychosexual therapy.

🎧 Join us for a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation with psychosexual and relationship counsellor Hilton da Silva as he shares his journey from Brazil to London, navigating family mental health challenges, and finding freedom to be his authentic self.

This honest and inclusive discussion explores how early experiences with mental health in the family shaped Hilton's path to becoming a specialist in psychosexual and relationship work, offering valuable insights for people in relationships of all kinds.

In this compelling episode, Hilton openly shares:
• Growing up in Brazil and experiencing mental health problems in his family from a young age
• How his brother's bipolar disorder and erratic behaviour impacted the entire family
• Moving to live with a relative as a teenager due to family circumstances
• Finding his way as a queer person and the challenges of growing up LGBTQIA+
• His decision to move to London where he felt freer to be his true self
• Training to become a therapist and specialising in psychosexual and relationship work
• Supporting clients with sexual dysfunction, shame, intimacy, and communication issues
• Working as Team Leader for Wandsworth Talking Therapies

This essential conversation offers inclusive and sound advice for people in every sort of relationship, however they identify, and valuable insights into how personal experiences can inform therapeutic specialisation.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The impact of family mental health challenges on young people
• Navigating cultural and family expectations around sexuality and identity
• Finding freedom and authenticity through geographical change
• How psychosexual and relationship therapy works in practice
• Supporting clients with sexual dysfunction and intimacy issues
• Addressing shame and communication problems in relationships
• Conflict avoidance and its impact on relationships
• Creating inclusive therapeutic spaces for all relationship types
• The connection between personal healing and professional calling

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
1:15 Why Hilton went to therapy and his brother's journey to being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
06:54 Hilton’s decision to move away as a teenager
09:35 Hilton’s experience as a gay, cisgender man living in Brazil and hiding his sexuality as a teenager
10:13 How Hilton’s mum discovered his sexuality
11:35 The fear of being asked to leave your home because your sexuality isn’t accepted
12:10 Hilton’s first experience of therapy at 33
13:00 Why Hilton came to London
14:07 Hilton’s unexpected journey to becoming a therapist
15:30 Hilton’s best therapist and the importance of finding the right therapist as being part of a marginalised community
16:17 How Hilton knew he was gay and dating girls
17:29 Making LGBTQ+ friends and the freedom they feel to be open in London
18:52 Transphobic crime in Brazil
20:00 Hilton’s journey to training to become a therapist
21:32 Hilton’s marriage to a fellow therapist
22:24 What is Psychosexual Therapy
22:47 Vagnismus
24:26 Couple’s Therapy common challenges
25:05 Relationship Problems
25:38 The benefit of going to therapy
27:38 Avoidant-Conflict
28:24 How Hilton works now
30:15 Working with the LGBT community, keeping up with the younger generation and different identities
32:20 The most common issue that people bring into the therapy room with Hilton
34:00 Hilton’s final message for listeners
35:15 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Addiction to Grief: How to Rebuild Your Life After Unimaginable Loss | Nina Stephenson-Camps | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 16

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around addiction, cancer, grief and loss, and bullying.

🎧 Join us for an incredibly moving and inspirational conversation with businesswoman and mindset coach Nina Stephenson-Camps as she shares her profound journey through addiction recovery, devastating loss, and the resilience required to rebuild life in the worst possible circumstances.

This open, emotional and wide-ranging discussion explores how Nina transformed her life twice - first overcoming addiction whilst building a successful PR career, and then facing the ultimate test when her husband was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, leaving her to raise two young daughters alone.

In this compelling episode, Nina openly shares:
• Recognising that addiction issues had taken control despite career success in PR
• The pivotal moment of seeking help from a life coach
• Making the brave decision to quit her job and travel the world for a year
• Getting clean and sober and the role therapy played in her recovery
• Pivoting from high-pressure corporate PR to freelance mindset coaching
• Her husband's devastating late-stage cancer diagnosis
• Exhausting all treatment options and facing the reality of terminal illness
• Supporting her husband through his final months at home
• The unimaginable challenge of single parenting two young daughters through grief
• Rebuilding life and finding hope after the worst possible loss
This essential conversation offers profound insights into resilience, hope, and the human capacity to survive and thrive after life's most devastating challenges.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Recognising and addressing addiction whilst maintaining professional success
• The role of life coaching in early recovery
• Using travel and new experiences as part of healing
• Transitioning from corporate life to meaningful work
• Supporting a partner through terminal illness
• Helping children understand and process bereavement
• Single parenting whilst processing your own grief
• Finding strength you didn't know you had
• Building a new life from the ground up
• The importance of professional support during crisis

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
1:25 Why Nina Went into Therapy
06:10 Being Promoted While Working in PR and Having a Breakdown
07:37 Nina's Solo Travelling and Stopping Drinking
10:20 Nina's Dynamics with Female Bosses
13:00 Nina's Transition to Freelancing and Using Meditation Techniques
15:28 Not Being Concerned By Others Perception
17:28 How Nina Works with Teams and Organisations
19:20 Developing Compassion in a Corporate Space
20:20 Nina's Husband's Diagnosis
26:50 Nina and her Families Conversations About Death
29:50 Nina's Husbands Death
30:50 Nina's Experience of Grief and Navigating Other Peoples' Projections
33:00 Watching Her Daughters' Go Through The Grief of Losing Their Dad
38:55 Nina's New Capacity Levels for Work
40:00 The First Year of Grief Isn't the Hardest
41:05 Nina's Advice for Listeners
42:40 Outro

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fighting Perfectionism, Black Beauty Standards and Reconnecting with Your Inner Child | Xena James | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 15

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around working as a Social Worker, Covid, burnout, childhood experiences and Black Beauty standards.

🎧 Join us for an empowering and deeply relatable conversation with social worker, counsellor and coach Xena James as she shares her journey from burnout to breakthrough, tackling perfectionism and reconnecting with her inner child.

This honest and insightful discussion explores how frontline work during Covid led to burnout, and how therapy became the catalyst for profound personal transformation and self-acceptance.

Hosted by:
Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast, Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach and Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).

In this compelling episode, Xena openly shares:
• Her experience of burnout as a frontline social worker during the pandemic
• How an Employee Assistance Programme therapist gave her a 'moment to slow down'
• Using social work insights to reassess her own adverse childhood experiences
• Struggling with unrealistic standards of Black Beauty whilst growing up
• The constant feeling that her natural self was never enough
• How perfectionism became a coping mechanism and barrier to authenticity
• Her journey towards self-acceptance and embracing her inner child
• Successfully balancing teaching social work with coaching and counselling

This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone struggling with social media pressure, perfectionism, and the journey towards genuine self-acceptance.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• Recognising and recovering from professional burnout
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult perfectionism
• Navigating beauty standards and cultural expectations
• How social work skills can inform personal healing
• The role of therapy in breaking perfectionist patterns
• Reconnecting with your authentic self and inner child
• Balancing multiple professional roles whilst maintaining wellbeing
• Practical strategies for overcoming perfectionism
• The importance of slowing down in our fast-paced world

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
1:30 Why Xena Went Into Therapy and Working as a Social Work
2:40 Working as a Social Worker During Covid
3:46 The Journey Leading Up to Therapy and Xena's Experience as an Adolescent
05:50 How Xena Processes Herself and Inner Child Work
06:23 Feeling Like a Failure For Going to Therapy
07:37 Finding and Meeting Your Own Needs
09:40 Image and Perfectionism
10:35 Beauty Standards as a Woman of Colour
15:02 Structural Family Therapy
17:17 Xena's Journey to Becoming a Therapist Through Education
18:20 Inner Child Work
19:31 Xena on Talking to Her 12 Year Old Self
21:40 Reparenting Yourself Through Therapy
22:37 Xena's Current Role and Being a Student at The Awareness Centre
23:14 Outro

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:
YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTV
TikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapists
Instagram: @abunchoftherapists
Facebook: A Bunch of Therapists
LinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Rock Bottom to Award-Winning Therapist | Ben Kaye | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 14

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around addiction, rehab, grooming, cuckoo'ing, and chemsex.

🎧 Join us for an incredibly honest and inspiring conversation with counsellor and campaigner Ben Kaye as he shares his remarkable journey from addiction and breakdown to becoming an award-winning therapist specialising in LGBTQ+ substance misuse and chemsex support.

This powerful episode reveals how life can completely change course twice - first when Ben's parents divorced at 15, derailing his university dreams, and again at 37 when a "tsunami of personal circumstances" led to his breakdown and recovery journey.

Hosted by:
Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast. Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach and Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).

In this compelling episode, Ben openly shares:
• How his parents' divorce at 15 changed his life trajectory overnight
• Working in the City for 20+ years whilst feeling completely stuck
• Using substances from age 15 to 37 as a way to change how he felt
• His mental breakdown at 37 and the dangerous situations he found himself in
• Walking through the doors of a Lambeth drug and alcohol service
• His transformative three months in rehab in Bournemouth
• Discovering he could retrain and pursue education for the first time since leaving school
• Launching Dorset's first LGBTQ+ recovery groups and chemsex support services
• Completing his counselling qualifications and psychology master's degree

This profoundly moving conversation offers hope and practical guidance for anyone struggling with addiction, identity, or feeling trapped in their circumstances.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:
• The impact of family breakdown on teenage development
• Feeling stuck in careers that don't align with your true self
• Substance use as emotional regulation and escape
• The chemsex scene and its specific challenges
• Finding culturally competent therapeutic support
• The importance of being truly heard versus just listened to
• How personal struggles can inform professional specialisation
• Building LGBTQ+ specific services outside major cities
• The difference between MSM (men who have sex with men) and gay identity
• Practical advice on finding the right therapist

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:20 Parents' divorce and life derailment at 15
05:30 Working in the City and feeling stuck
09:00 Substance use as coping mechanism
09:32 Mental breakdown at 37
11:50 Accessing drug and alcohol services
13:10 Rehab experience in Bournemouth
13:30 Chemsex explanation
14:45 Rehab in Bournemouth
19:20 Mental Health and Being Believed
20:14 Working in Drug and Alcohol Services as an Addictions Therapist
20:29 Grooming and Cuckoo'ing
20:50 LGTBQI Specific Therapy
22:58 Training to Become a Counsellor
23:20 Volunteering at a Drug and Alcohol Charity
23:54 Launching the Charity's First LGBTQ Recovery Group
24:52 Creating a Chemsex Drop In Clinic
25:46 Launching the Charity's First LGBTQ Webchat Facility
26:20 Therapy Training and Psychology Masters
27:48 The Next Chapter in Ben's Journey and Returning to The Awareness Centre
28:57 Meeting Clients Where They Are
29:50 Shame Around Sex and Behaviours Around Sex and Finding The Right Therapist
31:16 Male Prison Population and MSM
32:12 Ben's Message to Listeners Who Are Struggling
32:40 Being Listened to vs. Feeling Heard
35:00 Outro

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:
YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTV
TikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapists
Instagram: @abunchoftherapists
Facebook: A Bunch of Therapists
LinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Working Class Roots to Psychosexual Therapy | Julie Sale | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 13

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This episode contains discussion around infertility, IVF, and being hospitalised as a young child.

🎧 Join us for a fascinating and frank conversation with psychosexual psychotherapist and trainer Julie Sale as she shares her remarkable journey from working-class roots in the Midlands to becoming a specialist in sex and relationship therapy.

This honest and wide-ranging discussion opens up important conversations about class, guilt, irrational beliefs, and the true price of success.

In this compelling episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Julie openly shares:
• Her near-death experience as a child and its lasting impact on her worldview
• Struggling with class identity whilst building a successful corporate career
• How past experiences resurfaced during her fertility journey in adulthood
• Being overwhelmed by irrational beliefs and the stress of infertility
• Her transformative therapy experience and decision to retrain as a psychotherapist
• Specialising in psychosexual therapy after her own healing journey

This profoundly insightful conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in class identity, fertility struggles, career transitions, or understanding how our past experiences shape our professional calling.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Navigating class identity and imposter syndrome in professional settings
• The connection between childhood trauma and adult fertility challenges
• Reframing fear and anxiety as excitement and anticipation
• Experiencing both good and bad therapy - and knowing the difference
• How personal struggles can inform therapeutic specialisation
• Practical advice on finding the right therapist and knowing when to leave

00:00 Intro
01:00 Julie's Journey to Becoming a Therapist
02:29 The Perception of Counselling Before The Age of Social Media
03:40 Julie's Yorkshire Working Class Background
05:29 Julie's Approach to University and Work
06:45 A Disappointing Experience in the Corporate World
07:29 Transitioning from a Working Class Family to a Middle Class Lifestyle
09:40 Julie's Experience in Hospital at 5
10:50 Experiencing Infertility
12:48 The Realities of Discussing Your Parents and Family in Therapy
15:20 Rebranding Feeling Terrified to Excited
16:16 Therapy Isn't About Other People - It's About You
17:25 Experiencing Infertility in a Corporate Setting and IVF Treatment
19:18 The Psychological Componenet of Infertility
20:50 Going to Counselling for Infertility and Having a 'Bad' Therapist
22:39 Starting Psychotherapy Training
25:00 How to Find a Good Therapist and When to Leave A 'Bad' Therapist
28:30 Outro

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Bullying and Shame to Helping Others Heal | Seda Albay | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 12

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a personal and moving conversation with therapist and Counselling Manager Seda Albay as she shares her powerful journey from being targeted by bullies to becoming a therapist for others with similar experiences.

This honest and courageous discussion opens up vital conversations about bullying, shame, isolation, and the long-term impact of childhood trauma on our ability to communicate and connect.

In this compelling episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Seda bravely shares:
• Her transformation from an outgoing child to becoming isolated after experiencing secondary school bullying
• The shame that prevented her from telling her family about her struggles
• How the trauma manifested physically, leading to a Colitis diagnosis and hospitalisation
• Her journey of becoming self-reliant whilst struggling to communicate her needs
• Finding healing through university friendships and therapy training
This profoundly insightful conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in bullying recovery, understanding shame, or exploring how personal experiences can inform therapeutic practice.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• The devastating impact of bullying on childhood development
• How shame prevents us from seeking help when we need it most
• The connection between emotional trauma and physical health conditions
• Learning to express repressed emotions through therapy and friendship
• From isolation to connection: rebuilding trust and communication
• Using personal experience to help clients with similar struggles

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Unconventional Adoption to Finding Her Calling in Counselling | Amy Sharpe | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 11

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a deeply moving and inspiring conversation with integrative counsellor Amy Sharpe as she shares her remarkable journey from an unconventional adoption story to discovering her true calling in therapy. This honest and heartfelt discussion opens up important conversations about family, belonging, anxiety, and the transformative power of human connection.

In this touching episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Amy openly shares:
• Her unique adoption story - raised by extended family before being adopted by her godparents at age 11
• Growing up with absent birth parents and the impact on her sense of identity
• Struggling with anxieties around the concept of 'home' and belonging
• Discovering her vocation through a counselling taster course in her thirties
• How therapy helped her understand the root causes of her distress
This profoundly insightful conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in adoption experiences, anxiety management, or finding purpose through helping others heal.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Navigating unconventional family structures and adoption
• The lasting impact of early childhood experiences on adult anxiety
• From career dissatisfaction to discovering a therapeutic calling
• How personal therapy informed professional practice
• The importance of processing difficult emotions rather than avoiding them
• Creating safe spaces for others to explore their full range of feelings

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From South London Gangster Family to Counsellor, Lecturer and Supervisor | Bonny Allyson | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 10

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a remarkable and courageous conversation with counsellor, lecturer and supervisor Bonny Allyson as she shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood surrounded by violence and crime to finding recovery and purpose through therapy. This powerful and honest discussion opens up crucial conversations about trauma, healing, and the transformative power of therapeutic work.

In this fascinating episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Bonny bravely shares:
• Growing up in a family of South London gangsters, witnessing violence, crime and domestic abuse
• Her desperate longing to escape her traumatic situation
• How a relative's counsellor's encouragement set her on the path to becoming a therapist
• Finding purpose and beginning to heal her own traumas through therapeutic training

This deeply inspiring conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in trauma recovery, the healing power of therapy training, or understanding how personal experience can inform professional practice.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Surviving childhood trauma in a criminal family environment
• The journey from victim to survivor to healer
• How therapy training can be part of personal recovery
• Managing anxiety and PTSD through therapeutic work
• The power of positive self-talk in recovery
• From personal healing to helping others as counsellor, lecturer and supervisor

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:
YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTV
TikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapists
Instagram: @abunchoftherapists
Facebook: A Bunch of Therapists
LinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Anger and Addiction to Creating Services for Marginalised Communities | Neil Bennett | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 9

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a powerful and inspiring conversation with trainee integrative counsellor Neil Bennett as he shares his transformative journey from personal struggle to passionate advocacy. This honest and compelling discussion opens up crucial conversations about anger, addiction, racism, and the importance of culturally sensitive mental health services.

In this moving episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Neil courageously shares:
• Growing up in South London witnessing his community and parents struggle with racism and ostracisation
• The disconnect he felt between his parents' immigrant experience and his own identity as a black Londoner
• How anger and confusion manifested in addiction and his path to recovery
• His transition from service user to volunteer to qualified Health and Social Care professional

This deeply insightful conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in community mental health, addiction recovery, or creating inclusive therapeutic services for marginalised communities.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• The impact of racism and community ostracisation on mental health
• Navigating identity as a second-generation immigrant
• From addiction to advocacy: a personal transformation story
• The importance of addressing root causes rather than symptoms
• Creating culturally sensitive services through ARC project
• Training as an Integrative Counsellor whilst building community services

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Business of Caring For and Treating Children of Emotionally Immature Parents | Amy Launder | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 8

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation with psychotherapist, teacher, clinical supervisor and businesswoman Amy Launder as she shares her journey from teenage aspiration to successful multi-faceted practice. This engaging discussion opens up crucial conversations about the business of caring, emotionally immature parents, loneliness, and the benefits of long-term therapy.

In this comprehensive episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Amy openly shares:
• Her journey from deciding to be a therapist as a teenager to qualifying in her mid-20s
• Early struggles with being taken seriously by clients and herself
• Successfully juggling a thriving private practice with other business interests
• Her specialisation in treating children of emotionally immature parents

This deeply informative conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in building a sustainable therapy practice, understanding family dynamics, or exploring the benefits of long-term therapeutic work.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Building credibility as a young therapist
• The business approach to therapy practice
• Treating children of emotionally immature parents
• Navigating difficult family relationships
• The origins and meaning of 'Flying Monkeys'
• Benefits of long-term therapy relationships

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Post-Natal Depression to Combining Therapy and Fitness | Claudine van de Vyver | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 7

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a fascinating and inspiring conversation with psychotherapist and fitness instructor Claudine van de Vyver as she shares her remarkable journey from experiencing crippling post-natal depression to becoming a therapist who uniquely combines body and mind work. This honest discussion opens up crucial conversations about post-natal mental health, dyslexia, and body dysmorphia.

In this powerful episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Claudine courageously shares:
• Her experience of crippling post-natal depression over two decades ago
• How life-changing therapy sparked her ambition to become a counsellor
• Overcoming dyslexia fears to complete counselling training
• Simultaneously training as both a therapist and yoga teacher

This deeply inspiring conversation offers valuable insights for anyone exploring the mind-body connection, working through post-natal challenges, or interested in overcoming academic fears to pursue their dreams.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Post-natal depression and seeking therapy
• Overcoming dyslexia to complete counselling training
• The connection between body and mind in healing
• Combining therapy practice with fitness instruction
• Creating safe spaces in both therapy room and fitness studio

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Challenges and Joys of Training to Become a Counsellor | Mandy Wax | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 6

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for an insightful and honest conversation with Mandy Wax, Senior Course Lead at The Awareness Centre Training School in London, as she shares the realities of learning to become a counsellor. This candid discussion opens up crucial conversations about the intellectual, emotional, and practical challenges of counselling training.

In this essential episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Mandy openly shares:
• Her transition from schoolteacher to psychotherapist
• Leading students through three years of intensive integrative counselling training
• The transformative yet challenging nature of counselling education
• Real struggles students face in their training journey

This deeply informative conversation offers valuable insights for anyone considering counselling training or currently navigating their studies in the field.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• The reality of counselling training challenges
• Finding work-life balance during study
• Struggles with finding placements
• The pressure to work for free
• The joyous and transformative aspects of learning therapy

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the Music Business to Working in Prisons as a Therapist and Beyond | Philippa Madden | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 5

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a profound and moving conversation with integrative counsellor and trauma therapist Philippa Madden as she shares her extraordinary journey from the music business to becoming a specialist in trauma work. This raw and honest discussion opens up crucial conversations about grief, career transitions, and finding purpose through healing.

In this powerful episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Philippa courageously shares:
• Her transition from music industry to therapy after a relationship breakup
• Processing the loss of her father who died when she was just three years old
• Her transformative work with violent criminals in the prison system
• How conversations at The Awareness Centre sparked her therapeutic journey

This deeply moving conversation offers valuable insights for anyone exploring career changes, working through grief, or interested in trauma therapy and rehabilitation work.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Career transition from music business to therapy
• Processing childhood grief and father loss
• Working with offenders and complex PTSD
• The role of personal therapy in professional development
• Lola, Philippa's dog's, training as a therapy dog

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Who Am I?' - From Trauma to Transformation | Frankie Johnson | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 4

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for a profound and moving conversation with psychotherapeutic counsellor Frankie Johnson as he shares his extraordinary journey of identity, healing, and transformation. This raw and honest discussion opens up crucial conversations about trauma, racism, addiction, and the universal question of "Who Am I?"

In this powerful episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Frankie courageously shares:
• His experience of being fostered by a white family
• Navigating racism as the only black child in his community
• The journey through addiction and recovery
• His transformation from education to psychotherapy

This deeply moving conversation offers valuable insights for anyone exploring identity, working through trauma, or interested in the transformative power of therapy.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Understanding early childhood trauma
• The impact of racism on identity formation
• Journey from addiction to recovery
• Using lived experience in therapeutic practice
• Developing coping strategies for the present moment

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms
🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had the most incredible nervous breakdown' | Grief Coach and Counsellor Dipti Solanki | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 3

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Experience a powerful conversation with grief coach and counsellor Dipti Solanki as she shares her profound journey through loss, healing, and transformation. This raw and honest discussion opens up important conversations about grief, cultural competency, and finding purpose through pain.

In this episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Dipti courageously shares:
• Her personal experience with losing both parents
• Her transformative breakdown
• Navigating loss during the Pandemic
• Her mission to provide culturally competent grief support

This deeply moving conversation offers valuable insights for anyone experiencing grief, working with bereaved clients, or interested in culturally sensitive therapeutic approaches.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Understanding delayed grief responses
• The impact of cultural background on grieving
• Transforming personal loss into professional purpose
• Making grief support accessible across cultures and faiths

Connect with Dipti Solanki:
https://diptisolanki.com/

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms

Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:
YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTV
TikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapists
Instagram: @abunchoftherapists
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelamccarthypodcast/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/a-bunch-of-therapists

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A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychotherapist Sam Hughes on Self-Worth, Therapy and The Relationship You Have with Yourself | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 2

Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Step into a fascinating conversation about self-worth and personal growth with psychotherapist Sam Hughes. From art student battling self-doubt to becoming an insightful therapist, Sam's journey offers a unique perspective on the transformative power of therapy.

In this episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Sam, Michaela, and Dipti explore:
• The journey from art student to psychotherapist
• Understanding and embracing self-worth
• The healing power of 'sitting with sadness'
• Finding meaning through self-discovery

This candid conversation offers valuable insights for anyone curious about therapy, struggling with self-doubt, or seeking a deeper understanding of themselves.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Navigating self-doubt and personal growth
• The therapeutic journey from client to practitioner
• Understanding the relationship with yourself
• Embracing life's wonderful complexity

Find out more about Sam Hughes at The Awareness Centre:
https://theawarenesscentre.com/therapists/sam-hughes/

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms

Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:
YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTV
TikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapists
Instagram: @abunchoftherapists
Facebook: A Bunch of Therapists
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/a-bunch-of-therapists

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A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From 27 Years of Therapy to CEO of The Awareness Centre | Michaela McCarthy | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 1

Thu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

🎧 Join us for an extraordinary conversation with Michaela McCarthy as she shares her journey from therapy client to CEO of The Awareness Centre in London. If you're interested in going behind the doors of the therapy room, this is your chance.

In this debut episode of A Bunch of Therapists podcast, Michaela authentically shares:
• Her personal experience navigating addiction and mental health
• The transformative impact of her 27-year therapy journey
• Her transition into psychotherapy as a profession
• The story behind founding The Awareness Centre

This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in mental wellbeing, considering therapy, or curious about what therapy is really like.

🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Personal experiences with addiction and recovery
• The client-to-practitioner journey
• Building a leading London therapy centre
• Mental health advocacy and awareness

Connect with Michaela:
The Awareness Centre: https://theawarenesscentre.com/
The Awareness Centre Training School: https://tactrainingschool.com/

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel
🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms

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A Bunch of Therapists Podcast brings you authentic conversations about mental health and therapy. New episodes weekly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.