A Bunch of Therapists

ADHD, Male Vulnerability & Hidden Trauma | Simon Jacobs

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.
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, 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
Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #MaleVulnerability #ADHDSupport #FamilyConstellations #AncestralTrauma #GestaltTherapy #CareerTransition #Overwork #MensTherapy #MentalHealthUK #TherapyTraining

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

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.
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, 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
Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #GestaltTherapy #YoungPeoplesMentalHealth #BodyBasedTherapy #FamilyRelationships #PostPandemicMentalHealth #SocialMediaImpact #SchoolMentalHealth #MentalHealthUK #TherapyTraining

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

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.
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, 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
 
🎬 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 ThursdayFollow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #MaleVulnerability #PandemicMentalHealth #AnxietySupport #DepressionAwareness #CareerTransition #Overachieving #SelfCriticism #MentalHealthUK #TherapyTraining

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

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.
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, 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 Intro01:40 Why Ben went into therapy 05:00 Believing fabricated stories about yourself that are different from the truth 06:45 Growing up in different countries08:03 Ben’s Dad who was a monk 10:44 Setting up desert retreats 14:45 Sitting in an Oasis15:36 The beginning of the desert retreats19:35 The transformation that happens in the desert20:43 Therapy alone isn’t enough21:55 Eastern philosophy, medicine and wisdom23:00 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
🎬 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 ThursdayFollow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #EasternWisdom #ExecutiveCoaching #CareerTransition #AlternativeTherapy #DesertRetreats #MentalHealthUK #PersonalGrowth #TherapyTraining

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

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.
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, 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 centre05:01 Treatment centres being geared towards men 05:44 Jane’s own challenges surfacing 08:10 Jane’s experience at boarding school10:30 Struggling to fit in, bullying and feeling isolated11:40 Attachment Style and being ‘hard’ in relationships12:50 Is everyone traumatised?13:40 The traits of being traumatised15:34 Feeling guilty about being privileged and traumatised16:26 How Jane’s family & 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 loss21:30 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 patterns32:04 Jane’s final message to viewers and listeners33:30 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 ThursdayFollow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #AttachmentTherapy #ToxicRelationships #BoardingSchoolTrauma #GriefTherapy #CounsellingPsychology #RelationshipTherapy #MentalHealthUK #TherapyTraining

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

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.
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, 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 Introduction01:10 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 career04:00 Dropping out of University and going to Israel to a Kibbutz04:40 Returning to University and beginning his career as a therapist 08:35 Rational Emotive Psychotherapy09:58 Windy’s career progression11:28 Windy’s experience at Goldsmiths and being turned down for lecturing jobs 14:10 Windy’s stammer15:15 Going to America for CBT training 19:14 Rational Emotive Psychotherapy being ‘wiped out’ in the UK20:25 Writing 290 books 22:46 Single session therapy30:53 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 
🎬 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 ThursdayFollow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #CBT #ProfessorWindyDryden #ONEplusTherapy #SelfAcceptance #Procrastination #TherapyTraining #MentalHealthUK #TherapeuticInnovation

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

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.
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, 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 & 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 shame15:55 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 bedtime20:53 Having more than one intimate relationship 22:41 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 ThursdayFollow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #PsychosexualTherapy #RelationshipDiversity #SexTherapy #Intimacy #Shame #MentalHealthUK #RelationshipTherapy #TherapyTraining

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

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.
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, 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 & 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 3313:00 Why Hilton came to London 14:07 Hilton’s unexpected journey to becoming a therapist 15:30 Hilton’s best therapist & the importance of finding the right therapist as being part of a marginalised community16:17 How Hilton knew he was gay & dating girls 17:29 Making LGBTQ+ friends & the freedom they feel to be open in London18:52 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 Vagnismus24:26 Couple’s Therapy common challenges  25:05 Relationship Problems25:38 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 & different identities32:20 The most common issue that people bring into the therapy room with Hilton 34:00 Hilton’s final message for listeners 35:15 Outro 
 
 
 
 
🎬 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 ThursdayFollow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
#TherapyUK #PsychosexualTherapy #LGBTQTherapy #RelationshipTherapy #MentalHealthUK #SexTherapy #TherapyTraining #InclusiveTherapy

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

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.
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, 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 lossThis 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 Therapy06:10 Being Promoted While Working in PR & Having a Breakdown07:37 Nina's Solo Travelling & Stopping Drinking 10:20 Nina's Dynamics with Female Bosses13:00 Nina's Transition to Freelancing & Using Meditation Techniques15:28 Not Being Concerned By Others Perception 17:28 How Nina Works with Teams & Organisations19:20 Developing Compassion in a Corporate Space20:20 Nina's Husband's Diagnosis 26:50 Nina and her Families Conversations About Death29:50 Nina's Husbands Death30:50 Nina's Experience of Grief & Navigating Other Peoples' Projections33:00 Watching Her Daughters' Go Through The Grief of Losing Their Dad38:55 Nina's New Capacity Levels for Work 40:00 The First Year of Grief Isn't the Hardest41:05 Nina's Advice for Listeners42:40 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
Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists
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Fighting Perfectionism, Black Beauty Standards and Reconnecting with Your Inner Child | Xena James | A Bunch of Therapists Podcast | Episode 15

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 & 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 counsellingThis 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 worldChapters:00:00 Intro 1:30 Why Xena Went Into Therapy & Working as a Social Work 2:40 Working as a Social Worker During Covid 3:46 The Journey Leading Up to Therapy & Xena's Experience as an Adolescent05:50 How Xena Processes Herself & Inner Child Work06:23 Feeling Like a Failure For Going to Therapy07:37 Finding & Meeting Your Own Needs09:40 Image & 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 Education18:20 Inner Child Work 19:31 Xena on Talking to Her 12 Year Old Self 21:40 Reparenting Yourself Through Therapy22:37 Xena's Current Role & Being a Student at The Awareness Centre23:14 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 ThursdayFollow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTVTikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapistsInstagram: @abunchoftherapistsFacebook: A Bunch of TherapistsLinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists#TherapyUK #Perfectionism #InnerChild #SocialWork #Burnout #SelfAcceptance #MentalHealthUK #BlackBeauty #TherapyTraining