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This podcast is the narrated version of my article How to Create a Healthy and Effective Therapeutic Relationship. It was a tragedy, but I didn’t know it at first. In the long-shadowed gloom of a winter evening, Mary painted the painful picture of what had happened to her husband Dave… In this episode I talk about: Don’t just do no harm What is a ‘therapeutic relationship’? Don’t get stuck on therapy mode Take them on a practice run Make the most of the ‘Golden Hour’ Do give them hope Don’t let therapy fossilize Don’t become a replacement for real-life needs To sum up Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: https://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/depression-online-insomnia-program-reduces-symptoms-369990 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172306/ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jul/03/why-cbt-is-falling-out-of-favour-oliver-burkeman This is a great short YouTube film on placebo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfRVCaA5o18 https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2013/10/17/dwelling-on-negative-events-biggest-cause-of-stress/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4414423/

This podcast is the narrated version of my article “It’s not my fault!”. Blaming others for everything removes your client’s sense of control. Here are three ways to gently help them see their own influence. In this episode I talk about: Who’s responsible! Swallowing the poison of blame Therapeutic blind alleys Why always blaming others is bad for us Encourage your clients to look for the cause, not just any cause Communicate to your client they can only grow through personal feedback Encourage admitting of mistakes My off-the-cuff analogy Shock therapy Forget blame and focus on where to go from here No more blame game Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: https://www.biopsychiatry.com/misc/speakwell.html

This podcast is the narrated version of my article 5 Proven Behavioural Interventions for Depression. As terrible as depression is, some simple interventions can be surprisingly effective in relieving symptoms. Use these techniques to help clients rediscover their enjoyment of life. In this episode I talk about: “You can’t possibly know my lived experience!” The value of clear understanding and rapport The reassurance of knowledge A multi-pronged approach Behavioural interventions for depression Overcoming “but what’s the point?” Pre-empting the objection Intervention one: Tell and show them they don’t have to ruminate Intervention two: Give them an intrinsically satisfying task Intervention three: Aim to do just five minutes Intervention four: Help them get some real face time Intervention five: They’ve got to move it move it! Helping a therapist overcome imposter syndrome Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: https://theconversation.com/what-might-explain-the-unhappiness-epidemic-90212 http://www.familyaware.org/who-2017-depression-report/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24444431 https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1752-4458-8-53 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expectation_fulfilment_theory_of_dreaming https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/492278 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00031/full Seeing future success: Does imagery perspective influence achievement motivation? Vasquez N.A. and Buehler, R. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, October 2007 vol. 33 no. 10 1392-1405 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.13667 http://www.wellnessinitiatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pets-Reduce-Depression.pdf https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074756321500401X?via%3Dihub https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16111223 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10547175 https://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/S0033-3506(06)00146-6/fulltext https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2013.00066/full

This podcast is the narrated version of my article Causes of Depression at Different Life Stages. Depression is a ‘disease of civilization’ and a curse of modern living. Here are some of the common life events that pose a risk of depression, and the reasons why it might happen. In this episode I talk about: We live in depressing times Please (don’t) pass it on No one chooses depression Depression isn’t solely an event-driven phenomenon Childhood changes Teenage transitions Adulthood anxieties Parenting panic Middle-age milestones Old age and retirement It’s not what we experience, it’s how we experience it Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/sep/01/childhood-depression-rise-wary-misdiagnosis. For recommendations regarding use of antidepressants, see: http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/1995-12-Antonuccio-therapy-vs-med.htm) UNICEF (1993). The Progress of Nations. United Nations, 45. http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/fam/14/1/71/

This podcast is the narrated version of my article 5 Ways to Help Your Clients Make Tough Decisions. We all approach life’s crossroads sometimes. There are paths, maybe many, to choose from. Help your clients see things more clearly so they can move forward. In this episode I talk about: Overanalysis = decision paralysis The agony of indecision Step one: Break down the absolutist thinking Step two: Why wait for certainty? Step three: Decide not to decide for a while Step four: Help your client avoid these four common decision-making mistakes Step five: Trust your gut Trust your unconscious Don’t overthink! Quick pointers for good decision making Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24444431 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2167702617747074 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/media/library/instinct http://journal.sjdm.org/14/14321/jdm14321.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1767147/

This podcast is the narrated version of my article The 7 Worst Business Mistakes I Made as a New Therapist. By giving you the seven worst therapy business mistakes I made, I hope you can speed up the process of developing a successful practice! In this episode I talk about: Solo practitioner reality bites Expecting clients to beat a path to my door Settling for fantasy over action Feeling pathetically grateful to be paid Not pursuing ideas which made money Not saying no to save time and money Not using money to make money Trying to do it all myself Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: Oettingen, G. and Mayer, D. (2002). The motivating function of thinking about the future: Expectations versus fantasies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

This podcast is the narrated version of my article “Do you have any advice for a therapist doing her first session?”. My quick advice for a new therapist with perfectionist tendencies who is nervous about seeing her first client. In this episode I talk about: Tips for your first session as a new therapist Why it’s better to be an imperfect therapist than an intimidatingly perfect one Why we’re not doing therapy to or on our clients, but with them The effectiveness of therapy as a right-brained, intuitive activity Why you should learn therapy and then forget it. Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article 3 Easy Questions In Diagnosing PTSD. Diagnosing PTSD can be tricky – here are 3 questions I always ask to find hidden trauma. In this episode I talk about: Is there a payoff? Question 1: Did anything in particular happen around the time the symptom first occurred? Question 2: Does it make you really upset to talk about it, even now? Question 3: Has time stood still? Emily’s new hope Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article 3 Firm Fair Ways To Set Boundaries In Therapy. Setting boundaries with clients doesn’t come naturally to therapy practitioners. Empathy and wanting to help people is what brought you to this work, and for us it’s hard to be cruel to be kind. In this episode I talk about: Tip One: Keep your ‘gratitude’ in its proper boundaries Tip Two: Be clear with yourself where your boundaries lie Tip Three: Remain professional Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article The Dark Side of Your Emotional Needs – Safety. Part two of the series explores the inherent human need to feel safe and secure and shows how it can lead those desperate enough into unsafe situations. In this episode I talk about: Uncontrolled unconscious drives Safety first Fear, anxiety, panic, and obsession… … meanness, timidity, and depression From chronic reassurance-seeking to horrific flashbacks When people become parasites Captivating cults Ideological safety A more modern form of safety My vulnerable and wealthy client Helping our clients find real, sustainable safety Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article 3 Loneliness-Busting CBT Techniques for Social Anxiety. These cognitive behavioural therapy strategies can help clients move past limiting fears and feel more socially comfortable. In this episode I talk about: The antidote to fear Technique one: Breathe out and count Technique two: Focus away from the inside of your own head Technique three: Catch and challenge cognitive distortions Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: Al-Mosaiwi, M., & Johnstone, T. (2018). In an absolute state: Elevated use of absolutist words is a marker specific to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(4), 529-542. Boothby, E. J., Cooney, G., Sandstrom, G. M., & Clark, M. S. (2018). The liking gap in conversations: Do people like us more than we think? Psychological Science, 29(11), 1742-1756. Daly, J. A., Vangelisti, A. L., & Lawrence, S. G. (1989). Self-focused attention and public speaking anxiety. Personality and Individual Differences, 10(8), 903-913. Denkova, E., Dolcos, S., & Dolcos, F. (2015). Neural correlates of ‘distracting’ from emotion during autobiographical recollection. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10(2), 219-230. Meuret, A. E., Rosenfield, D., Hofmann, S. G., Suvak, M. K., & Roth, W. T. (2009). Changes in respiration mediate changes in fear of bodily sensations in panic disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 43(6), 634-641. Meuret, A. E., Rosenfield, D., Wilhelm, F. H., Zhou, E., Conrad, A., Ritz, T., & Roth, W. T. (2011). Do unexpected panic attacks occur spontaneously? Biological Psychiatry, 70(10), 985-991. Miller, R. S. (1995). On the nature of embarrassability: Shyness, social evaluation, and social skill. Journal of Personality, 63(2), 315-339. Roebers, C. M., & Schneider, W. (2010). Individual differences in children’s eyewitness recall: The influence of intelligence and shyness. Applied Developmental Science, 5(1), 9-20. Vlemincxa, E., Taelman, J., Van Diest, I., & Van den Bergh, O. (2010). Take a deep breath: The relief effect of spontaneous and instructed sighs. Physiology & Behavior, 101(1), 67-73.

This podcast is the narrated version of my article Trauma Treatment: Why PTSD & Phobias Are A Case Of Bad Hypnosis. For safe effective trauma treatment, it is vital to understand how PTSD and phobias are affecting your client In this episode I talk about: Learning and your unconscious mind Bad hypnosis = bad (but very effective) learning Post hypnotic stress disorder Trauma and hypnotic response Treat bad hypnosis with good hypnosis Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: Yard SS, DuHamel KN, Galynker II. Hypnotizability as a Potential Risk Factor for Posttraumatic Stress: A Review of Quantitative Studies. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jul;56(3):334-56.

This podcast is the narrated version of my article 3 Reasons I Never Have My Clients Relive Their Traumatic Experiences. Here are three reasons why I never get a client with PTSD to relive their traumatic experiences. In this episode I talk about: ‘Help’ can sometimes harm Reason One: You can reactivate the pattern and embed it deeper Reason Two: Someone who desperately needs help may be put off ever seeking it Reason Three: It’s a waste of valuable time Rocking the boat? Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: Rose S, Bisson J, Churchill R, Wessely S. Psychological debriefing for preventing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD000560. See Wikipedia entry on Ignaz Semmelweis, pioneer of antiseptic procedure.

This podcast is the narrated version of my article Two Vital CBT Techniques I Always Use for Depression. Help free your clients from unhelpful depressive thought patterns by working with their unconscious and conscious minds. In this episode I talk about: The depressed generation What’s happening to our young? CBT is only half as effective as it used to be Putting the cart before the horse The whipping winds of the psyche It depends on how you see it Don’t use a spray gun when a paintbrush will do CBT Technique for Depression 1: Use reflective reframing CBT Technique for Depression 2: Describe the pattern of depressive thought Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/ http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/11/10/peds.2016-1878 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201001/the-decline-play-and-rise-in-childrens-mental-disorders http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/109/5/721.short Danton, W., Antonuccio, D. and DeNelsky, G. (1995), Depression: Psychotherapy is the best medicine. Professional Psychology Research and Practice, 26, 574. The authors conduct a meta-analysis of over 100,000 pieces of research from 1978 to 1993 on the causes, consequences, and best treatments for clinical depression. https://uit.no/Content/418448/The%20effect%20of%20CBT%20is%20falling.pdf http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2000-05424-015 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886910001947 https://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/51483/handling-the-hijack.pdf See the research cited in Martin Seligman’s wonderful book Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life.

This podcast is the narrated version of my article Should You Learn ‘Ericksonian Hypnosis’?. Milton Erickson was arguably the greatest psychotherapist in history. Here are 3 of his key hypnotherapy techniques. In this episode I talk about: Ericksonian hypnosis is more than ‘Ericksonian’ A shock is as good as a change! Focus on the bigger patterns behind the technique Use the awesome power of implication Take what you’re given Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article Why Only Listening Is Not Always Enough. External discipline, when required, within a supportive environment may be the primer for the development of self-discipline. In this episode I talk about: Person-centered counselling and people as ‘flowers’ Leave me alone to self-actualize! Flowers on the couch Rumination ruination Just try not influencing Charisma and influence Your clients need your influence Your therapy needs to be clean Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: References/Notes: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-013-9716-3 http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/hortonr/articles%20for%20class/baumrind.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23750741 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24444431 https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1752-4458-8-53 See: https://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/dlp/understanding-depression/using-the-cycle-of-depression/ See: https://www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk/book_review/depression_hypnosis.html and Danton, W, Antonucci, D and DeNelsky, G. (1995). Depression: Psychotherapy is the best medicine. Professional Psychology Research and Practice, 26, 574. http://psycnet.apa.org/record/1981-22469-001 https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16080883

This podcast is the narrated version of my article 3 Core Hypnotherapy Techniques Every Therapist Should Know. 3 hypnotherapy techniques which can be applied to a range of client problems, from confidence troubles to healing from trauma. In this episode I talk about: Fish asking what water is Bring back the good times with hypnotic visualization Use post hypnotic therapy – build positive expectation Use hypnotic phenomena to demonstrate that they can change Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article How to Help the Client Who Doesn’t Want Therapy. Arguing against a reluctant client will push them further away. Follow these reframing tips to help them see the benefits therapy can bring. In this episode I talk about: The world on the couch? “I’m not weak!” “I’m not crazy!” What if it gets even worse? The heavy lady who got heavier Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article How to Help Your Asperger’s Client in Their Romantic Life. Relationships can be hard to maintain for those on the autistic spectrum. Loneliness and isolation are common, as the seemingly random ‘noise’ of emotionality and human interaction leave them feeling constantly overwhelmed. Here are three ways to help your Asperger’s clients find the intimacy they seek In this episode I talk about: What was causing the misfires in Simon’s relationship? Relationships and Asperger’s Context is everything I can see the trees, but where is the wood? How hard can it be to ask “How are you?” Feeling like an outsider in your own relationship Tip 1: Normalize the stress of relationships Tip 2: Encourage open dialogue about Asperger’s Tip 3: Teach relationship behavioural blueprints Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below:

This podcast is the narrated version of my article The Psychology Of Persuasion (And How To Inoculate Yourself Against Manipulation). How is it that some people – and some situations – can persuade us so much more than others? In this episode I talk about: Reciprocity Self-consistency Social proof Perceived authority Likeability Scarcity Or watch this episode of the podcast on video below: