Mastering Change | The trauma, mental health & wellbeing podcast

Healing trauma is not only about understanding the story. This week on Mastering Change, we speak with BG Mancini, a neurodevelopmental specialist working across integrative medicine, primary care and brain-based healing. BG’s work sits at the meeting point of research and daily life – translating what we know about the nervous system, sensory input and the gut-brain axis into practical ways of supporting healing.  Her central argument is simple but significant: therapeutic work lands differently when the body is less inflamed, less overstimulated and less defensive. In other words, healing is not only psychological. It is also biological.  She explores how everyday sensory inputs – light, noise, screens, food and other environmental stressors – can quietly shape our nervous system state, often without our awareness. And she makes the case that creating more cues of safety in the body can make people more available for therapeutic change.  We discuss: Why the nervous system is the gateway to healing How sensory input can become a hidden source of stress The relationship between the gut, the brain and the vagus nerve Why trauma healing must address both story and biology How therapists and integrative practitioners can work more closely together This conversation offers a grounded, whole person lens on trauma – and a reminder that helping someone heal may begin with making their body feel safer to live in. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

We’re living through a loneliness epidemic – and it’s not for lack of connection. On this episode of Mastering Change, Francesca Tighinean explores why, despite being more digitally connected than ever, so many people feel increasingly isolated and unsure how to build real relationships. She points to a deeper shift. With constant exposure to social media, global events and information, many people – particularly younger generations – no longer feel safe enough to take the risks that connection requires. Instead, self-protection takes over. Increasingly, people are avoiding discomfort altogether – cutting others off rather than working through conflict. Francesca challenges this directly, discussing what it actually takes to build connection today – and why it’s often less comfortable than we’d like. She also touches on a quieter, underlying issue: purpose. We explore Why connection feels harder in the modern world  The shift towards avoidance in relationships  Why nuance matters more than ever  What community really requires  A quieter, underlying issue: purpose. This episode is a timely reflection on how we relate and what it might take to reconnect. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Flow state is a rapidly growing topic in media – trending across social platforms, as well as in professional, self-development and wellbeing spaces. This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Josh Dickson, psychotherapist and founder of Resurface, who is exploring how flow can be used to support therapeutic change. ‘Flow is an optimal state of consciousness where you feel and perform at your best.’  Josh explains that activities like surfing are not the intervention itself, but a way of creating the conditions for it. Because when those conditions are right, something shifts – attention sharpens, distractions fall away, and people become more open to the work that follows. We discuss: What flow actually is – beyond the trend  The conditions required to access it  Why modern life disrupts our ability to focus  How flow can prepare the brain for therapeutic work  The risks of chasing the state itself  This conversation offers a different lens on flow – not as a productivity tool, but as a state that may help create the conditions for meaningful change. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. See Josh Dickson at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 – Get your Early Bird Tickets here. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

On this episode of Mastering Change, we explore one of the most rapidly evolving and widely discussed areas in mental health: psychedelic-assisted therapy. Neuropsychopharmacologist Rayyan Zafar joins us to explain how new treatments – particularly psychedelics – are changing how we understand trauma and addiction. Rayyan’s work focuses on neuroplasticity – and he challenges a common assumption: more plasticity isn’t always better. In addiction and trauma, the brain can become stuck in deeply reinforced patterns that are difficult to shift through conventional approaches. Psychedelics, he explains, appear to do something different. Rather than simply managing symptoms, they may temporarily disrupt rigid brain networks, opening a window for change and healing. What makes this especially significant is that this window of plasticity can endure after a single dose – something not seen in other areas of medicine. We explore What neuroplasticity actually is – and why it can be helpful or harmful  How psychedelics may interrupt rigid trauma and addiction patterns  Why a single dose can create an enduring window for change  What hormesis teaches us about stress and resilience  Why integration remains an open scientific question  How precision mental health could reshape treatment Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. See Rayyan Zafar at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 – Get your Early Bird Tickets here. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Anxiety doesn’t begin in your thoughts – it begins in your nervous system. In this episode of Mastering Change, breathwork educator Jamie Clements explains how conscious breathing can directly regulate the autonomic nervous system and help shift anxiety at its root. Jamie shares how breathwork became central to his own recovery from panic attacks, and why he now teaches a structured approach that distinguishes between micro regulation practices and macro transformational work, including Conscious Connected Breathing. He explains how deeper breathwork can intentionally create safe “prediction error” experiences – moments where the body learns it is safe in situations it once perceived as threatening – allowing new neural pathways to form. But this isn’t about intensity for its own sake. Jamie emphasises preparation, containment and integration as essential parts of the process. We explore: How breath influences the autonomic nervous system Why anxiety is often a conditioned physiological response The role of Conscious Connected Breathing in deeper healing The difference between daily grounding and expanded-state work Why integration matters as much as the experience itself Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. See Jamie Clements at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 – Get your Early Bird Tickets here.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Trauma doesn’t only create fear – it often creates isolation. In this episode of Mastering Change, Lucas Casanova explores trauma as a fundamental rupture in safety and belonging. A Buddhist and transpersonal therapist, Lucas integrates secular Buddhist practices with neuroscience and embodied therapy to help people reconnect – not just cognitively, but physically and relationally. He explains that belonging and safety are biological needs. When trauma disrupts them, thinking alone cannot restore them. The body must feel safe first. “Trauma makes you lose your faith and trauma makes you feel disconnected.” Lucas differentiates spirituality from religion – framing spirituality as lived experience rather than belief – and introduces the concept of spiritual safety: the felt sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves. Drawing on his work with refugees and displaced communities, he describes how meditation, breath and embodied practices can rebuild connection from the inside out. We explore: Trauma as disconnection from body, community and self Why safety must be embodied before cognitive healing begins Spirituality versus religion in therapeutic practice Secular Buddhist practices as tools for regulation and reconnection Belonging as a core human need A powerful conversation about rebuilding safety where trauma once fractured it. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

When trauma takes you out of your body, rebuilding safety and connection can take years. In this episode of Mastering Change, Karen Whelan shares her lived experience of sexual abuse and the long, gradual journey of healing that followed. She speaks openly about self-hate, disconnection and the profound loss of safety in her own body – and how therapy, spirituality and embodied practice helped her slowly rebuild trust in herself. Karen reflects on a powerful moment of forgiveness that left her feeling “no longer a hostage to my own trauma story.” She is clear that forgiveness was not a shortcut or solution, but part of a much wider process of reclaiming her life. Now a psychotherapist and spiritual practitioner, Karen guides others through a 21-day awe-based self-love practice. She describes awe as “the bridge between the human knowing and the divine encountering” – and explains how cultivating awe and gratitude can help people reconnect with their bodies and sense of the sacred. We explore: Rebuilding safety after sexual trauma The relationship between spirituality and embodied healing Self-love as an ongoing practice The role of awe in shifting self-perception How reconnecting to the body supports recovery Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Many of us weren’t optimally seen, held or supported as children – and the adaptations we made to survive can quietly shape how we relate, connect and protect ourselves as adults. This week on Mastering Change, Maya Vaughan, Director of the Trauma Training Institute (TTI), explains the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) – a non-pathologising, relational approach to healing developmental trauma. Rather than focusing on diagnosis or “what’s wrong,” Maya describes NARM as “profoundly relational and non pathologizing” and “very kind of present process.” In a NARM session, the starting point is deceptively simple: “What is it you most want for yourself?” From there, the work follows what she calls a red thread – exploring what gets in the way of that longing by tracking what’s happening in the present moment. “As they see what they do to themselves, so much agency comes online.” If you work with developmental/relational trauma – or recognise its patterns in yourself – this conversation offers a grounded, practical lens on restoring safety, connection and self-regulation. We explore What makes NARM different from traditional trauma models Why starting with “what do you most want?” changes everything How fear of attachment loss drives survival adaptations Why NARM doesn’t label or pathologise How agency returns through present-moment awareness Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Dr. Laurence Heller, founder of NARM, releases his new book Healing Shame and Guilt on 12 May. Learn more: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/804584/healing-shame-and-guilt-by-laurence-heller-phd-and-stephan-k-niederweiser/Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Many of the behaviours we label as “dysfunctional” may actually be attempts to survive.In this episode of Mastering Change, we’re joined by Mike Niconchuk, whose work is shaped by personal and intergenerational trauma linked to his family’s experience during the Guatemalan civil war, as well as years of humanitarian work in active conflict zones.Mike did not enter this field through clinical training. Instead, his questions emerged through lived experience and direct exposure to overwhelming pain, where he became deeply interested in how trauma shapes the body, the brain, and our relationships with others.At the heart of this conversation is a simple but challenging idea:“The primary goal of the brain is to help us stay alive.”From this perspective, the brain is not organised around happiness or wellbeing. Behaviours that can appear confusing, harmful or self-defeating often begin to make sense when understood as short-term strategies for safety. Mike explores how trauma interacts with ordinary cognitive and neural processes, including empathy, and how the legacies of war can continue to live on socially and politically long after violence ends.This episode offers a reframing of trauma that extends beyond the individual, particularly in contexts where there is no clear “after” and no guaranteed space for reflection or healing.We explore:Trauma as an embodied, social and political experienceSurvival rather than wellbeing as the brain’s organising principleHow trauma can shape empathy and social behaviourShame as a powerful and often overlooked factor in PTSD and traumaWhat trauma looks like when there is no “post”Why reflection and healing are not universal privilegesMoment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.See Mike Niconchuk at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 – Get your Early Bird Tickets here.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

For people living with trauma or chronic stress, the brain can feel like it’s working against them.In this episode of Mastering Change, Dr Kate Truitt introduces brain partnership – a trauma-informed approach that reframes the brain as a protector rather than a problem. She explains how fast threat pathways in the amygdala and hippocampus form to keep us safe, and why those same pathways can later drive hypervigilance, dissociation or shutdown.Kate explores how chronic stress reduces access to the thinking brain, reinforces survival responses, and fuels shame when symptoms don’t resolve. Rather than forcing change, she describes how compassionate inquiry and body-based regulation help bring systems back into the present – creating the conditions for neuroplastic change.This episode offers a practical and deeply human lens on trauma, anxiety and nervous system dysregulation, especially for those who feel stuck despite insight or effort. We discussBrain partnership as an alternative to “fixing” the brainHow threat pathways develop and persistWhy judgment increases dysregulationThe role of the body in calming fear responsesSupporting safety as a foundation for changeMoment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.See Kate Truitt at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 – Get your Super Early Bird Tickets here.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

For many people, healing can feel stuck. Symptoms persist, patterns repeat and change itself can begin to feel unsafe. In this episode of Mastering Change, Raoul Goldberg, founder of the PATH Method, explores why what we often describe as “chronic” may not be purely medical – but psychosocial and spiritual in nature. He shares how his work helps people reconnect with a sense of wholeness by strengthening the parts of themselves that are capable of change. Raoul walks through the core elements of the PATH Method: forming a clear wish, connecting with a felt sense of one’s “best self,” embodying that state and learning to step outside habitual perspectives. Practised over time, this process helps people build enough internal strength to face trauma rather than remain trapped by it. Rather than creating something new, Raoul describes PATH as helping people reconnect with something that already exists within them – a capacity for agency, empowerment and growth. We explore Why long-term symptoms may reflect blocked psychosocial change How the PATH Method helps people feel safe enough to change The role of embodiment and perspective in breaking old patterns Why trauma work requires strength, not just insight How reconnecting with wholeness supports healing Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. See Raoul Goldberg at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 – Get your Super Early Bird Tickets here. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

How do you rebuild a life when your earliest memories are of profound and extreme loss? That’s what Richard McCann explores in this episode. When he was just five years old, his mother was murdered – an event that later became national news and that influenced every part of his childhood. Richard describes how this grief showed up in ways he didn’t have words for at the time – hypervigilance, fear, constantly scanning for threats – and how teachers were among the first adults to recognise what he was going through and what he needed most. He shares how this early experience influenced his adult relationships and how he eventually found meaning and strength through spirituality and post-traumatic growth. Despite everything he faced, Richard believes that there is always a way forward, even from the most painful beginnings. Today, he uses his experience to support others navigating trauma. We explore What extreme Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can look like How trauma shows up in children – and what adults can look out for The crucial role of teachers and early recognition How childhood trauma continues into adulthood The part spirituality played in Richard’s healing Why he believes there is always hope, even after unimaginable loss Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

So much of what happens in healthcare is shaped by trauma – yet most clinicians are never taught what trauma is or how to recognise it in themselves or their patients. This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Susanna Petche, a GP with 25 years’ experience, who shares how her own misdiagnosed depression eventually revealed an underlying trauma response. That realisation changed her life – and her medical practice. Susanna reflects on the reality that trauma is everywhere in the healthcare system: in people’s symptoms, in their behaviour and in the overwhelm that brings them to a GP or hospital. However, doctors receive no formal education about trauma, no supervision and little support in navigating the emotional impact of their work. She shows how much difference simple, trauma-aware tools can make – from acknowledging how frightening a hospital environment can be, to helping patients regulate their nervous systems in moments of stress. Small shifts like this, she argues, can meaningfully improve care long before large-scale system change becomes possible. We discuss  Why trauma underpins so many physical and mental health presentations How the lack of trauma training leaves clinicians without essential tools Why simple, everyday interventions can improve patient safety and connection What genuine practitioner wellbeing requires - beyond slogans about resilience How AI could support care if implemented with sensitivity Why even one hour of trauma education could transform healthcare Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What makes someone feel so bonded to a group that they’d sacrifice almost anything for it – and how does that same force help us heal? In this episode of Mastering Change, cognitive anthropologist Dr. Martha Newson unpacks ‘identity fusion’ – an extreme form of social bonding where self and group identities merge, creating family-like ties and powerful loyalty.  Drawing on years of research with football fans, prisoners and festival communities, Martha explores how ritual, shared challenge and moments of perceived transformation strengthen these bonds. She explains why people can feel trapped in damaging groups – families, institutions, even cult-like communities – because losing that belonging can feel physiologically unsafe, not just emotionally painful.  Martha also advocates for collective healing spaces – from 12-step groups to choirs and walking clubs – explaining that they are essential companions to individual therapy. We explore: What identity fusion is – and how it shows up in everyday life How shared rituals, sport and festivals create deep feelings of “we-ness” Why leaving harmful groups can feel more dangerous than staying How trauma, when held in community, can shift from stagnation to transformation The role of collective spaces (12-step rooms, choirs, sports, retreats) in trauma healing How internalised community, ancestors, nature and a sense of “higher self” can sustain people who spend time alone Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Therapists, clinicians and helpers often tell themselves they’re “fine” – even as the work wears down their nervous system. In this conversation, palliative care doctor Dr. Rosie Weir offers a compassionate guide to trauma stewardship: the practice of staying present to other people’s pain without losing yourself in it. Drawing from her years on the frontline of end-of-life care, Rosie explains how practitioners can unconsciously carry the emotional burden of others long after a session ends. ‘If you're a painter and you're painting all day, you come home covered in paint. And that's what it's like doing this kind of work – you come home covered in other people’s emotional material.’ Rosie shares the practices that help her stay grounded and slow down, while challenging the belief that self-care must always be ‘active’ or fast paced to be effective. We discuss The emotional residue practitioners carry and how to recognise it Why slowing down is often more regulating than speeding up Building a relationship with yourself as a foundation for resilience How hobbies and joy act as protective factors Why healing work must include the wellbeing of those who deliver it A reflective, grounding episode for anyone doing work that asks you to hold other people’s pain. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

For people who have spent years in survival mode, joy can feel uncomfortable.  Here, Melita Stancil explains why (as well as how we can experience joy more readily). She is the creator of Anthelum, a framework designed to help people move out of survival mode by looking at families, schools, workplaces and communities as interconnected parts of healing. A central theme in her work is joy. She shares how hypervigilance and stress can make exposure to joy difficult, and why practicing joy becomes essential for long-term wellbeing. She explains that many people, especially those with trauma histories, spend more time scanning for what’s wrong – not because they’re pessimistic, but because their brain is still trying to keep them safe. She also describes why healing must include families and systems, not just individuals. Joy, she argues, grows through connection – and the environments around us play a crucial role in whether recovery is sustained. We explore The Anthelum framework and how systems shape healing How hypervigilance restricts access to joy Why joy is a skill we must practice and protect The role of connection in helping people thrive Why healing happens in systems, not silos Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Have you ever noticed how some stress seems to not just dictate your mood, but your whole sense of presence? That’s because, according to craniosacral therapist Lulu Ferrand, we’re operating on a spectrum of vibrational frequency. On this week’s episode, Lulu speaks to us about how what we engage with, moment to moment, can raise or lower our sense of freedom, safety and connection. She explains how she understands craniosacral therapy (CST) as working not only with the nervous system but also with the body’s subtle energetic field – helping people access states where old emotional and physical patterns can release. She emphasises that CST isn’t about ignoring or dismissing the difficult, lower-frequency experiences people may be living with; rather, it helps clients recognise that the more time they spend in lighter, more regulated states, the more they can be gently ‘pulled up and out’. She also shares how even the smallest moments of beauty or presence – like ‘noticing that a particular flower is looking beautiful’ – can create meaningful shifts in the system. We discuss How engaging with ‘higher’ or ‘lighter’ experiences can support emotional and energetic regulation Why highly sensitive people and empaths may feel drained or overwhelmed by others How CST supports the body’s natural capacity to let go of held patterns How sensitivity can show up early in life – and why attuned support makes a difference Practical ways to ground and protect your own energy How small, everyday moments can shift how we feel in profound ways Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Sometimes, talking therapy isn’t enough. This week on Mastering Change, we speak with neurofeedback specialist Stuart Black, whose work focuses on trauma, PTSD and the patterns the nervous system can’t shift through traditional talking therapy alone. Stuart explains how neurofeedback helps a dysregulated nervous system re-regulate, especially when trauma has left people stuck in survival mode. He describes how it can support the processing of traumatic memories stored in the emotional brain that otherwise couldn’t be accessed.  “We can enable you to process any traumatic memories which are stuck in your emotional brain… so you're controlling those memories rather than those memories controlling you.”  We explore Why a dysregulated nervous system can block therapeutic progress How neurofeedback helps the brain access and process traumatic memories Why trying to “fix brain chemistry” misses the root cause Why there is no such thing as an average brain The importance of the therapeutic relationship – and why neurofeedback isn’t “just a machine” Why educating people about neurofeedback could drastically speed up the therapy process Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Christmas can intensify grief. Familiar rituals, memories and traditions can exacerbate the feelings of absence and bring more emotional pain to the surface. In this episode of Mastering Change, psychotherapist Julia Samuel shares what years of supporting grieving individuals have taught her about love, loss and the support people need most. She explains how grief is held in the body, how the brain struggles to catch up with the reality of loss, and why “pain is the agent of change” in helping us adjust. Julia describes the dual process of grieving – moving between feeling the pain and intentionally taking breaks from it – and why slowing down is key for staying grounded during overwhelming moments. She offers concrete guidance for navigating the festive season: having honest conversations with family, creating rituals that acknowledge the person who has died, taking sensory breaks to regulate, and setting aside time to remember so the person “doesn’t die twice.” She also introduces the Griefworks app, with practical tools, meditations and reflective exercises to help people meet their grief with compassion. We exploreWhy grief is so physical How slowing down supports emotional regulation Practical steps for coping with grief at Christmas The importance of continuing bonds and remembering How guided tools like Griefworks offer support when it's most needed Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Why are so many women only discovering their ADHD in adulthood? In this episode of Mastering Change, Dr. Samantha Hiew, founder of ADHD Girls, explores the gender bias in psychiatry and the ways in which hormones, stress and trauma intersect with neurodivergent experience. Through her own story and research, Samantha reveals how hormonal shifts and perimenopause can alter stress tolerance, why diagnosis can be a powerful act of self-recognition, and how understanding our neurobiology can transform how we see ourselves. “Diagnosis, when done right, isn’t about labels – it’s about understanding yourself, and validating your lived experience.” We explore: The gender bias shaping ADHD diagnosis in women How hormones and perimenopause affect emotional regulation The connection between trauma, autism and stress sensitivity Why every neurodivergent mind has its own truth Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Perimenopause is often described as a hormonal shift – but what if it’s also a neurological and emotional one? In this episode of Mastering Change, Paula Rastrick, founder of The Brain-Body Method, explores how trauma, stress sensitivity and hormonal health are intricately linked. Paula explains how our stress profiles begin developing in the womb, shaped by our mother’s nervous system and early attachment experiences. Through her neuro-bio-psycho-social lens, she shows how unresolved trauma can re-emerge during perimenopause, when fluctuations in cortisol and GABA bring stress patterns to the surface. “There's a lot of talk within the trauma world of nervous system dysregulation – but I think we're not understanding the biochemical neurological aspect of that.” We explore: The brain-body connection in perimenopause How early adversity shapes stress sensitivity and hormonal response Why perimenopause can re-trigger unresolved trauma The role of cortisol and GABA in emotional regulation How nervous system awareness supports hormonal balance Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What happens when the part of us that wants to heal becomes the thing that gets in the way? In this episode, we speak with Laura Patryas, a nondual IFS practitioner who sees our inner parts as expressions of awareness rather than problems to fix. Laura explains how trauma disconnects us from presence and how, in both therapy and life, healing begins when we can rest in awareness rather than try to control it. She describes how nondual IFS expands traditional IFS by integrating spiritual insight, compassion and connection to the whole. “Having parts isn’t a problem. It’s just like waves on the ocean – different expressions of the same awareness.” We explore: What nondual IFS is and how it differs from traditional IFS The role of presence and awareness in trauma healing The difference between empathy, sympathy and compassion How to work with the therapist’s own “parts” during sessions How this approach supports both personal and collective healing Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

How do we talk about trauma without retraumatising? Through animation might be one answer. In this episode, we speak with Quint Boa, founder of Synima, a production company creating short-form animation for mental health communication and education. Quint shares how metaphor in animation allows us to explore emotional and traumatic experiences safely, helping people engage with difficult material without being re-exposed to distressing imagery. He discusses the practical benefits too – how animation can reach wide audiences, support therapy and education, and provide a cost-effective way to open new conversations around mental health. “Animation allows us to explore emotional or traumatic experiences in a way that’s metaphorical rather than literal. That’s what makes it safe.” We also explore: The use of animation in trauma education and prevention Why metaphor supports accessibility and safety How animation can complement therapy and public health communication Quint’s example of an animation about anger and its design principles Find Quint Boa's website here. Find Quint Boa's animations here: The 'Understanding' SeriesMoment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What happens when the person in crisis isn’t the only one who needs help – but the entire family system? In this episode of Mastering Change, Louise Stanger – known as “the family whisperer” – shares her trauma-informed approach to working with families in addiction recovery and crisis intervention. Louise explains that healing often begins before any formal session takes place: by preparing families, helping them feel safe, and inviting them back into connection. “The most important thing we have to do is be in connection, be open and listen to each other’s hearts, because all our hearts are different.” She describes how her work is systemic and relational meeting each family where they are and recognising the role of story, culture and spirituality in recovery. We also explore: Why interventions should be invitational, not confrontational How to meet families with empathy, not judgement The role of spirituality in recovery and resilience What it means to see the whole system – not just the symptom Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to addiction, family crisis and trauma. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

How can therapists help clients give voice to what the body remembers, when words fall short? In this episode of Mastering Change, Dr. Tian Dayton explores how psychodrama can become a powerful trauma-informed tool for healing. “When trauma happens, the story is held in the body – it doesn’t get fully told. In psychodrama, we give the body a chance to tell its part of the story.” Tian shares how she has adapted psychodrama for addiction and trauma, guiding clients to safely express emotions, explore body sensations and reconnect with themselves through movement and role play. She explains the importance of safety and engagement, “warming up” before entering deeper states, and allowing clients to step into roles that help them witness their story from new perspectives. We also explore: What trauma-informed psychodrama looks like in practice Giving voice to body parts that hold emotion How role work can restore empathy, connection and repair Practical guidance for using psychodrama with trauma or addiction recovery Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What does it feel like to live without support – not emotionally, but physically, in your body? This week on Mastering Change, Betsy Polatin, somatic educator and breathwork specialist, explores how trauma takes away our sense of being supported – and how to reconnect with the forces that hold us. “Trauma takes away our universal support. When we feel ourselves be supported, we don’t need to hold ourselves up on our own.” Betsy explains how clients often describe the absence of support as tension in the shoulders – and walks us through a grounding exercise to begin rebuilding that felt sense of safety.  We also explore: What “support” feels like in the body How trauma changes posture and breathing patterns Reconnecting with the physical environment to regulate the nervous system The power of letting go – and allowing yourself to be held Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Imagine if fear wasn’t something we needed to manage – but something we could unlearn? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Matt Hudson, creator of Split-Second Unlearning, about fear, hypnotic states, and how to interrupt patterns held in the body and mind. He explains why he aims to spark curiosity rather than reinforce fear, and how state shifts open the door to different choices. He also challenges the way we talk about stress – arguing that it isn’t the cause, but the symptom that follows an event. We explore: How Split-Second Unlearning targets fear at the moment it forms Curiosity as a lever for state and behaviour change How hypnotic states show up in everyday life and how to “de-hypnotise”  Why looking at stress as a symptom reframes assessment and intervention Practical takeaways for clients and practitioners Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Edit: Since the time of recording, there have been developments in Matt Hudson’s work. Please see the latest materials and website below.Matt Hudson | Split-Second Unlearning™️ & MindReset™️Matt Hudson is a behavioural specialist and researcher who created Split-Second Unlearning™️ and MindReset™️ — breakthrough methods for resolving undiagnosed trauma without revisiting the past. His discovery of the Emotional Memory Image (EMI) — a sensory imprint formed at the moment of threat — reveals how unseen memories drive anxiety, burnout and psychosomatic distress.By tracking eye movements, Split-Second Unlearning™️ dissolves the EMI’s charge in seconds, while the MindReset™️app brings this process to users worldwide.Matt’s research reframes trauma as protection, not pathology, reshaping approaches to health, education and leadership. matthudson.comCurrent Projects (2025–2026)MindReset™️ App – A private, self-guided digital tool that applies Split-Second Unlearning™️ through eye-tracking and brief guided sessions to dissolve stress, anxiety and emotional overwhelm in under two minutes.Practitioner Learning & Development Pathway – A structured training and supervision programme for professionals integrating Split-Second Unlearning™️ within coaching, therapy and healthcare.ReNova Retreat (Spain, January 2026) – A women’s medical-wellness retreat combining Split-Second Unlearning™️ with integrative medicine to support emotional regulation, hormonal balance and nervous system renewal.Research & Publications – Ongoing peer-reviewed studies examining the psychophysiology of perception and the resolution of undiagnosed trauma through the Split-Second Unlearning™️ model, including investigations into the link between dysmenorrhea and undiagnosed trauma.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

When we talk about mental health, we often forget one major ingredient – sugar. In this episode of Mastering Change, neuroscientist Sophie Hascher joins us to explore how sugar addiction affects emotional wellbeing – and what happens when we start reconnecting to the body. Sophie shares research showing that people higher on the sugar addiction scale are much more likely to experience anxiety, depression and chronic stress. She explains how sugar impacts the brain’s reward system and why we need to look beyond willpower and into biology. “When we talk about mental health, we need to include the body – the mind, brain and biochemistry all work together.” We discuss the benefits of reducing sugar, how the nervous system begins to recalibrate, and why drugs like Ozempic may reduce appetite but miss the deeper causes of imbalance. Sophie offers a grounded, evidence-based perspective on healing that goes beyond restriction – one that’s about understanding the whole system and coming back into relationship with yourself. We also explore: How sugar affects dopamine, mood and focus The connection between sugar, anxiety and depression Why mental health isn’t just in the mind, but in the body The limits of Ozempic and why there’s no “silver bullet” for healing Practical ways to reconnect with your body’s natural cues Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to addiction, food and mental health. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

The traditional model of therapy tends to be one hour, once a week. But how effective is this? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with psychotherapist Priscilla Short, who’s challenging the way we think about relationship and trauma therapy. She introduces us to the world of intensive therapy – where months of work are condensed into a few focused days. It’s immersive, honest and allows both clients and therapists to stay with what’s uncomfortable long enough for real change to happen. “It’s called intensive therapy” says Priscilla, “but I actually find it far less intense. You’re not constantly restarting – you can stay in it, work through it and watch people transform in front of you.” She explains why this model can help couples move beyond patterns that weekly sessions can’t reach, and why the depth of connection it creates can be life-changing – for both clients and therapists. We explore Why traditional weekly therapy may slow down deep relational change How intensives allow clients to move through discomfort, not around it What happens when therapists fully step into the relational dynamic Why it can feel less intense for practitioners, not more Research showing stronger, longer-lasting outcomes for couples who do intensives Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What happens when silence becomes a survival strategy – and healing means finding your voice again? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with therapist, author and founder of the Washington Therapy Fund Foundation Ashley McGirt about the impact of racial and intergenerational trauma. Ashley shares how trauma rooted in racism and injustice can echo through generations, shaping families, relationships and self-worth – and how healing begins when we start to name what was once unspeakable. “Just saying it out loud is healing. Naming it takes away some of its power.” We explore How racial trauma lives in the body and is passed through generations The role of silence and survival in Black families and communities Why healing requires being witnessed in our pain How storytelling and community care can transform collective wounds This conversation is both grounding and liberating – a reminder that breaking silence isn’t just about telling your story, but reclaiming your power. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What if healing meant slowing down, softening, and coming back to your body? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Chen Lizra – somatic practitioner and founder of The Power of Somatic Intelligence – about how trauma pulls us away from ourselves and how presence, movement, and pleasure can guide us back. Chen explains why safety is the foundation for any healing process, how to recognise when we’re overriding our nervous system and why slowing down can be the most courageous step we take. She also shares practical ways to reconnect with the body in daily life. We explore Trauma’s impact on body disconnection The role of pleasure in restoring regulation How to work with the nervous system instead of against it Simple practices to return to presence and safety Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What if healing meant slowing down, softening, and coming home to your bodyThis week on Mastering Change, we speak with Chen Lizra – somatic practitioner and founder of The Power of Somatic Intelligence – about how trauma disconnects us from ourselves, and how movement, pleasure, and presence can guide us back.Chen explains how working with the nervous system, rather than overriding it, creates the conditions for safety and lasting change. She shares how slowing down can be an act of courage, and why pleasure isn’t indulgence – it’s a pathway to regulation, connection, and resilience.We explore:Why trauma pulls us out of our bodies – and how to gently returnHow the nervous system responds to slowing down versus pushing throughThe role of pleasure and embodiment in restoring safetyPractical ways to bring presence into daily lifeWhy healing is not about fixing, but about reconnectingThis is a grounding and inspiring conversation for anyone wanting to feel more at home in their body and more present in their life.Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

How do we stop working at “the wrong end of the spectrum” – only intervening when it’s too late? This week on Mastering Change, clinical psychologist and Innovating Minds founder Dr. Asha Patel shares her journey from working in forensic services to building trauma-informed systems for schools and community-based organisations.  Asha explains how behaviour is always a form of communication, why exclusion punishes pain instead of addressing it, and how compassion, regulated adults and safe environments can change young people’s life trajectories. We also explore: Why trauma-informed systems are essential in schools The role of emotional regulation in supporting children How early intervention prevents cycles of trauma from repeating Practical ways to shift from punishment to compassion Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What happens when silence becomes survival? This week on Mastering Change, sisters Cipriana and TK Quann share their journey of surviving over a decade of childhood abuse – and what it has meant to finally speak the unspeakable. They discuss the long shadow of shame, the healing impact of psychedelic plant medicines, and why sisterhood has been their most powerful form of therapy. With honesty and vulnerability, the Quann sisters open a window into how trauma shapes identity – and how expression, community, and truth can begin to set us free. We also explore: How silence and shame keep trauma alive The role of psychedelics and integration in recovery Sisterhood and community as vital forms of healing Why speaking out is both terrifying and transformative Moment of Care: This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse and trauma. Please listen with awareness and take care of yourself as needed.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What does it take to heal after abuse, assault or complex PTSD? This week on Mastering Change, trauma therapist, speaker and author Shari Botwin joins us for a candid conversation about dismantling shame and speaking the unspeakable. She draws on her own journey as a survivor as well as 25 years of clinical work, sharing how shame takes hold and how to recognise and move through it.  Compassion and safe relationships are, she says, essential in recovery and she explains why. We also explore her work as an expert witness in abuse cases, the systemic barriers survivors face and the difference it makes when someone is truly believed. We also explore The roots and mechanics of shame Tools for managing and releasing shame in real time The importance of self-parenting and community support Why telling your story can be a turning point in recovery Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics including abuse, trauma and shame. Please listen with awareness and seek support if needed. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

We know about the five stages of grief – but did you know there’s a sixth? David Kessler speaks to us in this episode about how finding meaning can become one of the most powerful steps in healing after loss. Kessler is one of the world’s leading grief experts and author of On Grief and Grieving and Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. Drawing on decades of experience and his own personal journey with loss, David shares why all trauma carries grief, and why healing requires more than just “moving on.” We explore the deep connection between trauma and loss, the importance of feeling rather than suppressing emotions and why grief must be witnessed by another to truly heal. From the misconceptions about the famous five stages of grief to his pioneering work on the sixth stage – finding meaning – David offers insight, compassion and practical wisdom for anyone navigating loss, whether it’s death, divorce, childhood wounds or other life changes we didn’t choose. We also explore: Why trauma work and grief work must go hand in hand How suppressed grief shapes relationships, boundaries, and self-worth The role of ritual and community in healing Why “presence” matters more than perfect words How meaning-making parallels post-traumatic growth Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Why do we keep falling into the same family roles – even as adults? This week we speak with systems therapist and family recovery coach Jerry Wise about how to break free from emotional enmeshment, codependency and the unspoken rules that keep us stuck. Drawing on decades of clinical and coaching experience, Jerry introduces the concept of self-differentiation – the process of becoming your own person while staying connected to others. He explains why physical distance doesn’t necessarily create emotional freedom, how to stop internalising guilt and shame, and why staying calm can ripple change through an entire relationship dynamic. We also explore: How family patterns live on in us – even when we’re miles away Why boundaries aren’t about pushing people out, but staying connected on your own terms The surprising link between self-regulation and changing relationship dynamics What it really takes to step out of old family roles and become yourself This episode offers clarity, compassion and practical tools for therapists helping patients to create healthier, more authentic connections – without losing themselves in the process. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Could just a few minutes of intention, presence and energy work change everything? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Poppy Delbridge – energy psychologist, rapid tapping practitioner and author of TAP – to explore how energy-based practices like EFT (emotional freedom technique) can shift trauma and regulate the nervous system. Poppy explains how belief systems are stored in the body, why affirmations alone don’t work and how trauma can wire us into patterns of fear and scarcity. She shows us how tapping offers a real-time, trauma-informed way to interrupt those loops – and reconnect with joy and safety. We explore What rapid tapping is and how it differs from classic EFT The body’s role in storing emotion and limiting beliefs How to interrupt trauma loops and shift state instantly Why energy work supports healing for trauma survivors How to use tapping for self-regulation, creativity, and joy This episode is a powerful reminder that change doesn’t always have to take years – it can happen in the space of a few breaths, a few taps and a shift in energy. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Before we can speak our pain, our bodies have already carried it – which means, often, talking through trauma isn’t enough. This week on Mastering Change, we sit down with Erica Hornthal, licensed clinical professional counselor, board-certified dance/movement therapist, and author of Body Aware and the brand-new BodyTalk. Known as “The Therapist Who Moves You,” Erica explores how trauma lives not just in memory, but in muscle tone, breath, posture – even stillness. Drawing on years of somatic practice, Erica helps us understand why talk therapy alone often isn’t enough – and how movement can offer a direct line to regulation, relief, and reconnection. “The body holds the story before we can speak it.” We explore What dance/movement therapy really is How trauma shows up in subtle physical habits The difference between expressive movement and embodied awareness Why stillness can signal stress How movement can become a language for healing Whether you're a trauma survivor, a therapist, or someone feeling disconnected from yourself – this episode is a reminder that healing isn’t just something we think through. It’s something we move through. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Romance novels aren’t just escapism – they can help process trauma too. Academic, writer and trauma theorist Dr. Alicia Kindleysides invites us to think differently about healing – examining how reading and writing can offer safe spaces for processing pain.Her PhD research explores trauma responses through the world of romance fiction. She has found that romance fiction gives people a place to safely rehearse emotional experiences – connection, desire, safety – that may have been disrupted by trauma. Her research also identified a ninth trauma response – “fade” – in addition to the existing 8F model of trauma reactions (fight, flight, fright, freeze, flag, fawn, faint and flood). Fade, she says, is a response rooted in hiding, invisibility and withdrawal. We exploreBibliotherapy and scriptotherapy as creative healing tools How trauma disconnects us from instinct and inner knowing The link between overthinking, perfectionism, and childhood hypervigilance Escapism vs healing: when dissociation becomes a resource Why fiction might reach where words alone can’t Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

What if healing didn’t start with words – but simply with presence? This week on the Mastering Change podcast, we speak with Rianne Sibma-de Vries, a trauma-informed counsellor and equine therapist based in the Netherlands. Rianne’s work combines Internal Family Systems (IFS), systemic constellations, somatic techniques and equine-assisted therapy to help people reconnect with themselves in profound, body-based ways. Horses, Rianne explains, are instinctive, non-judgemental and deeply attuned. They help people access parts of themselves that have long been buried. Whether working with clients with complex PTSD or high-performing leaders, she sees the same transformation: “Once the body feels the sensation of being held… they will never forget that.”   Horses don’t care about titles, trauma narratives, or words. They respond to energy and truth.  And in doing so, they offer a mirror to our inner world – helping us regulate, reconnect, and heal. We exploreHow horses help us access the present moment and restore inner safety Why equine therapy can reach places talk therapy can’t The ancient, cross-cultural bond between humans and horses What it means to be “held” without judgment The power of self-love as a lever for societal changeMoment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Is traditional talk therapy enough to heal trauma? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Rathika Marsh – a spiritual psychologist who helps people connect with their inner voice, their bodies, and their soul. “The body doesn’t just hold trauma – it holds wisdom and resilience.” Growing tired of the limitations placed upon her as a psychologist, Rathika developed the Freedom and Expansion Method: a multidimensional approach to healing trauma that bridges embodiment and psychology with intuition and spirituality. She describes how trauma disconnects people from their intuitive selves. She works somatically and spiritually, helping clients transmute pain into purpose and power. Many of her clients come from therapeutic backgrounds themselves – psychologists and psychotherapists, who like her, are burnt out by restrictive models and seeking space to reconnect to their creativity and cultural roots. We talk about the importance of personal responsibility, the power of inner child work, and how meeting discomfort with movement – through breath, body or ritual – can unlock buried truths. We also exploreRathika’s Freedom and Expansion Method and its foundations How traditional psychotherapy can limit creativity and intuition The role of spirituality in trauma work Working with the body: from dance to breath to sensuality What it means to be a channel for someone’s healing – not a saviour How to cultivate agency and vision in trauma survivors Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Often what keeps us stuck isn’t the trauma itself but the shame it leaves behind. This week on Mastering Change, we sit down with Annalie Howling – EMDR therapist, performance coach, and author of Unapologetic – to explore shame as one of trauma’s most corrosive legacies. Annalie speaks openly about her own history of violence, self-harm, and the masks she wore to stay hidden. She shares why she refuses to offer a step-by-step guide to healing – and how pulling shame “out by the root” is the only way to make room for compassion and lasting change. we exploreWhat shame is – and why it’s so hard to talk about How trauma often leaves behind a lingering stain of “I am…” beliefs How shame becomes identity Why people-pleasing and perfectionism are often trauma responses How shame shows up in the body – especially after sexual violence The cultural forces that reinforce shame in women The difference between guilt and shame – and why self-compassion is the cure This is a fierce and moving conversation, and, for anyone who’s ever felt shame (that’s all of us), supremely validating.  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

In Part III of our three-part series with psychology researcher and technology executive Steve Siddals, we explore perhaps the most important and challenging question yet: What happens when people in crisis turn to AI for help – and it gets it wrong? Joined by AI ethicist Catherine Mooney, we dig into the unintended consequences and ethical grey areas emerging as more and more people turn to chatbots for emotional support. We exploreThe alarming cases where chatbots affirmed delusions and psychosis Why “when it’s free, you are the product” matters more than ever How AI may be offering comfort – but not necessarily safety What we owe users when the technology is already being used at scale Cat brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of AI and ethics. Steve shares the latest findings from his research and reflects on the sometimes-unsettling stories people are sharing about their use of chatbots. Together, we look honestly at the complexity of what’s unfolding: the risks and the questions AI is raising about safety and trust. If you’ve been following this series on Mastering Change, don’t miss this final episode.  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

It’s Part II of our conversation with psychology researcher and technology executive Steve Siddals. Last week, we uncovered surprising insights into how people are using AI chatbots for emotional support. Now in Part II of this three-part series, Steve unpacks the ethical complexities, unintended consequences and extraordinary potential of using AI in therapeutic contexts.  We explore the paradox: how something that isn’t human can help us relate more deeply to other humans. And we ask big questions: Can chatbots ever replicate the relational depth of human connection? What happens when trauma survivors find “safety” in machines instead of people? Is AI a bridge or a barrier to healing? We also discuss The hidden therapeutic power of a consistent, non-judgemental presence How AI may offer a “starting point” for those too afraid to talk to a therapist Whether bots are just tech, or a tool for relational transformation AI is a controversial topic and while it’s one Steve is passionate about, he comes to the subject from a place of curiosity and neutrality, simply questioning whether AI is a worthwhile tool in the space. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Can a chatbot provide emotional support in moments of crisis? Can AI ever replicate the safety and insight of human connection? These are the questions Steve Siddals – psychology researcher and technology executive – set out to explore in one of the first qualitative studies into AI chatbots and mental health. In this episode of Mastering Change, we dive into Steve’s surprising findings: that 18 out of 19 participants in his study found AI chatbot support helpful – some even described it as “life changing.” “It gave me the space to just be me – without judgement, without fear.” Steve’s participants used AI in diverse ways. One person said the AI helped them reclaim their life after uncovering a new perspective on their upbringing. Another shared how a chatbot supported him through grief in the days leading up to his mother’s death. Access to mental health services is deeply unequal – particularly outside high-income countries – and Steve believes AI could fill a vital gap. But this isn’t about replacing therapists. It’s about listening to real experiences, understanding the potential and doing the research we so urgently need. We also exploreThe ethical concerns and fears surrounding AI and therapy What “safe” really means when speaking to a bot Where relational depth might fall short How people are unknowingly using AI in therapeutic ways Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

“Why should a child have to fight an adult in a court of law?” This week on Mastering Change, we had a deeply moving conversation Poppy and Miranda Eyre. Poppy is a survivor of child sexual abuse; Miranda, her mother, was the first person she told. Theirs is a story of survival, resistance, reform, and a call for systemic change. They are one of the rare families for whom the legal system worked. But as Miranda says, “We’ve never met another family like us. That’s the problem.” “Belief is the beginning of everything.” Poppy was 11 when she spoke out. Her perpetrator – her grandfather – was convicted. But, as Poppy explains, it wasn’t justice alone that shaped her journey, it was the fact she was, simply, believed. Many others aren’t.  Poppy and Miranda are using their experience to campaign for a trauma-informed legal framework that starts with belief, not proof: A system where the symptoms of trauma are recognised as evidence, not dismissed for lack of witnesses, admissions, or footage. We discussWhy the legal system often fails survivors of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse) The long-term effects of being not believed  The systemic reform needed to make trauma-informed justice possible Poppy and Miranda’s ongoing advocacy in Parliament, with the NSPCC, and beyond How abuse survivors can be discredited simply because of semantics Moment of Care: This week’s episode of Mastering Change contains themes that may be emotionally challenging, particularly for survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) or those who’ve supported someone through it.We encourage you to listen in a way that honors your capacity. If you are a survivor or this content feels especially sensitive, know it’s okay to pause, step away, or skip this episode altogether. Your safety and emotional well-being matter most. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

We’re joined by acclaimed Hungarian-Canadian physician and one of the world’s foremost voices on trauma and addiction – Dr. Gabor Maté. It’s an illuminating conversation that spans everything from the inner workings of conflict, compassion and self-regulation to media and politics. We touch on polarisation which, Gabor explains, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We also exploreRupture and repair in relationships The need to consistently recognise our body state  How to balance oneself in conflict The yogic concept of the mind The principles of Compassionate Inquiry Humans’ innate drive for truth and justice Child vs. adult culture — and how today’s norms undermine the parenting role ... And the Netflix series Adolescence! “You’re responsible for how you show up, but not how others’ feel.” Gabor brings, in equal measure, practical wisdom – from decades of clinical insight – and personal revelations to this compelling conversation. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

As an openly autistic psychotherapist, Dr. Katherine Uher works with those experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem and complex trauma – often shaped by a lifetime of feeling "othered." Her research explores the impact of systemic trauma, especially how institutions often misunderstand, pathologise or erase the needs of neurodivergent people. She speaks from both professional and lived experience, which she shares in the episode. “As a society, our perception of normal is rigid and we are wary of differences.” Dr. Uher’s research challenges how neurodivergent people are storied and judged by professionals. She argues that many neurodivergent people struggle with their sense of self are because their identities have been shaped by other people’s opinions of what’s right and wrong. We discussHow Dr. Uher’s personal journey shaped her academic research The danger of pathologising differences How neurodivergent behaviours are misunderstood How neurodivergent people are taught to conform The long-term emotional toll of masking What it means to grow up “other-referencing” instead of self-referencing This was a poignant conversation, and we’re grateful to Dr. Uher for speaking so candidly about her own journey – and the wider struggles of navigating a world not designed for neurodivergent people. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself, a clinician, therapist, educator or ally, this episode is essential listening. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details. 

Most of us think of nightmares as something children experience, but in fact 2-8% of the adult population suffer from persistent, trauma-related nightmares. Dr. Justin Havens is on a mission to change that, sharing in this week’s episode of Mastering Change, his breakthrough dream completion technique. “You can resolve persistent traumatic nightmares in one session, in as little as 20 minutes,” he tells us as we discuss PTSD, anxiety and nightmares. “We're not removing memories. We're changing the way people feel about those memories.” A clinical psychologist and trauma specialist, Dr. Havens has trained hundreds of Ukraine therapists in this novel technique to help those with PTSD nightmares.  He explains that trauma isn’t always about the event itself, but the way it’s represented for the person in the present. His technique works to change the perception and emotional intensity of a memory – a method that’s delivering rapid results across clinical and community settings. Research into nightmares has been few and far between and while sleep is a hot topic in public discourse, traumatic nightmares are seldom discussed or understood. We hope then that this conversation brings reassurance to anyone navigating their impact. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.