TherapyTalks

Chris sits down with his good friend Tom Conway for a deeply personal conversation about life, creativity, and resilience. Thomas speaks about his love for his work, his passion for screenwriting, and his journey through cancer.Together they reflect on what illness can teach us about perspective — learning not to sweat the small stuff, focusing on what truly matters, and simply taking one step forward and keeping going. This is a conversation about hope, friendship, creativity, and the quiet strength that comes from keeping going.See link below for ‘The Radio’https://youtu.be/UTKN5gF_qus

 I’m joined by Jennifer O’Kelly for a thoughtful conversation on existential therapy and its meeting point with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Together we explore meaning, values, acceptance, and what it means to sit honestly with the realities of being human — in therapy and in life. I really enjoyed this conversation and even after, listening back, there was so much more I took from Jennifer's insights. 

In this episode of TherapyTalks, I’m joined by Jim Hutton, Chair of the IACP’s EDI Committee, for a reflective conversation about volunteering within the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.We explore volunteering not as an obligation or extra task, but as a form of connection — to the profession, to shared values, and to ourselves. Jim reflects on his experiences at both regional and national levels, how volunteering has shaped him as a therapist, and what it has offered him personally in terms of belonging, growth, and meaning.This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered whether volunteering is “for them”, and for those curious about the quieter ways community sustains professional life.

Chris talks with Ravind Jeawon, Jude Coughlan of the EDI Committee of the IACP and Dr Ray O Neill about all things Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as they discuss the upcoming Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference on the 22nd November. They talk about the power and privilege that exists within the profession and the importance of recognising this as we meet clients. Power and safety are important themes that were explored in relation to the work of psychotherapy. Another important talking point was the concept of equity and how for many people there is not an equal starting point. This was an insightful conversation with much to think about and much to do!!

Chris talks about grief and loss and shares his experiences of losing his parents and his lovely cat and trying to make sense of the journey of his grief using Worden's tasks of grief as theoretical navigation. He looks at the 4 tasks that Worden and outlines and explored his experiences and the ongoing ness of his grief. He makes the distinction between normal grief and complicated grief. 

Well a year later we return....not the plan but life happened and so here we are. Chris talks about the last year and what plans are ahead, focusing on an episode in the next few days on grief and loss following the recent death of his Mum. 

Chris is back from an unplanned break in the podcast and talks about all that has been going on in the previous few months and what the plans will be for new episodes. There was a moment in time when there were thoughts of stopping the podcast but he couldn't do it...

In a solo episode, Chris chats about Christmas and how to manage the stressful moments. He explores the perfectonism myth and looks at ideas of 'good enough'. He discusses different strategies to manage  stress and also explores deeper psychological explanations of Christmas from a Jungian perspective.

Madeleine talks with Chris about her journey from a horrific act of sexual violence perpetrated against her when she was only 13 , and how she healed over the years, and now speaks about her story and bravely shares her experiences, cultivating courage and shining a light on shame so it can lose its power.  She speaks honestly and openly about the impact on her life of these experiences and how she finally spoke out publicly in 2014.  She trained as a therapist and now speaks at various events inspiring others to speak out and break the cycle of shame that keeps people silent. She has written a book, unbroken, and has appeared on 2 Ted Talks, and has had a podcast called Unbroken, healing through storytelling. If people are impacted by what we discuss, see some support  helpline numbers available National 24 hour Rape Crisis Helpline 1800778888Samaritans 116123Connect Counselling 1800477477Text about it 50808For a list of accredited therapists and psychologists  in Ireland:http://www.iacp.iehttps://iahip.orghttps://www.psychologicalsociety.ie 

Marc shares with Chris his journey to the world of coaching and corporate speaking. This is a fascinating discussion where he shares very honestly and openly the challenges from leaving Ireland as a child and moving to the UK,  his early career and how a chance bet, led him to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. This led him into the  world of Corporate Speaking events, Mentoring and Coaching.  Marc brings much insight the world of coaching and how framing his work in a psychodynamic perspective helps him to make more connections with his clients and helps them reflect more deeply about their challenges.

Alan Cooke, Emmy award winning writer and poet returns to the podcast to talk about his experiences of a profound grief after the death of his cat,  and the journey of healing he undertook. His present loss coupled with other significant losses in his life led him to travel the roads of Ireland meeting many people along the way and through shared experiences of loss and grief and connecting to the landscapes he started a healing path that continues and is bringing him forward in ways he could not have anticipated.  

Chris introduces Season 5 and talks about potential guests and recaps on season 4. Also talks about his work evelopements in Galway City counselling and the experiences of being a Dad. 

Amy talks with Chris about her journey that led her to start training as a psychotherapist.  She shares with Chris her experiences of having three siblings with Autism and the changing family dynamics and coming to terms with this.  She talks with Chris with honesty and insight and they talk about the impact of her early experiences moving from Co Dublin to the West of Ireland and the struggle of adjustment.  They talk about being sensitive and how valuable this is for the work of therapy but also how painful it can be.  Amy shares with Chris a family bereavment that had a profound impact on them all and how this and her brothers cancer diagnosis all happened at the beginning of the pandemic. This was a chat that was filled with honesty and openness. 

Chris talks with Padraig about his years of working in positive behavioural support and applied behavioural analysis and his changing focus since the pandemic. He discovered the power of communicating insights from psychology in a way that people can understand and has since  worked with the media and has worked with different organisations utilising psychological insights  to support them. And then he became a Dad and chats with Chris about this amazing,  life changing experience and they share their thoughts on fatherhood and being first time Dad's.

Eylül joins Chris to talk about her life in Turkey and the challenges and pressures of a life studying medicine and not following her passion for music.  She shares with Chris how she moved from the clinical setting to Academia and her love of science.  She talks about the challenges of life in Turkey and about what led her to move to Ireland. They talk about the work she is doing as a post doctoral researcher here.  And always music follows her and she shares with Chris this ongoing journey to becoming a musician and her passion for music and for the written word and how  melodies and lyrics  come to her and and how therapeutic this process is. 

Laura and Enda join Chris discussing their amazing Cafe and the ethos that they wish to bring to their customers. Authentic connection and great coffee are keys to their business and they share their journey to getting to where they are today. Enda talks about passion for your work versus expectation and societal norms and his movement from engineering to coffee and Laura describes the importance of being real and how this underpins their interaction  with customers.   It's clear they are both passionate about their work and they see that as fundamental to their daily lived experience. 

Sarah and Chris have a fascinating discussion about therapy and theatre and the healing aspects of their  integration. Sarah talks about her journey into the world of theatre and the paths her career has taken and her hopes going forward.  She shares with Chris her passion for the craft of acting but how she finds the industry of acting at odds with the craft. They discuss the potential for theatre and the creative arts to be therapeutic and therapy as place to help open up our creative potential.  

Lisa Berry joins Chris in chatting about her work as a Yoga teacher and practitioner and shares with Chris the profound impact yoga has had on her life. She shares her work and her approach and  brings great insight into the the world of Yoga and the very positive impact it can make in our lives. This is a fascinating conversation that has many twists and turns and captures the wide nature of Yoga and how it is so much more than the physical practise  often associated with Yoga.

Yvonne chats with Chris about her work as a therapist and her passion for psychotherapy and the healing power of the therapeutic relationship.  She also talks about her work as a singer with the band  The Raines and as a producer on a variety of projects with her husband Tommy Tiernan and more recently on the Tommy, Hector and Laurita Podcast. 

Chris talks with Niall Ronan about his former professional career in Rugby, playing with Leinster, Munster and Ireland.  He talks about the valuable lessons he learnt as a player and how he uses these in his life now and in the area of corporate wellness where he is director of a company, Titan Wellness.  Niall and Chris chat about different ideas that relate to wellness and Niall shares with Chris a wealth of ideas that can add value to our life.  

Chris concludes season 3 reflecting on the different episodes and their impact. He also reflects on the profound year that occurred during season 3 with the sudden  loss of his dad and the birth of his son.  He shares his hopes for the podcast and his gratitude for everyone who has taken the time to listen.

Steve has completed the  channel swim, swimming from England to France. He talks with Chris about his experiences during the swim and talks in particular about the mental battle of the first two hours. This is a very honest  chat and he gives us an amazing insight into the experiences of swimming such a vast distance and  of having to deal with the  major obstacle of completing such an endurance event, and that is the mind. He describes the process of having a continuous debate with himself, one side arguing for the merits of stopping and the other reminding him of why he is doing this swim.  He talks about the importance of sharing his difficulties with his support crew and the invaluable support they gave him. He has been raising money for Cancer Care West, who provide professional, community based practical and emotional support services  free of charge to anyone affected by cancer. 

In the penultimate episode of the Steve Tummon channel swim talks, Chris and Steve talk about how Steve is coping with the last couple of days before he starts the swim. He is staying in Dover and is feeling very ready to get swimming.  He talks about  the importance of external supports and how much he has found people getting in contact with their support very meaningful and very positive in terms of readying himself for the swim.  They talk about adrenaline and panic and using this to fuel him for the swim.  

Chris and Steve reflect on the last 18 months and some of the strategies that Steve has learned that are proving very important now as he faces the final few weeks before the challenge.  Steve talks honestly about his nervousness but also reflects on the work he has done to get to this position.  He talks about the final preparations and the importance of his team on the day.   All proceeds raised from this challenge will go to Cancer Care West. 

This week Steve and Chris talk about some of the important psychological strategies that Steve uses to support him during very long swims and different training challenges. What comes across really strongly is how much Steve loves swimming in the sea and that it is this love of sea swimming to helps him keep smiling as he focuses on pushing himself for those extra hours in the sea.  They talk about key concepts including reframing, taking perspective and motivation.  There are some very useful tips and strategies that can be used in everyday life, not just endurance events.

In this episode, kindly hosted by Thomas Conway, as Chris was working and not available, we follow Steve through 2 days of intense swimming, chatting before during and after these very long swims. He has a successful 7 hour swim and then the following day doesn't go to plan but they talk through the successes and important lessons of when it doesn't work out.  Steve shares valuable insights about his mental and physical preparations and how he copes with the challenges of this endurance event.  

Steve and Chris will spend the next few episodes chatting about Steve's final preparation for the channel swim,  his mental and physical challenges as he counts down the days to swimming the English Channel.  Today they chat about some of the mental battles he has to deal with and also having to deal with the 'waiting'.  He talks about his recent 6 hour swim along the promenade in difficult conditions and some of the mental techniques he uses to help in the process.

Josh chats with Chris about his journey from when he attempted suicide in 2016 and starting to cycle as his therapy and the journey that this led him on. He has since  cycled around  the world and survived a near death cycling accident. He  has  become a world record holder and then a Guinness world record holder for the longest distance cycled in 7 days.  He is now training to be a professional road cyclist.   

Actor Simone Kirby talks to Chris about her experiences an actor and the impact her work has on her. She talks honestly about the psychological benefits and the challenges to playing different roles. This an engaging and humorous chat were two old friends catch up and talk about the importance of passion for your work and connection.  She shares with Chris her experiences as an actor in theatre,  tv and film.  They talk about her recent roles on Hidden Assets and His Dark Materials.  And they explore the challenges the pandemic had on her work.

Dr Roisin Joyce talks with Chris about the value of compassion in the therapeutic process.   They explore Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and the importance of compassion for all of us in our lives.  She also talks with Chris about ways of helping support people to bring more compassion and kindness to their experiences and the value this can have.  She talks about how she integrates other models but keeps CFT to the fore in her approaches.  This is an invaluable conversation that will suit therapists and non therapists and anyone with an interest in personal growth and development.  

Chris talks with psychotherapist Elaine King about the recent heart-breaking loss of his father and the daily task of grieving and trying to make sense of a world without his Dad. They talk about what can provide support and aid in the unfolding nature of the grieving process. They share ideas and insights that have emerged through lived experience of loss. 

Steve Tummon talks to Chris about his preparations for swimming the English Channel in July 2022.  He shares his insights that he has learned through his training regime and how valuable it is to stay in the present moment.  They chat about all things swimming and much much more.  Steve brings a passion to his lived experience and there is much to inspire and nuggets of wisdom that he shares with Chris in the course of their chat. 

Dr Malie Coyne talks to Chris about the value of compassion and the work of meeting others in a very real and authentic way. They talk about her book and the experience of her work with children and also the experiences of working on TV.  They have a very real and honest conversation about the value of connection.  She talks about separating her different roles and the seriousness of her clinical work and the fun of TV.  She speaks honestly and openly about her work and about her life.

Eoghan aka  Fia Rua talks with Chris about so much in the podcast. They talk about his new album and the music the connects very deeply to the times we are in and the journey he has been on. They reminisce about times gone by and explore and discuss Eoghan's journey in terms of opening up to different creative pursuits. He shares with Chris the profound impact the birth of his daughter has had and his opening up to life in a very different way.  A raw and honest conversation.See below for links to his new album, Behind the GreyAlbum Secret Link : https://soundcloud.com/fiaruamusic/sets/fia-rua-behind-the-grey/s-lJRO5RtfKpsAlbum Public/Bandcamp : https://fiaruamusic.bandcamp.com/album/behind-the-greySingle Audio/Download: https://fiaruamusic.bandcamp.com/track/the-hand-that-i-seek-3Single Video: https://youtu.be/adwZzY8l7dsOnline Album Launch 28/03/2021: https://fb.watch/4A9rt6DkWH/

Nikki Fallon shares with Chris her experiences of Post Natal Depression and Psychosis. She talks about her experiences of hospitalisation due to her illness and the courageous journey of recovery she went on. She talks honestly and openly about mental illness and about the importance of speaking  truthfully about her experiences in the hope of helping others by sharing her story.  She shares her powerful journey of healing and the importance of doing things that satisfy her soul such as sketching, creativity and sea swimming.

Ian Tyndall, academic and researcher talks with Chris about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  They have a conversation  about the power of Acceptance and look at key aspects of the theory that can impact all of us. For therapists and non therapists alike, these ideas have real value.  A very interesting chat about the challenges of being human the power of acceptance. 

Chris gets to talk to the brilliant Peter Daly about his life as a professional actor and accountant. He talks about his journey to where he is now and the challenge of juggling these different worlds. He speaks very honestly about the different challenges he has experienced, the ups and downs of life and so much more. There is humour and lots of reminiscing of days gone by. 

This week, host Chris is interviewed about being a therapist by his friend Tom Conway.  They talk about his journey to becoming a therapist and different influences and ideas that have impacted him. They also discuss Chris's love of swimming and his recent interest in cold water emersion.   They have an interesting conversation about all things related to therapy.

Alan talks to Chris about his amazing journey from Emmy award winning screenwriter to being a poet and philosopher and the healing walking he experiences in the wonders of nature in the Burren in County Clare.  He shares fascinating insights about the healing connection in natures space. And we are lucky enough to have him read some of his poetry.Anyone interested in being part of a storytelling workshop  Alan will be involved with on 'tending the soul of the masculine'  on the 6th and 7th of February, follow the link below.https://alancooke--themythicmasculine.thrivecart.com/gatherings-of-stories/

Cameron joins Chris and shares their Journey from childhood in rural Sligo to being the first openly trans vice president of the students union in NUI Galway.  Cameron shares a story of courage and inspiration and also discusses their love of science and talks about their PhD in the area of Parkinson's related dementia.  

Season 2 return on the first day of 2021.  Lots of interesting interviews in store.  And lots of hope as well!!

Emilia talks with Chris about her life growing up in Massachusetts and her journey from a conservative, evangelical tradition to discovering Celtic spirituality, her travels in Ireland and training  to be a counselling psychologist. She shares with such honesty and insight about the connection to her deeper self and the journey she has been on in discovering who she is and where she is going. 

Chris talks to Noortje Vandommele about her life journey, her experiences of her Mum's mental health issues and the impact this had on her growing up and how she manages her anxiety today. She talks with much insight and awareness of being an outsider and feeling this way for much of her life. She shares her love of swimming and its vital role in plays in her life today as well as art and painting. And lots, lots more beside!!

Chris talks with Sebastian and Steve Taylor about their wonderful business, Café Temple. They talk about their approach to their business, about ethical practise and the social enterprise model. They share their vision and passion for what they do. They highlight how their approach to work is very much about creating a welcoming space where both staff and customers are met with warmth and respect on a daily basis. They focus on the therapeutic value in doing something you love, having meaning and being passionate about work.

British Mountaineer, Andy Kirkpatrick talks to Chris about the realities of climbing mountains and the inner journey that comes with this. He shares his experiences of being stuck on the side of a mountain with his wife for 2 weeks and the journey he has been on from his earliest years climbing mountains.  He talks about writing books and the passion he has for this. He shares his views on lots of different things and gives a fascinating insight into facing peril and facing ourselves.

Classical Double Bassist and singer, Caimin Gilmore talks to Chris about his musical experiences, his journey into music and how music is not only his job, but is also the vehicle of expression of his deepest self. He provides a fascinating and insightful account of the power of music and how aligned it is it is to the therapy process. 

Chris talks to Dr Jonanthan Egan about fearing our emotions, the Therapy model Affect phobia and how we can return to the world of living from defensive holding and avoidance of feeling.  He brings a wealth of invaluable experience to the conversation and looks at the challenges of burnout for therapists and how we can move beyond this. A fascinating and insightful conversation.

Dave Coyne joins Chris in this weeks episode of Therapy Talks to talk about his mental health journey over the last 20 years. He talks of being diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and the importance of his self care in relation to his mental health and what he is learned on this journey. He provides valuable insights and focuses on key areas that have been very important for him in maintaining his mental health and how he is learned much from his experiences.

Casey Donaghey joins Chris on this weeks episode of TherapyTalks. She talks about her experiences doing a psychotherapy training, the challenges of having a disability and what gives her focus and her own therapeutic ideas and what helps her move forward in her life. A very honest conversation about finding a home in herself and the journey she has been on to date.As always thanks to TekHazy (Spotify, Bandcamp) for the music and shivvs_artblock (instagram) for the artwork.

The wonderful Cormac Begley talks to Chris, from his hideaway in West Kerry, about the importance of music to him, and how the concertina is his therapy and his passion. He talks about Psychology and we get to hear him play some amazing tunes as well.