Welcome to this Healing 101 episode, where we tackle one of the most pressing topics in mental health today—how to support teenagers through the challenges of growing up.

I’m joined by Dr Beth Mosley, a psychologist who works closely with young people and families, to unpack the pressures teens face, from social media and school stress to navigating family relationships. Beth shares practical advice for parents, including how to set healthy boundaries around technology, keep communication open, and most importantly, model self-compassion in a way that helps teenagers do the same.

We also explore the role of family dynamics in shaping mental health and how building a supportive community can make all the difference. This is an insightful and encouraging conversation, full of real-world strategies to help parents foster resilience and emotional well-being in their children.

Find Beth:

Website: https://www.drbethmosley.com/

Read Beth's book: https://amzn.eu/d/3n5g4AB

Instagram: @drbethmosley

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In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Josh Connolly, an emotional resilience coach, speaker and author of the transformative book It’s Them, Not You. Josh opens up about his personal journey of healing from a childhood shaped by trauma and growing up with a toxic, alcoholic parent. He shares how these early experiences influenced his struggles with addiction and self-worth, and how he’s since transformed those challenges into a mission to help others.

Together, we explore the long-term impacts of dysfunctional family systems, the importance of breaking unhealthy patterns, and the power of self-compassion in the healing process. Josh also offers practical advice on navigating difficult relationships, reparenting yourself, and the importance of finding community. 

Find Josh:

Website: https://www.joshconnolly.co.uk/

Instagram: @josh_ffw

Buy his book: https://amzn.eu/d/ehjEkcp

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

On today’s Healing 101 I am joined by Katie McKenna once again to talk about something that isn’t always visible but can have a profound and lasting impact—emotional abuse. Unlike physical abuse, emotional abuse can be subtle, insidious, and difficult to recognise, but its effects on self-worth, confidence, and relationships can be just as damaging.

In this episode, we’ll explore the hidden signs of emotional abuse—from gaslighting and silent treatment to intense jealousy and role reversal in parent-child relationships. We’ll talk about why emotional abuse can make someone more vulnerable to future abusive relationships, and most importantly, how to begin the process of healing. Katie shares powerful insights on how to rebuild your sense of self, set boundaries, and take small but meaningful steps toward self-empowerment. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, questioned your reality in relationships, or found it hard to say "no," this episode is for you.

Find Katie:

Instagram: @katiemckennapsychotherapist

Website: https://www.katiemckenna.ie/

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

Welcome back to Hurt to Healing! Today, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Federica Amati, a medical scientist and registered nutritionist, to talk about how we can build a healthier relationship with food—without all the guilt and restriction. So often, nutrition advice focuses on what to cut out, but Federica believes the real power lies in what we add in. We’ll be talking about how to personalise your diet based on your age, life stage, and health needs, and why enjoying food is just as important as making healthy choices.

We also get into some big topics—like the demonisation of carbohydrates, whether continuous glucose monitoring and blood testing can help us understand our bodies better, and what we actually need to know about supplements and the wellness industry. Plus, Federica shares practical, sustainable ways to make changes to your diet without feeling overwhelmed. This episode is all about empowering you to nourish yourself in a way that works for you, so let’s get into it!

Find Fede:

Instagram: @dr.fede.amati

Buy Fede's book: https://amzn.eu/d/8wIhU2c

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline — and it certainly doesn’t play by the rules. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a version of yourself, grief can show up in unexpected ways and stay longer than we’d like. In this episode, I speak with James Withey — therapist, speaker, and author of How to Get to Grips with Grief — to talk about what it really means to live with loss. James shares his own experience of bereavement and depression, and together we explore how grief can shape our mental health, our relationships, and the stories we tell ourselves.

This conversation gently unpacks the myths around moving on, the importance of emotional expression, and how we can show up for others (and ourselves) when grief hits. James brings so much honesty, compassion, and even some lightness to the conversation — and it’s a powerful reminder that grief isn’t something we need to fix. It’s something we need to understand.

Buy James's book on grief: https://amzn.eu/d/ahBrRlg

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

Today, we are joined by the accomplished model, actor, advocate and podcast host, Paul Sculfor. Paul’s journey is one of highs and lows—a dazzling career in the fashion world interwoven with struggles against addiction, anxiety, and self-discovery. In this candid conversation, he opens up about his formative years, grappling with family dynamics and societal pressures, his spiral into substance abuse, and, ultimately, his path to recovery and purpose.

Together, we delve into the challenges of healing, finding balance, and cultivating a new life rooted in self-awareness and emotional sobriety.

Find Paul:

Instagram: @paulsculfor

Listen to Paul's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-is-powerful-with-paul-sculfor/id1756874279

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

Welcome back to Healing 101! In this episode, we’re joined by renowned psychotherapist and best-selling author Owen O’Kane. Owen breaks down the complexities of anxiety and stress, sharing powerful insights and practical tools to manage emotions, build resilience, and deepen self-awareness.

With a compassionate approach, Owen helps us rethink mental health struggles, offering hope and actionable advice for anyone on their healing journey.

Buy Owen's new book, 'Addicted to Anxiety': https://amzn.eu/d/cxRKYCD

Follow Owen: @owenokaneten

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

In this thought-provoking episode of Hurt to Healing, I sit down with author Eleanor Anstruther to discuss the complexities of mental health stigma, particularly within traditionally closed-off communities. Eleanor examines why some mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder, are more widely accepted and treated, while others, such as narcissistic personality disorder, are misunderstood, overlooked, or even celebrated—despite the harm they can cause.

Drawing from personal experiences and stories shared by friends, Eleanor offers a raw and nuanced perspective on the cultural biases that shape how we perceive mental illness. She explores the importance of questioning these stigmas, promoting empathy, and offering compassionate support to those in need.

Find Eleanor:

Website: https://www.eleanoranstruther.com/

Instagram: @eleanoranstruther

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

​​Welcome back to Healing 101! In this episode, we are joined by the insightful psychotherapist and author Katie McKenna. Katie dives into the profound impact of childhood trauma, explaining how early experiences shape emotional patterns, relationships, and self-perception in adulthood.

With warmth and clarity, Katie shares practical guidance on recognising trauma responses, breaking unhealthy cycles, and fostering healing. This thought-provoking conversation offers tools and perspectives you can apply to your everyday life.

Find Katie:

Instagram: @katiemckennapsychotherapist

Website: https://www.katiemckenna.ie/

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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

In this episode, Owen dives deep into the concept of anxiety—not just as a psychological state, but as a process we can unknowingly get hooked on. Drawing from his decades of experience, Owen explains how we can shift our relationship with anxiety, embrace our inner struggles, and reclaim control over our emotional wellbeing.

We’ll discuss why anxiety often feels like an addiction, how understanding the root causes of anxious thoughts can lead to freedom, and why compassion—for ourselves and our experiences—is the ultimate key to healing.

Owen also shares his own powerful story of navigating trauma and anxiety growing up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, giving us insight into how life experiences shape who we are and how we can heal. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a more meaningful way to navigate life’s challenges, this episode is full of wisdom and actionable tools to help you move forward.

Buy Owen's new book, 'Addicted to Anxiety': https://amzn.eu/d/cxRKYCD

Follow Owen: @owenokaneten

Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us at @hurttohealingpod on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

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