Can a therapy approach and a brownie recipe change your life?
Clinical psychologist Dr. Jan Ferris joins Mind Cake to explore Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and how embracing discomfort might be the first step to feeling truly free.

In this grounded and heartwarming episode of Mind Cake, Dr. Jan Ferris of The Wellbeing Rooms joins Paul for a deep dive into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — a practical and compassionate approach to mental well-being that helps you stop struggling with your thoughts and start living with purpose.

Together, they explore:

• 🧠 What is ACT? – A quick primer on how this therapy teaches us to accept difficult emotions and commit to our values

• 🌱 Mindfulness that matters – How to use awareness and self-compassion when life gets messy

• 📚 ACT vs CBT – What makes this approach different and why it might work when others don’t

• 🍫 Jan’s secret brownie recipe – Because acceptance is easier with good chocolate

• 🍳 Paul’s cooker crisis and The Crown – A very Mind Cake mix of tangents and insights

Whether you’re new to ACT or looking for accessible, human-first mental health tools, this episode is a gentle nudge toward doing what matters, even when it’s hard.

🎧 Hit play for a practical, personal, and brownie-scented guide to finding peace with your inner chaos.

For more information on ACT therapy, try the following links:

ACT Mindfully Workshops with Russ Harris

The Happiness Trap website

The Happiness Trap Book by Russ Harris

Acceptance_and_commitment_therapy - Wikipedia

Acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-act-therapy - Cleveland Clinic

What would you do if you were told you had just six months to live? In this deeply personal episode, Mind Cake co-host Lee Crompton shares his journey from an anaplastic thyroid cancer diagnosis to finding hope, humour, and purpose in the face of uncertainty.

Lee opens up about how his diagnosis affected his mental health, the coping strategies he relied on, and how creativity became his lifeline. This inspiring story goes beyond defying the odds—it’s about embracing life, breaking down stigmas, and finding meaning in the toughest moments.

🎧 Listen now to hear how Lee turned a terminal prognosis into the catalyst for starting this podcast.

#MentalHealth #CancerJourney #CopingWithCancer #MindCakePodcast

Additional Links:

Maggie's Cancer Care - https://www.maggies.org/

Macmillan Cancer Support - https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

Welcome to the first slice of Mind Cake! 🎙️ Meet hosts Lee Crompton and Paul Beeson as they share why they started this podcast and what you can expect in the episodes ahead.

With humour, honesty, and a healthy dose of sarcasm, Lee and Paul tackle mental health and well-being—breaking stigmas and exploring therapies, coping strategies, and what it means to be human.

Lee’s journey includes a terminal cancer diagnosis and finding creative outlets like this podcast to cope. Paul brings his own insights and wit to keep the conversations grounded.

Whether you’re here for relatable chats, mental health tips, or a few laughs, Mind Cake offers a little something for everyone.