In the final episode of our Wellbeing series, Ellie speaks to Dr. Nancy Bancroft about ways to protect yourself when working with trauma.

Working with trauma is not without its risks. Many therapists and other professionals who deal with trauma are at risk of developing secondary trauma, and even vicarious trauma long-term. So how can we build methods of protection to keep us safe, whilst pursuing work we are proud of?

Ellie and Nancy discuss how she works somatically with clients who have trauma, taking into account their body, physical health, and other elements that make up the whole person in the body.

Nancy shares her approaches to trauma, rituals she relies on to help her through sessions, and how she has built a thriving support network for herself as she’s transitioned into independent practice.

Dr Nancy Bancroft is a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years experience working therapeutically with psychological and emotional distress, within NHS, academic and private contexts. She currently runs her clinic The Body in the Mind and is a Specialist Member of The Psychology Co-Operative.

You can find out more about Nancy and her work on Instagram and her website.

Do you find yourself saying ‘once I get past this hurdle, once I have this holiday, I’ll be happy’? Is happiness something to chase, or can we attain it in the everyday?

In today’s episode, Ellie discusses approaches to happiness with Zoe Mallett. Zoe is a happiness consultant, psychologist and creator. From crafting emotive content for brands, to elevating business cultures for good, Zoe uses her playful character, science-backed insights and experience to create purpose-driven, highly-engaging content for global brands resulting in millions of views.

Zoe shares her unique approach to cultivating happiness through mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and appreciating small moments of joy in her daily life. She also delves into the psychological aspects of happiness, the evolutionary roots of negativity bias, and practical strategies for managing screen time and stress.

You can follow more of Zoe’s work on her website, Instagram and TikTok.

When was the last good night’s sleep you had? If we’re stressed or overworked, sleep is often the first thing that suffers. We all know sleep is integral to our wellbeing, so how can we improve it?

Join Ellie as she speaks to sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning about realistic approaches to improving your sleep habits and overall health. Dr Browning is a UK based chartered psychologist, neuroscientist, author and founder of Trouble Sleeping.

Dr Browning shares insights on creating optimal sleep environments, strategies to reduce sleep anxiety, and breaks down common sleep myths - it’s not all about deep sleep!

Key topics covered are:

• 03:06 Challenges in the Field of Sleep Therapy
• 06:46 The Importance of Quality Sleep
• 11:17 Understanding Sleep Stages
• 15:32 Sleep and Aging
• 17:34 Menopause and Sleep
• 19:47 Creating Optimal Sleep Conditions
• 26:09 Understanding the Impact of Irregular Sleep Patterns
• 26:35 The Importance of a Consistent Sleep Routine
• 31:39 Techniques to Combat Sleep Anxiety
• 41:17 Workplace Strategies for Better Sleep
• 45:33 Practical Tips for Self-Employed Practice Owners

You can follow Dr Browning on social media @drbrowningsleep and on her website Trouble Sleeping.

Does talking therapy risk disembodying people?

In this episode Ellie discusses the powerful connection between exercise and mental health with Kevin Braddock, Psychotherapist, Fitness Instructor, and Co-Founder of Soma Space. Soma Space is a not-for-profit organisation that combines strength training and exercise with mental health education.

Kevin argues the value of creating a space that centres both movement and getting into the body, as well mental health education and psychotherapy. Essentially, treating people in the bodies they exist in.

Ellie and Kevin also discuss the somatic and psychotherapeutic approaches used at Soma Space, Kevin’s personal journey from journalism to psychotherapy and fitness instruction, and give advice on how to embrace movement as a busy practice owner.

You can find out more about Kevin and Soma Space on their website and Instagram.

In today’s episode we are approaching a topic some of you may find yourself avoiding; the importance of getting therapy as a therapist.

Although it is a requirement in many qualifying courses, attending therapy as you progress in your career can be seen as taboo.

To interrogate this somewhat uncomfortable topic, Ellie was joined by the wonderful Patricia Barber. Patricia is an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist and Director of Psychology at My Psychology Ireland. Patricia is a firm believer in attending her own therapy, and she shares with Ellie why she believes having your own therapy can make you a better therapist.

You can find Patricia at her practice My Psychology Ireland, on Instagram and Facebook. She is also the host of the Thinking about Therapy podcast.

The Facebook group Patricia mentions in the episode for private psychologists in the UK can be found here.

If you’re working in private practice, chances are you’ve heard of burnout. Or perhaps you are dealing with it right now.

Kicking off our wellbeing season, Ellie is joined in this episode by professional coach and burnout expert, Katie Maycock. Katie is founder of Get Your Sh*t Together and GYST Wellbeing. Together they explore why burnout differs from stress, potential causes, and the 6 stages of burnout.

They also discuss warning signs to look out for, resources and strategies for help, and most importantly, how to stop burnout happening again.

You can find out more about Katie and her work on her website, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Welcome to Season Three!

04:13 Katie's Personal Burnout Journey

17:54 The Six Stages of Burnout

23:08 Recognizing Full-Blown Burnout

24:43 Seeking Help and Support

27:05 Understanding Burnout Demographics

29:06 The Financial Impact of Burnout

31:12 Managing Work Pressure and Stress

35:48 Daily Self-Check to Prevent Burnout

39:12 Personal Practices to Combat Burnout

42:22 Conclusion and Resources

The Healthy Practice is back for Season 3, and this time we’re taking things back to the basics of wellbeing. We know there is so much to juggle when running a practice, and remembering to look after yourself along the way.

That’s where we come in.

From sleep to burnout, to getting your own therapy as a therapist, Ellie will be chatting with guests who are trailblazers in their field, bringing you the latest research and helping to make your founder journey a little less lonely.

Look out for our first episode dropping on 3rd September, and fortnightly thereafter!

Make sure you’re subscribed to The Healthy Practice podcast from WriteUpp, and why not share with a colleague or friend. It might just be the inspiration they need!

In our Season 2 finale, Ellie sits down with Dr Rebecca Lewis, Director at Newson Health, to discuss menopause; a topic still considered taboo by many.

There is somewhat of a menopause revolution going on. Menopause clinics and therapists are popping up, celebrities are talking about the challenges they’ve faced, and myths about HRT are being busted.

But what does this mean for you and your practice? Well, you may very well be experiencing menopause right now, have people in your personal life who are, or you could be treating patients who are struggling with symptoms. We can all do more to better equip ourselves with this overlooked area of women’s health, and treat patients holistically.

From misdiagnosed symptoms, to advocating for yourself at the GP and the workplace, we cover it all with Dr Rebecca Lewis.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Speaking to your GP about menopause: https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-hrt-and-get-results/
• CPD-accredited menopause course: https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/confidence-in-the-menopause/
• The Balance app: https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

You can find Newson Health on their website and Instagram, and follow Dr Rebecca Lewis and Dr Louise Newson too.

Will therapists survive AI? How can we embrace the advantages of this technology whilst maintaining our ethical standards?

To answer these questions, Ellie is joined by Sarah D Rees, BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and host of the podcast Ask The Therapist.

From ChatGPT to Marketing, Data Breaches, and all the ethical concerns AI comes with, we’re going to cover it all.

You can find Sarah on her website, on Instagram, her Substack ‘Therapists Corner,’ and of course her podcast ‘Ask The Therapist Podcast.’

What does it take to run a social enterprise in 2023? Ellie Macdonald is joined by Catherine Gray, Founder and CEO at Cup-O-T, a social enterprise and non-profit organisation focused on offering mental health services to children and young people.

Some of you may already be involved in a social enterprise; be that running your own, offering services at one, or perhaps you’ve always had a yearning to have more of a social impact with your work.

There is so much to learn in this space both as a therapist and a business owner. From funding applications and approaches to therapy, join us for a lovely chat to find out more.

You can follow more of Catherine’s work at https://cup-o-t.co.uk/ and on social media at Cup-O-T Wellness and Therapy Services.