The Therapy Files

The Therapy Files

By Dr. Callum Jones and Craig JohnsonHealth & FitnessMental Health
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The Therapy Files episodes

  • 15. Comprehending Cults

    Join Callum & Craig as they settle down for another episode of The Therapy Files Podcast. This week, they explore the notion of Cults.  What is a cult? Are they good or bad? Is there a place for them in today's modern world?  Find out the answers to all these questions and many more, only on The Therapy Files!

    Visit the following organisations for support if you need it after listening to this episode:

    • Home | Mind
    • Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
    • How to access mental health services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
    • _______

      Contact us

      _______

      • Via email: [email protected]
      • Via Instagram: @thetherapyfilespodcast
      • Via Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTherapyFilesPodcast
      • Via Twitter: @thetherapyfilespod
      • 50 min
      • 14. Organised Crime

        Join Callum & Craig as they return to their seats behind the microphone and prepare for a brand new series of The Therapy Files Podcast.

        In this episode, they take a deep dive into the underworld of organised crime - from the Gambino family of America to the Cray Twins of London Town.  They consider the following:

        • What Is organised crime?
        • How did it start and what are its consequences?
        • Is there really more to the Gambino family than guns and gangs, could they in fact be charitable? 
        • The place of women in the Italian Mafia
        • Can we ever stop organised crime?
        •  and much more besides! So join us, and take a seat as we take a deep dive into something that goes on around us on a daily basis - although society can often think of crime as a spontaneous act, it is perhaps more organised than one might first realise.

          For those interested - at the end of the podcast we touched on Literature and Organised Crime, https://www.novelsuspects.com/book-list/the-best-books-about-organized-crime/ provides us with a few examples if you want to read more!

          48 min
        • 13. Discussing Dastardly Dictators
          Join Callum and Craig as they ponder the topic of Dictators.  Who are they? Where are they?  How many are there in the world at the moment? What is life like under their regimes? We consider all of this and more, with some lighter comedy moments thrown in on what is a sombre, yet relaxed vibe on the final episode of season 2. Rest assured though - we will be back for season 3 going forwards.  Keep your eyes peeled for that.  We would like to dedicate this episode to all those in Palestine who are living through all the tumultuous and horrendous goings on at the moment. #PalastinianLivesMatter 
          Resources used:
          Ezrow and Frantz (2011) Dictator and Dictators: Understanding Authoritarian Regimes and their Leaders.
          Overy and Overy (2005) The Dictators: Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Russia.
          www.worldpopulationreview.com
          Want to offer support?
          Save Palestine Today - Palestine Emergency Appeal | Islamic Relief UK (islamic-relief.org.uk)
          Need Support?
          Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
          Helplines | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems
          Contact us?
          Via email: [email protected]
          Via Instagram: @thetherapyfilespodcast
          Via Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTherapyFilesPodcast
          Via Twitter: @thetherapyfilespod
          45 min
        • 12. Fat Liberation: Reclaiming the word 'Fat'
          Join Callum and Craig as they welcome Marilyn Misandry a - Trans, Fat, and DJing Drag Queen and activist - as they discuss the idea of Fat Liberation and why it's vital that the word 'Fat' begins to be reclaimed as a positive term rather than one which has negative connotations attached to it.  Having Marilyn on this episode was an absolute delight - she was a no-holds barred kind of interviewee and certainly had us reclaiming the word fat by the end of the episode!  Listener's will hopefully find Marilyn as much of a delight as we did!  Pull up a seat and join us as we work to reclaim the word Fat! 
          Resources/Books used for this episode 
          Cooper, C. (2016), Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement. Bristol, UK: HammerOn Press.
          Strings, S. (2019), Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia. New York: New York University Press.
          Tovar (2018) You Have the Right to Remain Fat
          Hagien (2019) Happy Fat: Taking up Space in a World in a World That Wants to Shrink You
          Orbach, S. (2016) Fat is a Feminist Issue.
          Find Marilyn on Instagram @marilynmisandry
          Contact Us:
          Via email: [email protected]
          Via Instagram: @thetherapyfilespodcast
          Via Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTherapyFilesPodcast
          Via Twitter: @thetherapyfilespod
          52 min
        • 11. Perspectives on Suicide: Raising Awareness

          Join Callum & Craig as they return from their short podcast hiatus ready and raring to go. In this episode, they open up a discussion surrounding suicidal thoughts, ideation and the completion of suicide. We understand that this episode may be a challenging listen; and we respect that, and if you need to listen to the podcast in more than one sitting, that’s absolutely fine. Or even if you’d like to skip this one, we won’t be offended. However, we very much do hope that you’ll find the strength to join us as we open up a discourse around this important topic. It’s worth noting that we decided to go for this topic to raise awareness of suicide and mental health. As devastating as suicide is, we wanted to make others aware that it does happen, and there are people struggling out there who require support. Often those who have suicidal thoughts are met with stigma even now. We look at this topic from all angles, including historical, social, psychological and cultural. We also touch upon our own experiences and challenges around the topic of suicidal thinking and mental health. Perhaps now, more than ever when mental health is at large in society alongside Covid-19, is the time when we should be opening this discussion.

          If you need support and have been affected by the episode after listening, we encourage you to reach out for support. The organisations below are more than happy to offer support where they can, and please don’t forget that our inbox is always open too.

          Resources:

          · Neelman, J. 1996 - Suicide as a crime in the UK: legal history, international comparisons and present implications

          · Durkheim, E. (2018) Suicide, a Study in Sociology

          · When suicide was illegal - BBC News

          · Alvarez (2020) The Paradox of Suicide and Creativity: Authentications of Human Existence.

          · Suicide facts and figures | Our policy and research (samaritans.org)

          Support

          · Contact Us | Samaritans

          · Helplines | Mind

          · We are Rethink Mental Illness

          · Shining a Light on Suicide | Together we can help prevent suicide – Particularly useful for suicide awareness training. But also offers advice and support – Specific to those in Greater Manchester.

          · The Alliance of Suicide Prevention Charities (tasc-uk.org)

          · Mental Health UK - Forward Together (mentalhealth-uk.org)

          · Home | Papyrus UK | Suicide Prevention Charity (papyrus-uk.org)

          · Preventing suicide together - NSPA

          · TRH Charity – Suicide Awareness

          Contact Us:

          1 hr 7 min
        • 10. The Case of Sarah Everard & The Persecution of Women

          Join Callum & Craig as they welcome back returning guest, Feminist activist and artist from Switzerland, Nina Angst.  In this episode, they take a long hard look at the case of Sarah Everard who was brutally murdered earlier this year in March when she was walking home.  Alongside the case, the discussion also touches upon the education of young men and boys, and how important it is to ensure that the right messages are getting across to them so that the world can be a safer space for all.  We also touch upon the persecution of women in society in general in the 21st century, both from an international swiss perspective and a UK perspective.  This episode might be hard listening for some, and that's okay - take breaks if you need to, but the messages we put out there in this episode are done in order to educate the listener around what is a timely reminder.  

          Walking home is not just a woman's right, not just a man's right but a human right. Behaviour such as that displayed from Everard's murderer must be quashed and quashed quickly.  We stand with Sarah Everard's family in the loss of her life that should have never happened.  Our thoughts are also with the 136 families who lost a woman over the last year (2020) due to despicable  actions of their killers. Due to the nature of discussion the episode is marked 'Explicit' to be on the safe side.

          __________

          Resources 

          __________

          • Sarah Everard: Met PC Wayne Couzens charged with murder - BBC News
          • Jess Phillips reads lists of UK women killed in last year - BBC News
          • Peggy McIntosh: How to recognize your white privilege — and use it to fight inequality | TED Talk
          •  ‘The time for men to step up is right now!’: what all men can do to help end violence against women | Society | The Guardian
          • __________

            Need Support? 

            __________

            Women's Aid 

            Rape Crisis

            The Survivor's Trust

            Victim Support

            If you are listening from Switzerland and need support you can contact the following organisations:

            https://www.opferhilfe-schweiz.ch/

            https://www.frauenberatung.ch (for women only)

            https://vergewaltigt.ch/



            1 hr 3 min
          • 09. Social Media: A Tool For Good or Evil?

            Join Callum & Craig as they discuss the ins and outs of social media and the impact it has on mental health in today's society.  In this episode, they are joined by their guest Fran Ellis, a mental health activist, avid traveller and horror movie enthusiast as they try to figure out the answer to 'Is Social media a tool for good or evil?'  This episode covers all things from what is social media, how it can be used, to the pressure faced by a generation who have grown up with the possibility to put their lives online; including the potential effects that having a life online can have on one's mental health, and much more. Thoughts and feedback, as ever are very much welcomed.

            _______

            Resources/Books 

            _______

            Bonanno, R., & Hymel, S. (2013). Cyber Bullying and Internalizing Difficulties: Above and Beyond the Impact of Traditional Forms of Bullying. Journal Of Youth & Adolesccence, 42(5), 685-697.

            Espelage, D. L., Swearer, S. M. (2003). Research on school bullying & victimization: What have we learned and where do we go from here? School Psychology Review, 32, 365-383.

            Hunter, N. (2012). Cyberbullying. London, United Kingdom: Raintree.

            Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P. & Agatston, W. P. (2012). Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age. (2nded.). West Sussex, United Kingdom: Blackwell.

            Litwiller, B., & Brausch, A. A. (2013). Cyber Bullying and Physical Bullying in Adolescent Suicide: The Role of Violent Behavior and Substance Use. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 42(5), 675-684. Doi:10. 1007/s10964-013-9925-5

            Miller, C., Costa, E., & Haynes, N. (2016). How the World Changed: Social Media.

            _______

            Need support?

            _______

            Visit the following organisations for support if you need it after listening to this episode:

            • Home | Mind
            • Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
            • How to access mental health services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
            • _______

              Contact us

              _______

              • Via email: [email protected]
              • Via Instagram: @thetherapyfilespodcast
              • Via Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTherapyFilesPodcast
              • Via Twitter: @thetherapyfilespod

              • 1 hr 15 min
              • 08. High School Massacres: What, Why & How?
                Join Callum & Craig as they take a look at what many consider to be a controversial topic of High School Massacres.  What are they?  Why have they happened in the past and how does someone get to the point that they feel the need to start a massacre?  This might be a tough listen for some, but as history dictates we're not a podcast which tends to shy away from the hard hitting topics.  Also in this episode, Callum talks a little about his PhD reseearch as the two issues are inextricably linked.  We hope you enjoy the episode.  Thoughts and feedback welcome, as always.
                _______
                Books/Titles referred to in this episode
                ______
                Cullen, D. (2019). Columbine. (3rd ed.). London, United Kingdom: Riverun.
                Department of Peace and Conflict Research Uppsala University. (1999). States in Armed Conflict.
                Klebold, S. (2016) A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy. USA: Crown Publishers.
                Knoll, J. L. IV, & Annas, G. D. (2016). Mass shootings and mental illness. In L. H. Gold & R. I. Simon (Eds.), Gun violence and mental illness (p. 81–104). American Psychiatric Association.
                Larkin, W. R. (2007). Comprehending Columbine. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press.
                Lee, J. H. (2013). School shootings in the U.S. public schools: Analysis through the eyes of an educator. Review of Higher Education and Self-Learning. 6, pp. 88–120.
                Warren, L. J., Mullen, P. E., & Ogloff, J. R. (2011). A clinical study of those who utter threats to kill. Behav Sci Law 29(2):141–154, 21374705.
                ________
                Resources/Video's mentioned 
                _______
                https://www.ted.com/talks/sue_klebold_my_son_was_a_columbine_shooter_this_is_my_story?language=en (Sue Klebold's Ted Talk)
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azRl1dI-Cts (Aaron Stark's Ted Talk)
                _________
                Need support or want to contact us?
                ________
                Contact us at [email protected]
                Contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (UK)
                58 min
              • 07. Discussing Relationships & Consent

                Join Callum, Craig and their first ever podcast guest Nina Angst from Switzerland as we tackle the heavy, yet important topic of Relationships and Consent.  This episode includes frank discussion around attitudes towards sexual consent.  It also involves discussion around types of sexual violence and why it's important to talk about this topic, it is for this reason that this episode has been marked 'Explicit'. A huge thank you to our guest Nina for sharing her personal experiences.  This episode wouldn't have been possible without your input so, thank you for being frank and honest with us.  This is what our podcast is all about.  We chose to raise awareness in hope that it will make others realise that they are not alone.

                 DISCLAMER:  Craig now realises that Thames Valley isn't in Yorkshire, apologies for the error.  Moreover, he  referred to Lucy Fry's novel as an example of a Polygamous relationship when actually, on finding his copy after mentioning it in the episode, he realises that this book examines Polyamory rather than Polygamy - the two are very different.  

                ______________________

                Resources 

                ______________________

                • Nina's video: A Letter to My Rapist - You can find Nina on Instagram @nyjna
                • Love has No Label video
                • Thames Valley Police: Tea and Consent 
                • ______________________

                  Books & sources mentioned in this episode

                  ______________________

                  • Thema Bryant Davis. (2011). Surviving Sexual Violence: A Guide to Recovery and Empowerment
                  • Susan Brownmiller (2013). Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape.
                  • Hlkje Charlotte Hanel. (2018). What is Rape? Social Theory and Sexual Analysis.
                  • Michael Plaxton (2015). Implied Consent and Sexual Assault: Intimate Relationships, Autonomy and Violence.
                  • Savisyouth.org
                  • loveisrespect.org
                  • William H Roach & Aspen Health Law and Compliance Center (2003). Medical Records and the Law. (3rd ed.).
                  • Lucy Fry Easier ways to Say I love you (2020, Mryaid.
                  • ______________________

                    Need Support after listening today?

                    ______________________

                    Women's Aid 

                    Men's Aid

                    NSPCC

                    Rape Crisis

                    The Survivor's Trust 

                    Victim Support

                    If you are listening from Switzerland and need support you can contact the following organisations:

                    https://www.opferhilfe-schweiz.ch/

                    https://www.frauenberatung.ch (for women only)

                    https://vergewaltigt.ch/ 



                    1 hr 34 min

                  About The Therapy Files

                  From the publisher's feed

                  We are a new podcast hosted by two therapists/counsellors. One is qualified while the other is in training. We are interested in discussing topics that matter – both inside the counselling room – issues which are commonly brought into therapy such as grief, anxiety, depression. Yet, we’re also a podcast that has a dual focus, also looking outside of the therapy room at social and political issues which effect the world around us on a daily basis such as mental health awareness and wellbeing.