This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies: Mental Health, Therapy & Becoming a Therapist

In this second podcast of my three-part series on red flags in relationships, I explore why red flags may not be immediately visible, especially when we view our partners through "rose-coloured glasses." Sometimes, we overlook or rationalize behaviours that are actually warning signs, mistaking them for normal aspects of a relationship. This podcast dives into how idealizing our partners can cause us to miss these crucial red flags early on.

I also discuss why, even when we do eventually recognize the red flags, we might choose to stay, endure, or deny them. Whether it's out of fear, hope, or attachment, there are many psychological reasons that can keep us in relationships that aren't healthy. Understanding these dynamics is key to making more informed choices and protecting our emotional health. Throughout, I also mention the possible indication of narcissism and a narcissistic partner in the area of red flags.

Areas include: 

 - Early Experience in Life (someone’s childhood)

 - The Effect of Love

 - Love in Imagination

 - Fear in Imagination

 - Rewards & Drive

 - Shame

 - What to expect for Part 3

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

In this first podcast of my three-part series on red flags in relationships, I outline 10 potential warning signs that may signal trouble ahead. Recognising red flags early can help you avoid unhealthy relationship patterns and protect your emotional well-being. These red flags range from issues around trust and communication to controlling behaviours and emotional manipulation. By being aware of these signs, you can take steps to assess your relationship and make informed decisions about its future.

This podcast serves as a guide for anyone looking to build healthier and more balanced relationships. Keep an eye out for these red flags, as they can often indicate deeper underlying problems that shouldn't be ignored. I also make links throughout to narcissism and your partner potentially being narcissistic. 

Each flag as follows: 

1: Dominance of Anger

2: Unable to take Responsibility

3: Disconnected Relationship with Emotional Experience

4: One Extreme to another

5: Their ‘Love’ Doesn’t Run That Deep

6: Lying

7: Impulsivity

8: Not Paying Attention to You

9: Dominated by Competition

10: Internal Red Flags

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

In this latest instalment of my conversation series, I sit down with experienced therapist Susan McGrath to discuss her unique approach to therapy, particularly focusing on the transpersonal and spiritual aspects of mental health. Susan has extensive experience working with addictions and dependencies, including her use of the 12 Step Programme. We talk about her perspectives on the profession, her 'bugbears,' and her occasional ambivalence about the field, all while acknowledging the great honour and responsibility of being someone’s therapist.

Our conversation covers a wide range of topics, offering valuable insights into the complex world of therapy and the challenges that come with working in this profession. Susan’s reflections provide a fascinating look at the intersection of spirituality, mental health, and addiction recovery. 

Particular topics include:

- Susan’s turning point in life (journey becoming a therapist) 

- Training to be a therapist 28 years ago

- Susan’s experience with therapy training

- Susan’s current practice, an overview

- Navigating the idea of ‘God’ and ‘Spirituality’ in therapy 

- Comments around addiction (drinking, drugs, etc) 

- Susan’s one ‘criticism’ about therapy

- Motivation for becoming a therapist

- If Susan stopped being a therapist tomorrow...

- What Susan & John Paul think of being therapists (how they like it) 

- Working with ‘types’ of people

- Therapy “isn’t for everyone”

- Tips for someone coming into the profession (a discussion about pay levels in therapy)

- Susan’s future plans

- Final words, how to get in touch with Susan

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

In this podcast, I’m replying to a question from one of my YouTube channel's subscribers: “How do I actually find clients and grow a private therapy practice?” This is something I get asked all the time, so I wanted to share my personal journey, including some of the lessons I’ve learned, and the steps I took to build my private practice from the ground up. This is a continuation of my previous podcast about potential earnings, specifically focusing on how to build a therapist private practice and find clients:
https://youtu.be/xUb3E9U5oXk

If you’re just starting out or looking to scale, there’s so much potential out there—and yes, there are definitely enough clients for you. But it’s all about knowing where to find them and how to position yourself. I’m sharing my top 10 sources of clients, what worked for me back in 2017 vs. now, and some advice that a friend sent my way that I think will resonate with many of you. 

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

I often get asked, “How much can you really make as a therapist in the UK?” So today, I’m giving you a real-world example by breaking down how a therapist could earn £100,000 a year. I’ll walk you through the maths, from the number of clients you need to see each week, to pricing strategies, work weeks, and of course, those yearly expenses that all therapists have to account for. It’s not just about income — it's about the bigger picture and knowing how to plan for a sustainable career.

The BACP article on portfolio careers can be found here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/therapy-today/2024/march-2024/the-big-issue/

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

***NOTE: I’d love to be able to have more stories, experiences and journeys about bisexuality on this channel, whether that’s in-person guests like this one, or reading out someone’s story. If you feel you’d like to do either of these, do just either message me in the comments below, or email me on [email protected] to have a chat about it
Thanks! John-Paul***

In this podcast, I read out the heartfelt and impactful story of David, a remarkable individual who kindly reached out to me after discovering the channel. David wanted to share his thoughtful, honest, and inspiring journey regarding his bisexuality and the significant effect it has had on various aspects of his life. 

It is an eye-opening narrative that sheds light on the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way. Following the reading of David's story, I take a moment to share some reflections and insights on what we have just heard. I emphasise the importance of self-acceptance and self-love, as well as the critical role that acceptance and love from others play in David's journey of understanding and embracing his identity. It’s a reminder of how vital it is to have a supportive network during such personal explorations. 

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

In this conversation we cover lots of issues relating to narcissism, including:

- what narcissism is,

- the effects of being narcissistic,

- what to do if you’re in relationship with a narcissist, and

- some ideas if you have narcissistic traits turned up high yourself

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

Have you ever asked yourself, “Should I become a therapist?” In this podcast, I share my personal thoughts on what it really means to become a therapist—beyond the qualifications and training. I explore the concept of "becoming" and how it applies to this career in a deeper sense, from the challenges to the incredibly rewarding moments.

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

Previous video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGhCIkL2t6s

Making the leap to become a therapist can feel daunting, especially when you're navigating the uncertainty that comes with a career change. In this follow-up podcast, I’m sharing 5 key pieces of advice I wish I’d known before becoming a therapist/psychotherapist/counsellor.

From mindset shifts to practical steps, this podcast covers the essential things that can help you as you move through training and early client work. Plus, I’ll touch on the importance of support from others during the journey, as we all need a community to lean on as we grow into this career.

If you’re a new or trainee therapist (or thinking about it), I hope these tips provide you with some helpful guidance as you take those next steps!

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

Really pleased to have had this fascinating conversation with Annalisa. She writes the dilemma column ‘Ask Annalisa’ in the Guardian, one of the UK’s national newspapers and also now hosts a very successful podcast ‘Conversations with Annalisa Barbieri’, in which she speaks with therapists and psychiatrists about a whole range of psychological issues.

Amongst many interesting subjects we cover: 

- how Annalisa began working on her column 

- how she chooses the letters 

- writing her new book with all the things she’s learned from the column 

- why she began her podcast 

- how her own childhood experiences have affected her throughout life 

-reflections on her parents and her own parenting 

-the importance of connections and relationships generally 

- the benefits of therapy and her own experiences of it

- her thoughts on the current state of the media and how she approaches social media herself

If you find this podcast helpful, please feel free to share it, don't forget to follow the channel to show your support, it would be much appreciated and please do feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel more content like this! Thank you, John-Paul  
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk