In this episode of Coach Class,  I sit down with Ted Bradshaw — cognitive behavioural therapist, coach, and educator — to explore the space where psychology meets coaching.

Ted shares his journey from being a nervous, anxious teenager to working in NHS mental health services, and how his early curiosity about people — combined with a love of problem-solving — led him into CBT. Along the way, he reflects on a simple but powerful question that still drives his work today:
why aren’t we taught the tools to understand our minds earlier in life?

The conversation explores:

• The relationship between therapy and coaching, and where the boundaries lie
• How CBT works in practice — combining empathy with structured thinking
• The role of thought patterns and self-beliefs in shaping behaviour
• Why understanding anxiety can make it feel less overwhelming and more manageable

Ted and I also discuss how our understanding of mental health has evolved:

• Previous generations often lacked the language to describe anxiety, sometimes appearing withdrawn rather than “anxious”
• Today, we’re better at naming mental health experiences, but still learning how to live with them
• The impact of Covid on young people, including increased worries around safety, germs, and social situations

A key theme throughout is Ted’s idea of helping people move from being the subject of their thoughts to observing them — a shift that can create space, perspective, and choice.

The episode also touches on:

• The importance of accessible, practical psychological tools
• How people learn differently — and why coaching and teaching need to adapt
• Ted’s growing body of work, including his Substack and podcast, Things I Want My Kids to Know, where he explores topics like social anxiety, panic attacks, and overthinking

Ultimately, this is a conversation about making sense of how we think and feel, and equipping ourselves — and the next generation — with the tools to navigate life with greater awareness and resilience.

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