Listening In

In this Episode, we welcome Elaine Bousfield MBE, who talks to us about the use of literature in therapy. Elaine is founder and CEO of Zuntold which is a therapeutic service offering bibliotherapy, as well as a publishing company.  Always trying to find ways of making therapy more accessible, especially for young people, Elaine created and founded the online platform Kooth. When she decided it was time to move on and start a new chapter, she turned to the world of bibliotherapy. Please accept our apologies for some sound issues during this recording. Discover more about Zuntold: ZunTold - Fiction as Therapy for Mental Health & Wellbeing — ZunTold Contact Elaine for more information about future projects: elaine@zuntold.com Further reading, as recommended by Elaine: 'Always Hear For You', by Miriam Halahmy 'The Midnight Library', by Matt Haig 'How We Read Now', by Naomi Baron 'Such Stuff As Dreams: The Psychology of Fiction', by Keith Oatley   Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation This episode was recorded on Teams Produced and Edited by Leto Blackwell Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society Website: www.ncps.com

Content warning: the focus of this conversation is suicide prevention. When Chris Sibley lost his 16 year old son TJ to suicide, he sought support from a charity where he was able to meet other parents, sharing the same dreadful grief. From this, Chris, along with parents Stuart Falconer and Jane Johnstone, decided to form their own charity; The OLLIE Foundation. Our conversation shines a light on the people and work behind the scenes at grassroot charities. Chris says, "Grassroots charities live and work in the community, and have a real impact on that community".   And when lived experience informs that work, what does that mean? What is the impact of telling your story, over and again? "I can feel it, they're like tiny weights being put on my shoulders every time I talk about it", explains Chris. And yet his drive continues, in memory of his son. "He was the person people would go to. His last act was helping someone else. What I do, is driven by TJ". To find out more about The OLLIE Foundation and all the resources it offers, please visit: https://theolliefoundation.org/ Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS): https://uksobs.com/   Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation. This episode was recorded on Teams Produced by Leto Blackwell Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society Website: www.ncps.com Subtitles are auto generated If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, or require immediate help, please call 111, contact your GP or call the Samaritans on 116 123    

Tony Kelly, a former professional footballer and founder of Red Card Gambling, opens up about his harrowing journey through gambling addiction that led to bankruptcy and homelessness. He shares how acceptance and support from family and faith helped him reclaim his life. Kelly emphasizes the importance of education on gambling addiction for young athletes, advocating for awareness initiatives. His goal is to transform personal struggles into community support, encouraging others to own their addiction for a healthier future.

Meg Moss, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at NCPS, and Kelly Budd, Chief Professional Standards Officer at CPCAB, dive into the crucial theme of human connection in therapy amidst rising AI and digitalization. They discuss the risks linked to non-human methods in counseling and the necessity of maintaining high standards in training. The conversation touches on the importance of collaborative networks and authentic communication in the therapeutic community. They wrap up by advocating for a joint campaign focused on enhancing therapeutic relationships.

Louisa Rose, the CEO of the mental health charity 'Beyond', shares her insights on the importance of uplifting young voices in mental health initiatives. She discusses the charity's evolution during the pandemic and the transformative impact of youth engagement. Louisa emphasizes the need for humanizing therapeutic relationships and finding joy in self-care, balancing work and personal life. The conversation is peppered with encouraging stories of resilience and collaboration, painting a hopeful picture for the future of children's mental health advocacy.

Amelia Wrighton, Co-founder and CEO of Suicide&Co, shares her journey following the loss of her mother to suicide. She discusses the charity's mission to provide free counseling for those affected by such losses. Amelia highlights the unique complexities of grief from suicide, the importance of self-care for counselors, and the recently launched self-care app designed to support users coping with grief. The conversation also addresses community support, ongoing mental health discussions, and finding strength through adversity.

Pursuing the Power of Nature In this first episode of 'Listening In', Ally and Robert from Hawk and Heath discuss 'forest bathing', its Japanese origins and the science behind it. Forest bathing can benefit those that suffer symptoms such as stress, anxiety and poor sleep. What led Ally and Robert to this work, how do they use it, and how can we all learn to benefit from nature, ourselves? And what is, ’tree sniffing’?! To learn more about Hawk and Heath visit https://hawkandheath.co.uk/ Join in with the #30DaysWild https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild Please like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation. This episode was recorded on Teams Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)  https://ncps.com/