From Therapy to Best Selling Author: Dr Martha Deiros Collado’s Psychology Journey

Behind every bestselling psychology book is a story and a person. But what does it take to build a fulfilling psychology career and balance it with family life, writing, and impact beyond the therapy room? In this 199th episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Dr Martha Deiros Collado, clinical psychologist and author of The Smartphone Solution and How to Be the Grown-Up.

Martha shares her inspiring journey from struggling to secure AP posts to thriving in paediatrics, leaving the NHS after 12 years, and now combining private practice, public psychology, and authorship. We explore training, family therapy, multidisciplinary teamwork, resilience, and why perseverance pays off for aspiring psychologists.

Whether you’re applying for AP roles, preparing for training, or curious about career journeys in psychology, this episode is packed with learning, encouragement, and real-world insight.

This episode is filled with inspiration, resilience, and lessons for aspiring psychologists about perseverance, identity, and finding your own path — a perfect lead-in to the upcoming 200th episode celebrations!

#PsychologyCareer #AspiringPsychologist #ClinicalPsychology

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introducing Dr Martha Deiros Collado and her journey into psychology
• 01:14 – From wanting to be a doctor to discovering psychology
• 03:11 – University, first interests in forensics and health psychology
• 04:53 – Early AP role in paediatrics: epilepsy, brain injury, and brain surgery
• 05:53 – Training placements: psychodynamic year, CBT, and paediatrics at UCLH
• 07:45 – Discovering family therapy and blending approaches
• 08:42 – How children and families shaped her values and practice
• 10:49 – Leaving the NHS after 12 years: supervision, caseloads, and lessons learned
• 12:39 – Loving the work: privilege, variety, and the power of stories
• 14:26 – Balancing private practice, motherhood, and self-care
• 15:39 – Struggles with securing AP posts, honorary roles, and resilience
• 17:15 – Why unpaid roles were problematic and perseverance matters
• 19:08 – Courage to change paths: friends who retrained in other professions
• 20:58 – Valuing all roles in multidisciplinary teams
• 22:13 – Martha’s books: How to Be the Grown-Up and The Smartphone Solution
• 25:02 – Where to follow Dr Martha online
• 25:46 – Reflections on consultation, public psychology, and widening impact
• 26:46 – Thank you and a look ahead to episode 200 celebrations

Check out Dr Martha's previous episode talking about smartphone boundaries: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5342ebb9-2735-45e5-ade3-db687c4fa249/ or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mRs709Omu0o?si=VJTZzozXi5HpQIBv

Links:

📚 Grab Dr Martha's Books:

• The Smartphone Solution: https://amzn.to/42BhcBZ
• How to be the Grownup: https://amzn.to/42ApOJ4

🫶 To support me by donating to help cover my costs for the free resources I provide click here: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support

📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0

📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: