Barrister and author Chris Daw KC joins Dr Marianne Trent to discuss why punishment does not reduce crime and how trauma, inequality, childhood adversity and addiction drive people into the justice system. We explore the limitations of “getting tough on crime”, the impact of criminalising children, and what countries like Luxembourg and Switzerland can teach us about more effective, trauma-informed and compassionate approaches to justice. The conversation covers youth offending, drug policy, harm reduction, rehabilitation, and the long-term effects of shame and early environment on behaviour. This episode is particularly useful for aspiring psychologists, clinicians working in forensic or community settings, and anyone interested in understanding how justice systems can reduce reoffending and improve public safety. #criminaljustice #traumainformed #aspiringpsychologist

Highlights

• 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to barrister and author Chris Daw KC
• 01:40 - Why punishment fails to reduce crime and what really drives offending
• 03:20 - The justice system’s obsession with incarceration and its hidden costs
• 06:00 - Chris reflects on childhood, missed education, and forks in the road
• 08:45 - The impact of early environment and parental support on life chances
• 10:30 - A real-life story showing how deprivation fuels future outcomes
• 12:30 - Intergenerational inequality and the illusion of fairness in society
• 16:00 - Why “getting tough on crime” misunderstands human behaviour
• 18:00 - What justice should really aim for: fewer victims, safer communities
• 20:30 - The addiction to punishment and how politics fuels it
• 23:00 - Law as a social construction – and why our approach is outdated
• 26:00 - What Luxembourg’s youth justice model gets right
• 30:00 - Why children’s brains aren’t ready for adult accountability
• 34:00 - The role of shame and trauma in youth offending
• 36:30 - Should all drugs be legalised? Exploring global examples
• 40:00 - Lessons from Switzerland’s heroin-assisted treatment programme
• 45:30 - Why prohibition fuels addiction and crime
• 53:00 - What legalisation could look like in a regulated, licensed system
• 59:00 - Understanding the role of a barrister and what “KC” means
• 01:02:00 - Final reflections: compassion as the only path to justice that heals

Links: 📚 📲 Chris Daw KC’s website: https://www.chrisdawkc.com Chris' Book, Justice on Trial: https://amzn.to/4pb2RoP

🫶 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: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97

💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/membership-interested

🖥️ Check out my brand new short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/short-courses

✍️ Get your Supervision...

Changing careers in your 30s or 40s can feel daunting — but it might also be the best decision you ever make. In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent talks with a former cancer-care radiographer who retrained as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP). They explore the emotional impact of working in healthcare, recognising burnout, overcoming fear, managing finances, and pursuing a career in psychology later in life. This episode is packed with motivation and guidance for anyone wondering how to start a psychology career, apply for the PWP course, or rediscover purpose through compassionate work.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction: When your career no longer fits
• 01:14 – From radiotherapy to mental health support
• 04:18 – Why therapeutic work felt more fulfilling than clinical treatment
• 06:04 – Recognising compassion fatigue and value misalignment
• 09:11 – Balancing family, health and the decision to retrain
• 11:31 – Funding, salary changes and managing the practicalities
• 13:13 – Health as a motivator for career change
• 16:04 – How NHS experience supported the PWP application
• 17:31 – What it’s like to train and qualify as a PWP
• 19:14 – Starting again in your forties: challenges and mindset shifts
• 21:51 – Accessing academic and wellbeing support during training
• 23:48 – Why it’s never too late to thrive professionally
• 25:10 – Permission to pursue fulfilment and alignment
• 26:33 – The “Smile File” strategy for motivation and reflection
• 29:18 – Closing reflections: authenticity, courage and growth

🫶 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: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97

💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/membership-interested

🖥️ Check out my brand new short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/short-courses

✍️ Get your Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/supervision

📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent

💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity

Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:

If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes. If you'd like to learn how to record and submit your own audio testimonial to be included in future shows head to:

Looking for gentle and meaningful ways to bond with your baby? In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent and Jo Wilson founder of Aqua Sensory and Bath Babies, explore how bath time, baby swimming, and water play can strengthen parent-baby bonding and early attachment.

You’ll learn how simple baby bath routines, skin-to-skin moments, sensory play, and warm water can support emotional connection, co-regulation, brain development, and confidence. We discuss reading baby cues, creating calming rituals, and using water to reduce stress for both babies and parents.

Whether you’re a new parent, expectant parent, baby group practitioner, perinatal professional, or anyone supporting early childhood development, this episode offers practical baby bonding ideas, attachment-building activities, and sensory play tips you can start using straight away.

Perfect for those interested in early attachment, responsive parenting, infant mental health, baby swimming, and supporting secure, confident babies through everyday routines like bath time.

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Why water is such a powerful bonding medium
• 01:00 – “100% attention, not divided attention” — presence in the water
• 02:30 – Eye contact, attunement & following baby’s cues
• 04:00 – The raw emotions of early parenthood & building confidence
• 05:25 – When bath time soothes — and when babies need less stimulation
• 06:59 – Making bath time fun: voice, movement, simple toys & attunement
• 07:59 – Stacking cups, sensory joy & reminding ourselves to play
• 08:52 – Supporting parents who fear water or aren’t swimmers
• 10:01 – Sleep schedules, real life & why outings matter for parental wellbeing
• 11:17 – Water as community, postnatal support & early social development
• 12:17 – “Blue Mind” theory: why water boosts mood and calm
• 13:47 – Rituals, relaxation & water as a tool for mental health
• 15:13 – Amniotic beginnings & the instinctive comfort of water
• 16:34 – Shifting bath time from “task” to connected activity
• 17:34 – Jo’s story: redundancy, finding purpose & building Aqua Sensory
• 19:01 – Child-led water confidence vs old-school dunking
• 21:11 – Baby swim costs, accessibility & long-term developmental benefits
• 22:45 – Bath Babies: a gentle fourth-trimester approach to water connection
• 25:02 – Training others to support parent-infant bonding through water
• 26:34 – Why this matters for clinicians in perinatal and parent-infant work
• 27:01 – Where to find Bath Babies & Jo’s book
• 27:48 – Dr Marianne’s reflections & another book recommendation

Links:

📲 Jo’s website: https://aquasensory.com

Jo’s pools in Rugby and Leamington Spa: https://swimworks.co.uk

📚 Jo’s Book, Bath Babies: Creating Beautiful Bonds in Water https://amzn.to/4ptegRO

📚 Dr Caroline Boyd, Mindful New Mum, The book I mention in the outro: https://amzn.to/47R7wH5

🫶 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: