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• 23:00 - Law as a social construction – and why our approach is outdated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:

Male rape remains one of the most silenced and misunderstood forms of sexual trauma. In this powerful episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent speaks with Connor Whiteley, clinical psychology master’s student and host of The Psychology World Podcast, who courageously shares his lived experience of male sexual violence.

Together, they explore the realities of male rape, the consent myths that keep survivors silent, and why understanding shame and recovery is vital for healing. The conversation tackles misconceptions about erections, freezing during assault, and why men often struggle to seek help or report what has happened.

Connor also shares his recovery journey — from denial and panic attacks to seeking specialist trauma therapy — and offers practical advice for survivors, mental-health professionals, and allies.

This episode sheds light on a taboo topic and invites us to build a culture of compassion, safety, and understanding for all survivors of sexual trauma. Whether you’re a psychologist, therapist, trainee, student, or survivor, this conversation will deepen your insight into consent, trauma, and healing.

Content note: We discuss sexual violence in clear, respectful language. Please take care while listening. If you need support, consider contacting SARSAS, SurvivorsUK, Rape Crisis England & Wales, or your local service.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction: Breaking the silence on male rape
• 01:08 – Safety warning and trigger guidance
• 02:32 – How common is male sexual violence?
• 05:00 – Media representation and harmful myths
• 06:57 – Understanding the freeze response
• 07:44 – Why “enthusiastic consent” matters
• 09:15 – Challenging stereotypes and gender myths
• 11:18 – The truth about erections and consent
• 13:33 – Therapeutic reflections and global examples
• 15:42 – Healing, therapy, and coping strategies
• 19:46 – Integrating trauma into recovery
• 20:47 – Reporting to police and physical aftercare
• 21:45 – De-shaming and self-compassion in recovery
• 24:45 – Final reflections and resources

Links:

📲 www.connorwhiteley.net/podcast

📚Healing Sexual Trauma Workbook by Erika Shershun: https://amzn.to/48DMaxn

📚 Books by Connor Whiteley: https://amzn.to/47f6Zgc

🫶 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:

What would make someone turn down a place on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) after years of hard work and applications? In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent speaks with Assistant Psychologist Will about his bold and values-led decision to decline a DClinPsy offer from Liverpool.

We explore what it feels like to get the long-awaited offer only to realise it doesn’t align with your personal wellbeing, relationships, or long-term goals. Will shares the emotional impact of saying no, how location and stability shaped his choice, and what it means to prioritise authenticity over external expectations.

This honest conversation will resonate with aspiring psychologists facing the pressures of applications, rejections, interviews, and offers. If you’re wondering what really matters when making career decisions in psychology, this episode offers clarity, courage, and hope.

This is a powerful listen for aspiring psychologists navigating applications, rejections, offers, and the difficult decisions that come with building a career in psychology.

#dlinpsy #dclin #clearinghouse

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction: Why would anyone turn down a DClinPsy place?
• 01:05 – Meet Will: Assistant Psychologist and DClinPsy offer holder
• 01:52 – Saying no to Liverpool: how the decision unfolded
• 03:48 – Visceral reactions: why dread outweighed joy
• 06:26 – The importance of stability, relationships, and location
• 08:11 – Pros and cons lists, health factors, and neurodivergence considerations
• 09:55 – Long-distance relationships and self-care realities
• 12:28 – “If it was local, I’d have said yes”: information in itself
• 14:19 – Loss, growth, and embracing future opportunities
• 16:27 – Working on self-understanding and mental health alongside career goals
• 20:02 – Regional challenges and placements: why location matters
• 23:15 – The importance of early, honest conversations with partners
• 28:24 – Three years isn’t “just three years”: weighing the life impact
• 30:51 – Loving the job you’re in and choosing timing that feels right
• 33:06 – The need for more open conversations in psychology about difficult decisions
• 36:59 – Final reflections: your authentic self matters more than the pedestal

Links:

🫶 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...

Baby loss is one of the most painful and silenced experiences a parent can face. In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Kara Davey to explore why baby loss awareness matters, what bereaved parents really need, and how we can offer support with compassion rather than silence.

Drawing on both professional expertise and her own lived experience, Dr Kara shares insights into the grief, isolation, and lifelong impact of losing a baby. We discuss how friends, colleagues, and health professionals can respond in ways that validate and comfort rather than avoid, and why including a baby’s name or memory can make such a difference.

Whether you are supporting clients, working in perinatal services, or want to feel more confident supporting a friend or colleague, this conversation brings understanding, humanity, and hope. #BabyLossAwareness

#PregnancyLossSupport

#GriefSupport

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction & trigger warning
• 01:04 – Why baby loss awareness matters
• 02:10 – The silence and isolation many parents experience
• 04:19 – What colleagues, friends, and employers often get wrong
• 06:39 – Staying human: why small messages of care mean so much
• 08:56 – The importance of advocating for your own needs after loss
• 10:41 – Including babies’ names in cards and continuing bonds
• 13:46 – Long-term grief: hearing stories even decades later
• 17:47 – First practical steps after a baby loss
• 20:30 – Caring for your body when you come home without your baby
• 22:30 – The role of bereavement midwives and memory-making
• 24:17 – Supporting parents in future pregnancies after loss
• 27:11 – “Rainbow babies”: hope and complexity of pregnancy after loss
• 30:24 – The loss of innocence and identity shifts after bereavement
• 33:43 – Rebuilding identity: the Japanese art of kintsugi as a metaphor
• 35:11 – Relationship impacts and relational trauma after baby loss
• 37:13 – Dr Kara’s children’s book There’s a Rainbow Baby in My Mummy’s Tummy
• 39:58 – Free monthly baby loss support groups and resources

Resources Mentioned:

1. There's a Rainbow Baby in my Mummy's Tummy: https://amzn.to/4gMxtKv
2. Kara's Free Resources: https://www.karaclinicalpsychologistinsussex.co.uk/resources/
3. The Grief Collective: https://amzn.to/4gPqnoy

Links:

🫶 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:

Why is compassion so powerful in healing shame and trauma? In this very special 200th episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast mini-series, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Professor Paul Gilbert OBE, founder of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). Together, they explore how compassion can soothe the harsh inner critic, reduce shame, and help us build healthier relationships with ourselves and others.

From evolutionary psychology to everyday practices, this episode brings warmth and wisdom to one of the most transformative therapeutic approaches in modern psychology. Whether you’re an aspiring psychologist, a qualified practitioner, or simply curious about compassion, this milestone conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and celebrating 200 episodes 🎉

02:15 – Paul Gilbert’s journey into psychology and the origins of CFT

05:20 – Understanding shame: why it’s so pervasive and painful

08:42 – The inner critic: how self-attacking thoughts take hold

11:33 – Why compassion is the antidote to shame and self-criticism

14:10 – Evolution, threat systems, and why our brains get stuck in loops

17:25 – Practical compassion exercises to calm the nervous system

20:54 – How CFT differs from CBT and other therapeutic models

24:19 – Trauma, attachment, and the role of compassion in recovery

28:46 – Building a compassionate mind: soothing rhythm breathing

32:18 – Common misconceptions about compassion (it’s not weakness!)

35:00 – Real-world applications of CFT in clinical and everyday settings

38:12 – Paul’s reflections on bringing compassion into healthcare systems

41:05 – Words of advice for aspiring and early-career psychologists

44:20 – Closing thoughts: why compassion is essential for all of us

#CompassionFocusedTherapy #ShameAndTrauma #MentalHealthPodcast #ProfPaulGilbert

Check out my other episode with Professor Paul Gilbert OBE on Mental Health Careers: https://youtu.be/N40b5TmxQko

📚📲Resources mentioned:

• The Compassionate Mind Book: https://amzn.to/3W7PJ7g
• Paul's website, The Compassionate Mind Foundation: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk

Links:

🫶 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:

Professor Paul Gilbert OBE joins Dr Marianne Trent on The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast to share powerful lessons on compassion, shame, failure and success in psychology. In this special 200th episode, Paul reflects on his career, the creation of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), and what psychologists at every stage: aspiring, trainee and qualified can learn about resilience, self-kindness, and staying grounded in challenging times

Discover how compassion underpins effective therapy, how to integrate theory and practice, and why failure is a necessary step towards growth. Paul also explores trauma, leadership in psychology, and the importance of building compassionate communities within services and society.

Whether you’re preparing for DClinPsy interviews, working as an assistant psychologist, or established in clinical practice, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical insights to support both your professional development and personal wellbeing.

Resources mentioned: 📚 📲

• The Compassionate Mind Book: https://amzn.to/3W7PJ7g
• The Compassion Project Book - Dr Julian Abel: https://amzn.to/3VyPCSf
• Paul's website, The Compassionate Mind Foundation: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk

Links:

🫶 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: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/podcast and click the blue request...