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...

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:

Have you ever carried a feeling that made you believe you were broken, unworthy, or unlovable? That’s the voice of shame but it doesn’t have to define you. In this follow-up to Episode 1 (“What Is Shame?”), Clinical Psychologist Dr Marianne Trent shares the practical, evidence-based strategies that help people recover from shame and rebuild their self-worth.

From naming and externalising shame, to tracing its roots, cultivating self-compassion, and rewriting your personal narrative, this episode is full of actionable tools you can use to loosen shame’s grip. You’ll also hear the next chapters in the fictional case studies of Amina and James, showing how recovery can look in real life.

Whether you’re an aspiring psychologist, a mental health professional, or someone on your own healing journey, you’ll come away with fresh insight and hope that shame can be transformed.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome and recap of “What Is Shame?”
• 00:35 – Why naming shame is the first step to healing
• 01:22 – Tracing shame’s roots in your life
• 02:05 – Fictional case study updates: James and Amina
• 04:04 – The role of self-compassion in shame recovery
• 05:15 – How safe relationships support healing
• 06:02 – Practical tools for loosening shame’s grip
• 07:18 – Writing a new personal narrative
• 08:22 – Final thoughts and encouragement

#ShameRecovery #MentalHealthTips #SelfCompassion #OvercomingShame #PsychologyPodcast

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 info button at the top...

Thinking about becoming a CBT therapist but not sure where to start? In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Sahana, a qualified CBT therapist, to explore the full pathway from PWP training to becoming a band 7 CBT therapist.

You’ll discover how the training works, what qualifications you need, and what life is really like during and after the course. From the reality of supervision and showing recorded sessions, to understanding the KSA portfolio and career progression opportunities, this episode offers an honest, practical guide to help you decide if CBT is the right path for you.

#CBTTherapist #PsychologyCareers #MentalHealthProfessionals #CognitiveBehaviouralTherapy #AspiringPsychologist

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction: Why CBT is a popular career path
• 01:26 – Sahana’s journey from psychology degree to CBT therapist
• 02:14 – Applying for trainee CBT roles & the KSA portfolio explained
• 04:44 – How training is funded: salary, fees, and structure
• 05:11 – Teaching blocks, supervision, and learning from experts
• 07:08 – The role of supervisors and why support is vital
• 08:02 – Group supervision & showing recorded sessions
• 10:07 – Why recordings feel daunting but are essential for growth
• 11:55 – Assessments, essays, case reports & the CTSR marking system
• 13:16 – Cohort support, peer networks & leaning on each other
• 14:55 – Training structure: 2 days university, 3 days placement
• 15:25 – Qualifying as a band 7 & what the role looks like
• 16:22 – Balancing face-to-face, remote, and group therapy work
• 18:06 – Career progression: senior CBT roles & moving into doctorates
• 19:49 – Why CBT training can be an empowering foundation for your career
• 20:42 – Wrapping up: reflections & resources

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,...