In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Emma Hepburn, Clinical Psychologist and creator of The Psychology Mum, to explore burnout, shame in mental health professionals, creativity in clinical psychology, and what happens when your body forces you to stop. We discuss how Emma’s illustrations began in NHS brain injury groups, how her “capacity cup” drawing went viral during the pandemic, and how social media traction unexpectedly led to publishing opportunities.

We unpack the psychology of burnout, emotional exhaustion, stress overload, shame narratives, and why even clinical psychologists are not immune to mental health difficulties.

Emma also introduces her fourth book, The Anti-Burnout Book, and explains how visual metaphors like the match, the teeny tiny thing, Brian the Brain, and the tortoise help bring psychological theory to life.

This episode is relevant for clinical psychologists, aspiring psychologists, NHS staff, teachers, parents, creators, and anyone interested in burnout recovery, stress management, shame resilience, emotional regulation, and sustainable wellbeing.

Timestamps

1. 00:00 – The quiet phase before burnout
2. 02:35 – How The Psychology Mum began in NHS brain injury groups
3. 05:20 – When Emma’s illustrations started to snowball
4. 07:18 – Co-creation and why her work resonated during the pandemic
5. 09:45 – Writing her first book just before lockdown
6. 14:07 – Introducing her fourth book: The Anti-Burnout Book
7. 16:42 – The Edinburgh weekend that became a turning point
8. 20:35 – When your body says “stop”
9. 22:09 – Burnout, shame, and being a clinical psychologist
10. 24:32 – Externalising shame and the “negative ninja takeover”
11. 28:45 – The “teeny tiny thing” that tips you over
12. 30:07 – Why slowing down increases long-term achievement
13. 33:06 – Technology, social media and burnout
14. 34:43 – Where to find The Anti-Burnout Book

Links:

📲 Follow Dr Emma Hepburn on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepsychologymum/

📚 Check out Emma's books here: https://amzn.to/4rvh6GI

🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and / or exclusive weekly content head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join

📚 To check out The Clinical...

In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, we explore what it’s really like working as a UK-trained Clinical Psychologist in the UAE. If you’ve ever wondered about relocating abroad, practising outside the NHS, navigating private healthcare systems, or balancing career progression with lifestyle changes, this conversation offers a realistic and informed perspective.

I’m joined by Dr Jack Nejand, a UK-trained Clinical Psychologist who moved from South London to Abu Dhabi. We discuss visas, licensing, tax differences, CAMHS-style work in the UAE, insurance-based healthcare models, relocation logistics, career development abroad, service development opportunities, and what life actually feels like on the ground.Whether you’re considering working as a psychologist overseas, exploring expat life, or simply curious about international career pathways in clinical psychology, this episode provides clarity without selling a fantasy.

This conversation is especially relevant for:

1. UK Clinical Psychologists considering relocation
2. DClinPsy applicants thinking long-term about career options
3. Psychologists navigating burnout or financial pressures
4. Anyone curious about working in private healthcare abroad

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Why psychologists are considering working abroad
2. 04:03 – How the opportunity to move to the UAE emerged
3. 06:51 – Telling family and friends about relocating
4. 08:27 – Why more young professionals are leaving the UK
5. 10:00 – The lifestyle reality of living in Abu Dhabi
6. 15:39 – Cohabitation laws and cultural considerations
7. 17:00 – What CAMHS looks like in the UAE
8. 21:02 – Insurance-based healthcare explained
9. 25:15 – Clinical severity and thresholds compared to the NHS
10. 27:27 – CPD, conferences and career development abroad
11. 28:48 – Visas, licensing and Emirates ID
12. 31:13 – Pension, leave and employment differences
13. 34:52 – Bringing UK service models into UAE schools
14. 38:37 – Assistant Psychologist roles and early-career pathways

Links:

🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and / or exclusive weekly content head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App:

In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, we explore whether the popular “Let Them” mindset is always as healthy as it appears.I’m joined by Dr Rana Pishva, Clinical Psychologist, to unpack how ideas intended to support empowerment and boundary-setting can sometimes slip into emotional avoidance, disconnection, and relational rupture – particularly when applied rigidly or without reflection.Together, we discuss boundaries versus avoidance, curiosity versus control, and what happens when self-focused wellness messages are used to shut down difficult conversations rather than deepen understanding. We explore real clinical examples involving family relationships, holidays, romantic partners, and unmet emotional needs, alongside a thoughtful discussion about AI, validation, and why human connection still matters.This episode invites a more nuanced, compassionate approach to boundaries – one that balances self-respect with empathy, accountability, and relational repair.

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Why the “Let Them” movement feels empowering but may hide avoidance
2. 03:19 – When self-focused wellness becomes relational disconnection
3. 04:24 – A clinical example: family holidays, boundaries, and disappointment
4. 06:37 – Why boundaries aren’t about dropping emotional hand grenades
5. 08:32 – The importance of curiosity in relationships
6. 09:25 – AI, validation, and emotional outsourcing
7. 11:51 – Why human understanding matters more than generic reassurance
8. 15:12 – How “Let Them” can quietly erode emotional intimacy
9. 18:51 – Avoidance, anxiety, and the cost of protecting peace at all costs
10. 22:05 – Grief, unmet needs, and what we lose when we disengage
11. 28:13 – Using “Let Them” after reflection, not before
12. 31:12 – When “Let Them” does help – and why context matters

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...

In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, we explore what it really means to be care experienced and how early experiences of foster care and the care system can shape identity, relationships, and career journeys into clinical psychology.I’m joined by Jacob Maspero Bottaio, one of the youngest trainee clinical psychologists in the UK, who shares his experience of entering the care system at a young age, moving between foster placements, experiencing a failed adoption, and navigating the emotional and systemic barriers on the path to clinical psychology training.Together, we discuss care experience, hyper-independence, attachment, supervision dynamics, readiness for training, and what compassionate inclusion in psychology genuinely looks like. This is a thoughtful, emotionally rich conversation about resilience, systems, safety, and what it takes to feel able to lean on others after a lifetime of survival.This episode is especially relevant for aspiring psychologists, trainee clinical psychologists, supervisors, and anyone interested in widening access to clinical psychology with compassion rather than tokenism.Highlights

(Timestamps)

1. 00:00 – Jacob’s early life in the care system and why his story matters
2. 01:50 – Defining “care experienced” and why it’s broader than people think
3. 03:26 – Why care experience can make psychology careers harder to access
4. 05:29 – Disclosure, stigma, and fear of how lived experience will be received
5. 07:26 – Financial and systemic barriers before training even begins
6. 10:53 – Hyper-independence, driving, and needing control over your future
7. 15:06 – Growing up fast and being “older than your years”
8. 18:27 – Forever people, attachment, and learning to exhale
9. 22:59 – Safety, the amygdala, and relearning trust
10. 27:15 – Adoption, systems, and not being asked what you want
11. 32:35 – Supervision styles, boundaries, and relational triggers
12. 39:46 – Readiness for training and compassion toward yourself
13. 47:35 – Repair, relationships, and what Jacob hopes for others

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...

In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, we explore the realities of life after qualifying as a clinical psychologist. I’m joined by trainee clinical psychologist Taniya Wellmillage, and together we discuss job uncertainty, unemployment after qualification, fixed-term contracts, stigma, and the emotional impact of moving from trainee security into an unpredictable job market. I share my own experience of signing on after qualifying, and we explore NHS versus private practice, moral injury, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to appear successful. This episode is essential listening for trainee and newly qualified clinical psychologists, and for anyone wanting an honest, compassionate insight into post-DClinPsy life.

Timestamps

1. 00:00 – The myth that qualification guarantees a job
2. 01:41 – The bittersweet reality of finishing training
3. 03:18 – Being unemployed and signing on after qualifying
4. 04:42 – Stigma, shame, and fear around not having work
5. 05:31 – Fixed-term contracts and the shock of losing security
6. 06:14 – Course expansion, funding, and job availability
7. 07:23 – The false promise of the training “ladder”
8. 08:06 – Competing roles and widening applicant pools
9. 09:09 – Part-time posts and juggling multiple jobs
10. 10:25 – Private practice as necessity, not choice
11. 11:38 – Anxiety about going independent too soon
12. 12:10 – First qualified posts and clinical responsibility
13. 14:09 – Why support matters after qualification
14. 21:03 – Reclaiming identity, interests, and values post-training

Links:

📲 Connect with Taniya Wellmillage here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniya-w-8a010a169/

🫶 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:

In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, we explore the realities of clinical psychology training beyond getting onto the course. I’m joined by final-year trainee clinical psychologist Taniya Welmillage, and together we discuss placements, supervision, competency pressure, imposter syndrome, wellbeing, leadership, and how life continues alongside training. We explore constant moving, team cultures, long commutes, therapy for trainees, and how trainees decide what is non-negotiable for their mental health. This episode is ideal for aspiring psychologists, trainee clinical psychologists, and anyone wanting a realistic, compassionate insight into training.

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Why getting onto training isn’t the whole story
2. 01:25 – Constant change, placements, and adjustment fatigue
3. 03:16 – Being called “the trainee” vs being seen as a person
4. 04:39 – Team cultures, safety, and belonging
5. 06:14 – Buildings, resources, and how environments shape experience
6. 08:53 – Juggling competencies, learning, and performance pressure
7. 10:05 – Authenticity vs ticking boxes on placement
8. 11:46 – Relocation, commuting, and the hidden toll of training
9. 14:10 – Flexi working, boundaries, and protecting wellbeing
10. 15:52 – The importance of trainee friendships and support
11. 18:33 – Life milestones during training
12. 20:51 – Reducing the “shoulds” and living your life alongside training
13. 26:38 – Therapy for trainees: is it useful and accessible?
14. 31:07 – Absorbing what’s useful and becoming your own psychologist

Links:

📲 Connect with Taniya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniya-w-8a010a169/

🫶 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:

In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, we explore why LinkedIn matters for psychologists, even if social media feels uncomfortable or intimidating. I’m joined by Shirin Yazdian, and together we discuss visibility, authenticity, neurodiversity, advocacy, and the fear of getting things wrong online. We explore how LinkedIn can support aspiring and early-career psychologists through networking, learning, conferences, volunteering, Master’s applications, and professional development, while also addressing boundaries, professionalism, and digital footprints. This episode is ideal for aspiring psychologists, psychology students, early-career clinicians, and anyone curious about using LinkedIn in a way that feels safe, ethical, and genuinely human.

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Why many psychologists avoid LinkedIn and why that might be a mistake
2. 01:05 – Early assumptions about LinkedIn and what changed
3. 01:42 – Humanising LinkedIn: being yourself first, professional second
4. 03:28 – Getting past the “cringe” of first posts and fear of visibility
5. 04:30 – Why LinkedIn can feel safer than other social platforms
6. 05:59 – Turning online connections into real-world opportunities
7. 08:17 – Providing value through curiosity, comments, and sharing resources
8. 09:14 – Finding courses, talks, and opportunities via LinkedIn
9. 11:19 – TEDx opportunities, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt
10. 13:38 – Practical tips for optimising your LinkedIn profile
11. 15:26 – Advocacy, values, and building a personal brand
12. 17:14 – Neurodiversity, authenticity, and choosing aligned workplaces
13. 21:44 – Being a person first, psychologist second
14. 26:50 – Final reflections and encouragement to engage

Links:

📲 Connect with Shirin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirin-yazdian-neurodivergent-speaker/

🫶 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...

In this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, we explore the psychology of raising boys in today’s cultural climate. I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr Matt Slavin, and together we discuss masculinity, misogyny, adolescence, identity, belonging, and emotional development. We explore why polarising narratives about manhood can feel so compelling, how fear and shame shape behaviour, and what parents, clinicians, and educators can do to support boys to grow into emotionally strong, compassionate men. We discuss attachment, aggression, peer influence, incel culture, parenting, sport, curiosity in therapy, and how to respond to challenging views without judgement. This episode is relevant for aspiring and qualified psychologists, parents, educators, and anyone interested in mental health, masculinity, and developmental psychology.

Links:

📲 Connect with Dr Matt Slavin: https://www.instagram.com/drmattslavin/

Check out Dr Matt's websites: http://www.drmattslavin.com/ https://getmentaladvantage.com/

🫶 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

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