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This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies: Mental Health, Therapy & Becoming a Therapist
This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies: Mental Health, Therapy & Becoming a Therapist
Author: John-Paul Davies
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Š 2025 This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies: Mental Health, Therapy & Becoming a Therapist
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đď¸ Welcome to This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies
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Honest conversations and reflections on mental health, emotional wellbeing, and the realities of becoming and being a therapist in private practice.
Whether you're a therapist, aspiring to become one, or simply someone curious about the inner world of emotional growth and healing, this podcast offers grounded insights and personal stories that connect.
Hosted by John-Paul Davies, a former City solicitor who retrained as a psychotherapist in 2007, the show explores:
- Changing careers into therapy
- What itâs really like being a therapist and making a living as a helping professional
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing topics inc. relationships, narcissism, trauma, navigating imposter syndrome and burnout, boundaries, self-worth and growth
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- Bisexuality
đ Watch the video versions on YouTube: youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP
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đ More about John-Paul: thistrustedplace.co.uk
If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and leave a rating or review â it makes a big difference. Thank you for listening.
94Â Episodes
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Send us a text In this interview with Dr Ron Siegel, we look at the complexities of narcissism, its psychological roots, and the broad spectrum of behaviours it can cover. Ron is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, a long-standing clinical psychologist and a leading voice in mindfulness-based psychotherapy. Heâs known for his ability to bridge solid academic thinking with warm, practical wisdom, and he brings real clarity, care and decades of clinical experience to...
Send us a text What if Snow White wasnât just a fairy tale but a potential mirror for our own inner journey? In this episode, I explore how Disneyâs remake of Snow White reveals powerful lessons about overcoming narcissism and finding true inner integration. Iâll look at how the filmâs archetypes and characters can guide us from grandiosity and self-protection towards self-acceptance and alignment and what that means for healing the split between our inner feminine and masculine. By understa...
Send us a text Being a therapist is really enjoyable, meaningful work, but it can also come with some surprises. In this video, I share 5 things that have been hard on my journey as a therapist: the unexpected challenges, the moments of learning, and the human realities that perhaps donât often get talked about. I talk about: * The general lack of oversight and accountability. * The questionable âempathyâ I occasionally see in other therapists. * The relative silence on the lack of ma...
Send us a text Kati Morton is one of the worldâs best-known therapistâcreators on YouTube, with almost 1.5 million subscribers, bestselling books and a hugely popular podcast. In this conversation we explore how sheâs built such a successful platform, what sheâs learned along the way, and the challenges of being such a public voice on mental health. We cover: â How Katiâs career as a therapist shaped her content and community â Her journey from initial reluctance to a global audience â Why a...
Send us a text In this video, I speak with Robyn Ochs, a leading advocate for bisexuality and bi+ identities. Robyn shares her experiences and insights on bisexuality, pansexuality and the broader spectrum of non-binary sexualities, reflecting on identity, self-expression and community. We talk about the complexities of coming out, not just as a personal step but as an act of love and authenticity that deepens our relationships. Robyn also speaks about the challenges and stigma bisexual peop...
Send us a text In this YouTube video I talk about making the transition from a current career to becoming a therapist, addressing two common concerns: the length of qualification and the financial transition involved in this career change. 1. Qualification Length: many people seek the quickest route to start their private practice, but, while the theoretical part of the training might be completed more quickly, the psychological shift required for many can significant and ongoing. ...
Send us a text In this episode, Iâm joined by Nick Duffell, psychotherapist, psycho-historian and author, known for his pioneering work with people who attended boarding schools. We explore: ⢠Nickâs background and the 1994 film 'The Making of Them' ⢠His latest book 'The Unmaking of Them: Clinical Reflections on Boarding School Syndrome' ⢠What âBoarding School Syndromeâ means and how it shows up in adult life ⢠How boarding schools have been normalised in British society ⢠The impacts on i...
Send us a text In this episode, I talk about the vital role that community plays in supporting mental health for bi+ individuals, asking questions about whether you have experienced the pressure of conforming to political ideologies within communities and inviting you to share your experiences and thoughts on the topic. **Bi+ Therapy & Support** If you're looking for a therapist who understands the unique experiences of being bisexual or bi+ â including identity, belonging, invisibility...
Send us a text In this episode, I explore the pressure that therapy trainees, and therapists more generally, can sometimes feel to go along with dominant views within training groups, supervision, or wider therapy spaces. What happens when we donât feel safe to express a different opinion? What are the effects on our growth, learning and sense of self when we hold back? And how do we create environments where difference is truly welcome? Iâd really love to hear your thoughts on this one, es...
Send us a text If you're a therapist or therapist-in-training looking to enhance your social media presence while staying true to your values, hopefully this video is for you. I explore your WHY, your WHO, and your WHAT â three key questions if you want to grow on social media in a way that feels sustainable and authentic. Drawing from my own experience, I share how social media can support (rather than drain) both your practice and your personal life. In this video, I cover: 1. Why social ...
Send us a text Discover the top 5 reasons why I love being a therapist! From leading a more loved life to experiencing real human connection, constant learning, feeling part of a community, and avoiding negative impacts on my well-being. If you find the video helpful, please feel free to SHARE it, tap 'LIKE' to show your support, and do SUBSCRIBE for more content like this! đŻ 1:1 Mentoring & Consultancy Thinking about changing career to become a therapist? Already qualified and w...
Send us a text In this episode, I welcome Patricia to discuss the complex subject of anxiety and the role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in managing it. Key Topics: 1. Introduction to Anxiety: - We look at what anxiety is, a fear-based emotion that can dominate life if not managed properly. - How fear and anxiety, while often seen as negative, can be valuable when understood and managed correctly. 2. Using ACT skills to manage anxiety effectivel...
Send us a text ***NOTE: I'd love to have more stories, experiences and journeys about bisexuality/bi+ on this channel, whether that's in-person guests like this one, or reading out someone's story. If you feel you'd like to do either of these, do just either message me in the comments below, or email me on jpdttp@gmail.com to have a chat about it Thanks! John-Paul*** In the latest in my ongoing series focused on bisexuality and bi+ identities, in this episode, I welcome Rob Cohen ...
Send us a text Therapy Training: the CONs (and some PROs!) ft Charlotte Battista In this episode, I welcome Charlotte Battista to discuss the challenges and some of the benefits of therapy training. Charlotte is in the early stages of her counselling and wellbeing career, with a passion for corporate work and an interest in relationships. This episode provides a comprehensive look into the world of therapy training, offering practical advice and personal experiences. Charlotte shares her ba...
Send us a text In this episode, I welcome Mark Cusack from @notdefining an author, lecturer, content creator, and coach specialising in supporting individuals with complex, fluid, or undefined orientations and genders. Mark shares insights from his personal experiences and professional expertise, focusing on bisexuality and the broader spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identity. 1. Introduction to Mark: - Mark's background as an author and content creator. - His work with &nbs...
Send us a text Therapy's FUTURE?: Exploring the Integration of Neuroscience and AI in Therapy Training and Therapy (Subscriber's Question) Here is the Subscriber's question: 'Moving over from an industry that has become dominated by AI (and having a lot of working years left), one of my concerns is for longevity of a profession. A friend of mine who recently finished a therapy adjacent Masters thinks that as mental health becomes increasingly integrated into the health system, less 'scientif...
Send us a text In this really insightful and hopefully helpful podcast, I interview Karl Melvin, a therapist with over 13 years of experience in the area of navigating family estrangement. Karl defines estrangement as creating distance between family members, which can vary in degree and form, which can be emotional, geographical, or communicative. The discussion highlights the challenges and dynamics involved in estrangement, emphasising its complexity and the continuum from complete disconn...
Send us a text In this episode, I give some reflections on this Subscriber's Question: "Would you talk about if it makes sense to try to become a therapist if one is not healed herself, Is 'I can do this as a therapist because this helps me as a patient' realistic or delusional? Thanks!" I talk about the complexities of being a therapist, focusing on the psychological state required to effectively support clients, revolving around the idea of whether therapists need to be fully healed themse...
Send us a text ***Note: all therapy/counselling courses are different and it would be great to hear how yours is similar/different to Harryâs. Please do therefore feel free to comment on this below and on anything raised in the conversation generally*** Harry Japp is a trainee psychotherapist at CCPE in London, and YouTuber at https://youtube.com/@UC2H_W34ylBp3nPvv6orhG8w where he shares insights from his training journey. In this episode, Harry and I discuss his experiences and insights ga...
Send us a text This podcast features my conversation with Lindsay Percival, focusing on the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy, along with talking about Lindsay's practice as a medium. Lindsay shares her journey from journalism to therapy, emphasising her spiritual awakening through experiences with healing energy. Some of the many topics covered include: - Lindsay discusses the intersection of psychotherapy and mediumship, highlighting how her mediumship work aims to...



