This episode contains discussion around childhood bullying and stammering.

🎧 Join us for an extraordinary conversation with Professor Windy Dryden, one of the most influential figures in modern psychotherapy, as he shares his remarkable 50-year journey from a bullied schoolboy with a stammer to becoming a pioneering force in CBT and creator of revolutionary ONEplus therapy.

This fascinating and wide-ranging discussion explores how personal adversity sparked a lifelong passion for understanding human psychology, leading to groundbreaking contributions that have shaped therapeutic practice worldwide.

Hosted by:

Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast. Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach & Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).

In this compelling episode, Professor Dryden openly shares:

• How childhood bullying and stammering ignited his interest in feelings and motivations

• His transformative experience on a kibbutz in Israel

• The early development and evolution of CBT as a therapeutic approach

• Creating ONEplus therapy - a revolutionary single-session therapeutic method

• His prolific writing career spanning 290 books on psychotherapy

• The crucial difference between self-esteem and self-acceptance

• Tackling procrastination through innovative 'anti-crastination' techniques

• What can realistically be achieved in just one therapy session

• Insights from five decades at the forefront of therapeutic innovation

This essential conversation offers invaluable insights for therapists, students, and anyone interested in the evolution of modern psychotherapy and the power of turning personal challenges into professional purpose.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:

• The origins of CBT and its development over the decades

• How personal adversity can fuel professional innovation

• ONEplus therapy and single-session therapeutic interventions

• Self-acceptance versus self-esteem in therapeutic practice

• Procrastination and practical strategies for overcoming it

• The academic journey from personal struggle to professorship

• Writing and sharing knowledge across 290 published works

• What makes therapy effective in different timeframes

• The evolution of psychotherapeutic approaches over 50 years

Chapters:

00:00 Guest Introduction

01:10 How Windy got into the world of psychology through having a stammer 

03:09 Windy’s father's relationship with money and deciding Windy’s career

04:00 Dropping out of University and going to Israel to a Kibbutz

04:40 Returning to University and beginning his career as a therapist 

08:35 Rational Emotive Psychotherapy

09:58 Windy’s career progression

11:28 Windy’s experience at Goldsmiths and being turned down for lecturing jobs 

14:10 Windy’s stammer

15:15 Going to America for CBT training 

19:14 Rational Emotive Psychotherapy being ‘wiped out’ in the UK

20:25 Writing 290 books 

22:46 Single session therapy

30:53 Windy’s current writing 

31:46 Building a relationship with a client during single session therapy

37:27 Windy’s thoughts on the NHS’ first contact being an assessment

38:12 Windy’s one piece of advice for listeners

39:02 Outro 

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