Listening In

In this episode we are joined by Rory Lees-Oakes, co-founder and director of Counselling Tutor.
In this episode we are joined by Rory Lees-Oakes, co-founder and director of Counselling Tutor.Despite Counselling Tutor's extensive library of resources and training, and Rory's background as a senior lecturer, it may be surprising to hear of the challenges he faced as a student himself.Perhaps that is what makes him so good at what he does; a self-confessed disruptor, with a very real understanding of how we all learn differently and a belief that academic ability should not be a barrier to learning.Rory talks about how important it is that the profession changes and evolves in order to be relevant in 2025. ‘We’re a changing profession’, he says, 'We’re moving into a brand new world. What we do now, today, may not be what we do tomorrow’.
Counselling Tutor website: Counsellor Online Resources and CPD • Counselling Tutor
Rory's new Autism-Informed Course for Counsellors: Autism Course Waiting List • Counselling Tutor
For a lovely short biography about John Shlien: Authors - John Shlien
Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation.
This episode was recorded on Teams
Produced by Leto Blackwell
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Website: www.ncps.com
Subtitles are auto generated
 

In this Episode, we welcome Elaine Bousfield MBE, who talks to us about the use of literature in therapy.
Elaine is founder and CEO of Zuntold which is a therapeutic service offering bibliotherapy, as well as a publishing company. Always trying to find ways of making therapy more accessible, especially for young people, Elaine created and founded the online platform Kooth. When she decided it was time to move on and start a new chapter, she turned to the world of bibliotherapy.
Please accept our apologies for some sound issues during this recording.
Discover more about Zuntold: ZunTold - Fiction as Therapy for Mental Health & Wellbeing — ZunTold
Contact Elaine for more information about future projects: elaine@zuntold.com
Further reading, as recommended by Elaine:
'Always Hear For You', by Miriam Halahmy
'The Midnight Library', by Matt Haig
'How We Read Now', by Naomi Baron
'Such Stuff As Dreams: The Psychology of Fiction', by Keith Oatley
 
Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation
This episode was recorded on Teams
Produced and Edited by Leto Blackwell
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Website: www.ncps.com

Content warning: the focus of this conversation is suicide prevention.
When Chris Sibley lost his 16 year old son TJ to suicide, he sought support from a charity where he was able to meet other parents, sharing the same dreadful grief. From this, Chris, along with parents Stuart Falconer and Jane Johnstone, decided to form their own charity; The OLLIE Foundation.
Our conversation shines a light on the people and work behind the scenes at grassroot charities. Chris says, "Grassroots charities live and work in the community, and have a real impact on that community".  
And when lived experience informs that work, what does that mean? What is the impact of telling your story, over and again?
"I can feel it, they're like tiny weights being put on my shoulders every time I talk about it", explains Chris.
And yet his drive continues, in memory of his son. "He was the person people would go to. His last act was helping someone else. What I do, is driven by TJ".
To find out more about The OLLIE Foundation and all the resources it offers, please visit: https://theolliefoundation.org/
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS): https://uksobs.com/
 
Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation.
This episode was recorded on Teams
Produced by Leto Blackwell
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Website: www.ncps.com
Subtitles are auto generated
If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, or require immediate help, please call 111, contact your GP or call the Samaritans on 116 123
 
 

At 16 years old, Tony Kelly took a step towards his childhood dream when he was signed to Bristol City as an apprentice footballer. By the time he was 22 he was a fully-fledged professional, scoring winning goals against Liverpool FC. What happened along the way, was to eventually leave Tony bankrupt and homeless. 
In this episode, Tony shines a light on his struggle with gambling, how he found his way back to himself, and the work he does now to support others, by setting up Red Card Gambling.
He credits family, faith, and counselling, as fundamental parts of his recovery process.
Tony wrote to me after we spoke, "Let's go with, 'Owning Your Addiction. That's the best way to recover, in my opinion; acceptance and ownership."
For information about the work of Tony and his team at Red Card Gambling, including support, training, resources, and other projects, please visit
https://redcardgambling.org/
To see his winning goal against Liverpool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zdYR8rvAVY
To learn more about Tony's friends at Gambling With Lives https://www.gamblingwithlives.org/
 
Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation.
This episode was recorded on Teams
Produced by Leto Blackwell
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Website: www.ncps.com
Subtitles are auto generated
 

Recorded just after the UK general election in early July 2024, in this episode Meg Moss, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at the NCPS, and Kelly Budd, Chief Professional Standards Officer at CPCAB, discuss a joint campaign, 'Therapeutic Relationships: the Human Connection'.
How concerned should we be about the increasing use of AI and technology in both counselling/psychotherapy training and delivery? Is it possible to maintain standards and keep the public safe, as 'cheaper, faster, simpler', non-human methods proliferate? 
And how can we all work together to ensure the integrity of the profession is maintained?
For more information, resources and ways to support the campaign, please visit
https://ncps.com/about-us/campaigns/therapeutic-relationships-the-human-connection
Or,
https://www.cpcab.co.uk/human-connection-campaign
You can also find out more about Rory, Ken and their resources for students at Counselling Tutor, here
https://counsellingtutor.com/ 
If you are a trainee, the NCPS publishes a free magazine for all students, regardless which professional association they belong to. For the most recent edition, click here http://book.ncps.com/books/coab/#p=1
Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation.
This episode was recorded on Teams
Produced by Leto Blackwell
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Website: www.ncps.com
Subtitles are auto generated
 

In this episode, we are joined by Louisa Rose, CEO of the children and young people's (CYP) mental health charity 'Beyond'.
Louisa talks about how setbacks can play a part in progress, about the value of young people’s voices and the importance of humanising the therapeutic relationship.
Content warning: Please be aware the topic of suicide is briefly mentioned in this episode.  
To learn more about Beyond, visit Beyond – Improving access for young people to mental health support (wearebeyond.org.uk)
Jonny Benjamin’s documentary Watch The Stranger on the Bridge | Stream free on Channel 4
Louisa dancing!
2021 - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CKo-dPHD8Fm/
2022 - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZZ5qA8KKyd/
2023 - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoYBfzbIhE8/
2024 - https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3BSNu1oRkg/
Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation.
This episode was recorded on Teams
Produced by Leto Blackwell
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Website: www.ncps.com
Subtitles are auto generated
 
 
 
 

Content Warning: mentions suicide and bereavement by suicide throughout
 
In the second episode of ‘Listening In’, Amelia Wrighton from Suicide&Co, joins us to discuss the complex nature of being bereaved by suicide and the challenges of running a charity working in this sector.
What inspired her and colleague Emma to start a charity?
What makes Suicide&Co special in the services it offers?
 
To learn more about the work of Amelia and the team at Suicide&Co visit https://suicideandco.squarespace.com/
 
Please remember to like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation.
 
This episode was recorded on Teams
Produced by Leto Blackwell
 
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Website: www.ncps.com
 
Subtitles are auto generated

Pursuing the Power of Nature
In this first episode of 'Listening In', Ally and Robert from Hawk and Heath discuss 'forest bathing', its Japanese origins and the science behind it. Forest bathing can benefit those that suffer symptoms such as stress, anxiety and poor sleep.
What led Ally and Robert to this work, how do they use it, and how can we all learn to benefit from nature, ourselves? And what is, ’tree sniffing’?!
To learn more about Hawk and Heath visit https://hawkandheath.co.uk/
Join in with the #30DaysWild https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild
Please like and subscribe, so you can always be part of the conversation.
This episode was recorded on Teams
Created by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)  https://ncps.com/