Please be aware, the topic of suicide is briefly mentioned in this conversation.Meg Moss is Head of Public Affairs and Advocacy with the NCPS. An increasingly important part of Megs work involves researching and exploring the use of AI in mental health provision - to better understand its potential impact on the work of the counselling profession, the future provision of services, and how it might shape the human emotional experience more broadly.In a wide-ranging conversation, we cover everything from the commodification of data to the risks of turning AI to combat loneliness and isolation. We discuss the importance of relational connection and empathy, as well as disagreements and friction, all as vital ingredients to personal growth and understanding.But perhaps most importantly are the UK’s first relational safeguards for AI mental health tools that Meg has developed, warning us that, without clear boundaries, chatbots and apps risk causing serious harm, particularly to children and young people.Without such safeguards and careful considerations in place, Meg worries that AI devalues relationship, connection and humanity.   For more information about the Six Principles for Relational Safeguards in AI Mental Health Tools NCPS | Press release: First blueprint to make AI mental health tools…   Here is the NCPS response to the recent Ipsos study exploring how people in Great Britain are using, and feeling about, AI in their daily lives  NCPS | NCPS Responds: New Ipsos research shows why so many Britons…   For a longer read, here is Meg’s update about AI in therapy NCPS | AI in Therapy - September 2025 Update   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

Pamela Kirkpatrick is a practitioner, trainer and co-founder of NCPS Recognised Counselling Service, uHub. But Pam, along with her colleague Cara, also invest considerable time and energy into their community; a community that continues to bear the bruises from its history.   Communities in Transition, was designed by the NI Executive in 2015 to support projects that would empower individuals and groups to affect positive change for themselves and their communities To this end, Pam and Cara have given up their own time to connect with an understandably cautious community. So, they developed creative ways to become accepted and from small, tentative steps, meaningful trust was built. Only then were they were able to support people that previously might never have contemplated change, never mind counselling.   This story is testament not only to our capacity and potential for change, but also to the gentle patience of the practitioner. It’s a reminder that the work we do, is as much art and creativity, relational and empathy, as it is study and theory.   For more information about Pam and the uHub team uHub – Counselling Service and Therapy Centre. Bangor, North Down.   To learn about Communities in Transition Communities in Transition – Background | The Executive Office   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

Lynda Graham is the NCPS Regional Representative for Northern Ireland and a prominent and experienced voice across the counselling profession, particularly on the subject of adoption.  Originally a social worker, her work with children and families, took her along what felt like a natural path, to counselling.   Lynda is a passionate advocate for counsellors and the profession as a whole, especially keen to advocate for those living and working in Northern Ireland. And while there is an important need to recognise the specific challenges encountered there, Lynda is clear, that just as we see the individual in our daily practice, we also need to see Northern Ireland as any other place, with its own regional diversity and differences. We need to be mindful, it is a tapestry woven together with many different threads and should not be defined by one story alone.   For more information about the NCPS Regional Representatives NCPS | Regional Representatives   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

Cherelle Mead, is many things, both professionally and personally. A counsellor, supervisor, charity trustee, and now the NCPS Regional Representative for Wales, Cherelle is also a proud and devoted Mum, neurodivergent, gender fluid, and biracial.Coming from social disadvantage and a chaotic upbringing, she searched for safety and security which she found in community, rather than family.  It’s no surprise then, in her heart she holds a passion for equality and advocacy for marginalised identities, as well as the counselling profession as a whole.   For more information about the NCPS Regional Representatives NCPS | Regional Representatives   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: Please be aware there is a brief mention of suicide in this episode.   Gemma Khairi is Director of Operations for Helplines Partnership, the membership body for organisations that provide information, support or advice via phone, email, text or online. Gemma and her colleagues work to maintain standards, offer training, advice and support across the helplines sector.   Having a kind and generous father, Gemma witnessed the art of compassion from an early age, as her Dad worked to support people in the community, as well as caring for his children as a single parent – including Gemma's disabled brother.   Maybe as natural extension of those formative years, Gemma went on to study human rights and social justice, which took her into various roles working alongside some of the most vulnerable people in society; young care leavers, young offenders, sex workers and people living with HIV.   There are stark differences between relationships created in a therapeutic setting, and the one-off, sometimes distressing, sometimes anonymous, crisis calls that helpline staff may deal with, and Gemma helps us understand what that can be like.   We discuss the pitfalls of burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, as well as those things we can do personally and professionally, to mitigate the inevitable hazards of this work.   It is estimated there will be well in excess of over 60 million calls to helplines annually, and thanks to Gemma, the team at Helplines Partnership, and all those they support –  we can feel confident in referring loved ones and clients for help.   For more information about Helplines Partnership Home - Helplines Partnership 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: Please be aware that this episode contains graphic content around sexual violence, sex, misogyny and pornography, that some people may find upsetting.Jocelyn Anderson is CEO of West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, and the NCPS Ambassador for survivors of rape and sexual violence. Moving from an unfulfilling job in finance to a career in counselling, Jocelyn has become a fierce advocate for victim/survivors, as well as for smaller community-based services that offer them vital support. In our conversation together, we explore the many barriers that are faced by those who work in this area, and those they support. From stigma and ignorance, to lengthy fights for justice and funding, Jocelyn doesn’t hold back from describing the reality of the situation - because speaking truth openly, can contribute to action, change, and the reduction of shame. For more information about the work of  Jocelyn's team at WMRSASC Home - WMRSASC To learn more about 'Hackett's continuum' Understanding sexualised behaviour in children | NSPCC Learning   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

Please be aware that suicide and bereavement by suicide is the main focus of this episode. Steve Roodhouse left for work one day, and never came home. Caroline, his wife was faced with the awful reality that Steve had taken his own life, and found herself in the unimaginable position of having to tell their two young daughters; Evie who was 9, and Ada, who was 2. Since then Caroline has help others understand about the reality of life after a suicide by writing and speaking about her experience and she gives a voice to others impacted by this particular type of grief. In her own sensitive, yet frank and unflinching way,  Caroline describes how anger helped her cope, and protected her from sadness , and how finding the right therapist at the right time helped her through the complex emotions that a grief by suicide evokes. She describes the unique responsibility of being a double parent, living minute by minute, day by day, navigating her own grief, while supporting Evie and Ada with theirs. Now, Caroline feels she is at last able to carry hope. Along with memories of Steve, hope has become part of the story that she and the  girls, are now writing together. Because this conversation is not just Caroline's story, but Steve’s Evie's and Ada's also.   You can learn more about Caroline's experience, work and her book, 'Daddy Blackbird', here: Daddy Blackbird - Surviving and thriving after loss by suicide For more information about child bereavement charity Winston's Wish: Winston's Wish - Bereavement Support for Children 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  

Lana Foster, Managing Director of Bright World Guardianships, joins us in conversation. Recorded in February, Lana talks about her niche line of work, which is to ensure that international students who come here to study in the UK, are supported appropriately and adequately, especially with their mental and emotional health. The children that Bright World Guardianships support, find themselves alone in another country, language, culture; there is unfamiliarity all around them. Alongside the usual challenges of growing up, their lives can at times be complex and stressful.  Through a network of host families, care managers, local coordinators and transport services, every step of a child's time at boarding school or university, is supported by the adults at Bright World, all of whom are screened and trained....even the taxi drivers. You can find out more about the work of Bright World Guardianships here: UK Boarding School and University Guardianship service | Bright World 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: suicide and domestic abuse are briefly mentioned in this conversation. In this episode we are revisiting Northern Ireland, as Eilish Craig clinical lead of West Wellbeing joins us for a chat. We talk about the unique challenges faced by people living in post-conflict Northern Ireland, and shine a light on a service that knows it’s community and holds it at the heart of all it does. In response, that community appreciates, values and gives back to the service . From being a safe space for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, to outreach work with the homeless, collaborating with foodbanks and addressing poverty, the trusting relationships being built by West Wellbeing, with it’s community, are special, and the positive impacts, far reaching. You can find out more about the work of West Wellbeing here: Home - West Wellbeing And for information about supporting, 'Out of the Darkness - A Walk of Hope': Out of the Darkness - A Walk of Hope - West Wellbeing 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  

From the cradle to the grave, music therapy can support people in a way talking therapy is not always able. Stuart Watson is a music therapist and the clinical lead, of Make a Melody Ltd. based in Northern Ireland and in this episode, he helps us understand who music therapy can help, and how it works. Music is its own language, through which we can communicate, understand each other, and build relationships upon. Stuart explains how it can create bonds between parent and infant, how it can connect in a unique way with non-verbal people, how it offers comfort to people with dementia or at the end of their lives – all  through using the power of music and the framework of psychodynamic principles underpinning the work.   You can find out more about the work of Make a Melody here: https://www.makeamelody.co.uk/ 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: Please be aware the topic of suicide is the focus of this conversation.   In this episode, we are joined by Charlotte Edwards, service manager of Hopeline247, the helpline for Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide. The work of helpline advisors plays a vital role in mental health support, and yet their work is often unrecognised and underappreciated. In our chat, Charlotte explains more about this work, and specifically what it looks like in terms of suicide prevention through Hopeline247. As she is keen to stress, 'We don't save lives, we help young people save their own lives'. To find out more about the work of Papyrus / Hopeline247 Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide 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 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.

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/