The Wellbeing Lab with Will Young (Will Young)

Hello and welcome to the first episode of The Wellbeing Lab - live from my kitchen table and, of course, sat next to the dogs. This week, I chat to psychotherapist and addiction specialist Pamela Roberts exploring the subject of shopping addiction. We discuss the addiction itself, as well as what might be beneath it. Also on today’s episode, I discuss the importance of boundaries with author, speaker and life coach Michelle Elman. Get ready to wave goodbye to people pleasing!

I’d LOVE to hear from you, please write in with your experiences and I’ll read and discuss next week. Please note that all correspondence is treated with strict confidentiality.

Get in touch via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

Here are some useful links and resources:

Find out more about Pamela's work here

And if you're interested in Michelle's book, have a look here. You can connect with her on social media too

I also have a book coming out, more on that next week, but you can find out about it here in the meantime

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Wellbeing Lab Podcast I chat about Body Dysmorphic Disorder with Hannah Kate Lewis, who is currently studying for a PhD in eating disorder prevention and also has personal experience with BDD. It's a topic that deserves more attention and I'm pleased I've been able to shine a light on it. I also chat to Dr Helen Kennerley who is a consultant clinical psychologist and an expert in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I had really interesting conversations with both guests about CBT and I learnt a lot in this episode, I hope you do too.

I also spoke to YOU dear listener about your experiences with body dysmorphia, I really appreciate you getting in touch and sharing your stories.

Here are some useful links and resources: 

Hannah recommends looking up the BDD Foundation if you're after more information on BDD.

Here's more on David Burns' Feeling Good, the book that Helen and I discussed.

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier, which comes out next month.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Wellbeing Lab podcast hosted by Will Young.

Each week, join Will and a team of knowledgeable mental health & wellbeing experts as they explore and spotlight various topics which often don’t get enough airtime. They will discuss subjects ranging from shopping addiction, creating boundaries, body dysmorphia, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), trauma, obsessive compulsive disorder and beyond. 

Here at The Wellbeing Lab podcast, the aim is to create a safe, fun, curious and understanding space, with the ultimate goal of helping listeners.

We want to hear from YOU, please get in touch with us...

Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Facebook @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Twitter @thewellbeinglab

Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thank you all so much for getting in touch. I love hearing from you and I'm proud of the community we’re creating.

In this week's episode I chat to the founder of ‘Renew Breakup Bootcamp’ Amy Chan and discuss all things relationships, including the myth of closure. I loved the chat with Amy and her book is fantastic. I also speak to Vijay Rana, a somatic experience trauma practitioner. I’ve worked with Vijay for a long time and have learnt a lot about what somatic therapy is and how the nervous system works in driving the mind. Enjoy!

Here are some useful links and resources: 

You can connect with Amy Chan on Instagram and find out more about her bootcamps here, plus you can find her book here.

Here's the still face experiment video Vijay mentioned and his website is here if you want to find out more about his work.

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier, which comes out next month.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I talk about feedback in the workplace, why nobody wants to receive it and nobody wants to give it! I discuss how to deal with difficult workplace relationships and how to ask for a raise... that’s a really tricky one. My guest is Thomas Erikson, a lecturer, management consultant, and author of ‘Surrounded By Idiots’.

Also this episode I speak to Tracey Shors, a neuroscientist and distinguished professor at Rutgers University. She's got some interesting ideas about rumination and how to overcome it and she's the author of a book called ‘Everyday Trauma’.

I'd love to hear from you if anything you've heard resonates. You can contact the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

Here are some useful links and resources: 

You can find Thomas on Instagram and there's information about his books here.

Here's more about Tracey's book Everyday Trauma.

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I present you with a sex special!

Often people don’t talk about sex enough so I want to explore two issues on opposite ends of the spectrum... sex addiction and loss of sex drive. Joining me is Marian O’Connor, a psychosexual and relationship therapist and head of psychosexual training at Tavistock Relationships, and Dr Amani Zarroug, a clinical psychologist and relationship and psychosexual therapist. We discuss the role of porn in sex addiction, what might cause a loss in sex drive and how culture makes its mark on our sexual attitudes.

Please keep getting in touch. You can contact the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com.

Here are some useful links and resources: 

You can find Dr Amani on Instagram or via her website.

Marian's website is here and she has chapters in two recent books.

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a great episode this week. It’s insomnia, it’s breathing, it’s fascinating.

My first guest is Dr Hugh Selsick, a consultant in psychiatry and sleep medicine who runs a sleep clinic at the Royal London Hospital. Dr Hugh busts some common myths around treating insomnia and Domino snores the whole way through! I also speak to James Nestor who is an author and science journalist. He taught me a lot about the art of breathing and the science that backs it up.

If you have questions or comments about any of the episodes so far, you can contact the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com. I'd love to hear from you.

Here are some useful links and resources: 

Dr Hugh recommends this free app for insomnia treatment, as well as these three books on the topic.

Here's more info about James Nestor's best-selling book Breath.

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I discuss dissociative disorders and equine therapy. Would you put those two topics together? I would!

First of all I talk to Emma Jack, who is the Deputy CEO & Deputy Clinical Director at CDS UK. She sheds light on the intricacies of dissociative disorders. Then I trot over to Richmond Park for a conversation with Dr Andreas Liefooghe, a psychologist, psychotherapist and lifelong horseman who runs Operation Centaur in Richmond Park. I got to meet one of the horses Dr Andreas works with as he explained equine therapy.

Here are some useful links and resources: 

These links are for Operation Centaur's social media channels and this is Dr Andreas' book.

For further reading, Emma Jack recommends two books: The Truth About Trauma and Dissociation and The Body Keeps the Score.

And here's where you can find my new book Be Yourself and Happier.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s another great episode exploring Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and sound therapy.

First of all I talk to Helen from Wiltshire who lives with OCD. She describes the triggers for her contamination OCD, when she got her diagnosis and how it affects her day to day life.

Then I speak to Jane Everett, a sound therapist who runs ‘Silence and Noise’. I visited her in Cornwall for a session and it was the most beautiful afternoon. At the end of the episode you can hear some of the soundscapes Jane creates.

Here are some useful links and resources: 

OCD UK is a charity providing advice and support to those affected by OCD. The charity 'Mind' also has a list of useful contacts if you're looking for support with OCD.

Jane can be found at her website or on Instagram.

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've got a good episode for you, delving into Agoraphobia and Shamanism. I talk first to Charlotte Levin who is the author of ‘If I Can’t Have You’ and lives with agoraphobia. And later I chat to Jo Bowlby, who is a Shaman and author of a book called ‘A Book for Life’.

If you relate to anything we've discussed in the podcast so far I want to hear from you, please get in touch...

Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Facebook @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Twitter @thewellbeinglab

Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

Here are some links and resources: 

Anxiety UK have useful information about Agoraphobia

You can find Charlotte on Twitter and Instagram and her book can be found here

Jo Bowlby's book is here and you can learn more about her work on her website

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a biggie... I'm discussing the vast subject of trauma and also how EMDR therapy can help those who've experienced it.

My first guest is Jo Stubley, a Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist and Psychoanalyst (all the P’s!). We delve deep into what trauma actually is and why it sticks around. Then I speak to Catriona Morten who is a Psychotherapist and an EMDR practitioner. She explains why and how EMDR therapy works.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can contact the lab in the following ways:

Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Facebook @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Twitter @thewellbeinglab

Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

If you're looking for further reading on trauma, Jo Stubley recommends the following books for different specificities:

Understanding Trauma

Trauma and Recovery

The Power Threat Meaning Framework

Trauma and Memory

Complex Trauma

The Body Keeps the Score

And here's all the info for MY new book Be Yourself and Happier

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there a good way to have an argument? My guest Ian Leslie thinks so. In order to better understand conflict, he spent time with hostage negotiators, interrogators and all kinds of people who have difficult conversations for a living. In this episode he tells me about what he learnt and how we can use some of the techniques to communicate better in our own relationships.

I'd love to know what you think. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Facebook @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Twitter @thewellbeinglab

Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

If you'd like to read more of Ian's work, the book 'How to Disagree' is here and this is his website.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode takes a deep dive into the world of narcissism. Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Chetna Kang tells me about the spectrum of narcissistic traits, what to expect if you're in a relationship with a narcissist and how the disorder can be treated. It's a big topic and we could have talked for hours.

As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

You can find out more about Chetna and her work on her website.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I experience Reiki for the first time. "What's Reiki?" I hear you ask. Well, my guest Sushma Sagar, who is a Reiki Master and founder of The Calmery, tells me all about the healing and energy practice in this episode, plus you'll also hear what happened when I went along and tested it out for myself.

You can find out more about Sushma via her website and this is her book Find Your Flow.

As always, let me know about your experiences with Reiki. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Wellbeing Lab this week I discuss eating disorders with Dr Omara Naseem. She's a counselling psychologist and a specialist in treating eating disorders. I came to this topic with great curiosity but knowing very little and I left having learnt a lot. We don't use any descriptive language in this episode, but if you feel like this may be a triggering topic please proceed with caution.

As ever, I'd love to know what you think. You can get in touch with the lab via the links below

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

And here are some resources that Dr Omara recommends if you're looking for further information:

Beat Eating Disorders charity

Getting Better Bite by Bite

Skills-based Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder

Dr Omara's website

Freddie Flintoff's documentary (available on iPlayer until Sept 2022)

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 15 I learn about the world of Chronic Pain, a condition that affects far more people than I realised. My guest is Dr Alan Fayaz, a consultant in pain medicine at University College London Hospital. He guides me through the science behind why we feel pain, explains what's happening when someone experiences chronic pain and educates me on the most up to date research in the field.

If you're looking for further reading or information on Chronic Pain, Dr Alan suggests looking at this page on the British Pain Society's website, which has a whole host of links and resources.

As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cold water swimming has exploded in popularity in recent years and many people say taking a chilly dip helps with their mental health, so I thought I'd try it out.

Now, I have to come clean and tell you that, although I was swimming outdoors in a lake, my swim wouldn't officially be classed as a cold water swim because the water was actually quite warm... but I still felt many benefits and I squealed when getting into the water.

My guest is Simon Kerslake who's the volunteer secretary for the Outdoor Swimming Society. Here are the books he recommends:

Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui

Waterlog by Roger Deakin

Haunts of the Black Masseur by Charles Sprawson

The Mindful Art of Wild Swimming by Tessa Wardley

The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook by Kate Rew

Please get in touch if you have anything to say about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm diving deep into the complex world of abandonment with the psychotherapist and abandonment expert Susan Anderson. We talk about the universal experience of abandonment fear, why it affects some of us more than others, and the work we can do to overcome it.

If you're looking for further information on abandonment, you can find out about Susan's books and events on her website.

The book I mentioned was Healing the Shame That Binds You by John Bradshaw.

Please let me know what you thought of the episode. You can contact the lab on any of these links: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you feel when you think about your finances? Does it bring up difficult emotions? Money can be a hard thing to talk about and is often closely linked to our mental health. I decided to dig into the common issues that link money and mental health with Helen Undy, who's the Chief Executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.

If you'd like to access any of the helpful resources Helen mentioned in the interview, you can find them here.

If you have personal experience of mental health problems and would like to get involved in Money and Mental Health's work, you can sign up to their Research Community here. It's a chance to share your story, and to help break the link between mental health and money problems. 

The Samaritans can be contacted on the phone on 116 123 or click here for their website.

Please get in touch if you have anything to say about this episode, or any other. We'd love to hear from you. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm trying out yoga therapy this week with the wonderful Colleen Lally. I went along to a session with Colleen to find out how yoga therapy differs from the yoga I'm used to and to discover who it helps. I describe the session later in the episode, but first you'll hear my chat with Colleen which we recorded a few days after our first meeting.

You can find out all about the Recovery Wellness Collective on their website.

Colleen recommends these resources if you're looking for support around the issue of substance use, as discussed in the episode:

Adfam gives information, local support groups and helplines for anyone affected by someone else’s substance misuse. 

Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking, regardless of whether that person is still drinking or not.

DrugFAM Are you affected by someone else's drug or alcohol addiction? Are you bereaved through drug or alcohol use? Contact their free helpline from 9am-9pm, 7 days a week on 0300 888 3853. 

National Association for Children of Alcoholics offers information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've reached the final episode of Season 1 and I've saved one of my favourite topics 'til last. In this episode I explore the world of attachment with research scientist Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk. Dr. Suzanne's research begins with tiny babies, but she says our attachment styles can affect us into adulthood. It's fascinating stuff.

If you want to learn more, you can read up on attachment on Dr. Suzanne's website.

All being well, we'll be back with Season 2 soon, so make sure you're subscribed to the podcast to stay up to date with new releases.

And please keep getting in touch. I want the Wellbeing Lab community to continue so here's all the ways you can be part of that community:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome! The hiatus has come to an end, dear listener. I'm back with a fresh batch of episodes of The Wellbeing Lab and the season begins with a biggie.

I'm unpacking confidence. How to get it, how to keep it and why it might be lacking in the first place. Many of you have been in touch asking me to cover this, so I settled down for a chat with psychotherapist and Sunday Times bestselling author Anna Mathur, whose book 'Know Your Worth' asks the hard questions about why we feel the way we do.

As ever, I'd love to know what you think of the episode. Here's all the ways you can be in touch with me:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

I'm also delighted to tell you I'm now a Patron of Shout, the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there a better job title than neuropsychopharmacologist? I think not and today I'm lucky enough to speak to one. His name is Professor David Nutt and he's an expert on the use of psychedelic drugs to treat things like depression, addiction and anxiety. We cover a lot of ground and get into some deep questions as we explore a very interesting area of study.

If you're looking for more information on David's forthcoming book 'Psychedelics' you can find it here.

As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I'm talking about adult-diagnosed ADHD. It's something I've been hearing a lot about recently, so I wanted to find out what it's like to get an ADHD diagnosis as an adult and how that can effect your life going forward. My guest is the amazing Vivienne Isebor. She's the founder of ADHD Babes, as well as being a psychotherapist and a singer... and she's very funny.

The Wellbeing Lab team always read all the correspondence that comes in, so please get in touch if you have anything to say about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've heard people describe the gut as the second brain and if it's important to look after the health of our brain, is it also important to look after our gut health too? Who better to ask than Professor Tim Spector, the epidemiologist and science writer who knows everything there is to know about our guts and the important microbes that live within them. He told me about the link to our immune system, the value of health supplements and the role nutrition plays in keeping our gut microbiome healthy.

You can find out more about Tim, his projects and his books here.

If you relate to anything we've discussed in the podcast so far I want to hear from you, please get in touch...

Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Facebook @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Twitter @thewellbeinglab

Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-love can be a difficult goal to achieve and self-hatred isn't a desirable state to be in, so where is the middle ground? Well, acceptance is the antidote to self-hatred, according to The School of Life's book on the subject. I dig into this idea with Sarah Stein Lubrano from The School of Life, discussing the roles of expectations, compassion and friendship, plus we go off on a short tangent about the German philosopher Theodor W. Adorno.

I'd love to hear from you if anything you've heard in this episode resonates. You can contact the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I learn about Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome which causes extreme emotional and physical symptoms. My guest is the wonderfully funny Annika Waheed, who is an educator, a patient expert in PMDD and an advocate for those who have it. You can follow her on Instagram @Hormonesandheartache

Please take care whilst listening to this episode as it contains a conversation about suicide.

As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know that exercise is good for us and, usually, makes us feel better, but why? In this episode I learn about the science of what happens when we exercise, how technology can aid our exercise efforts and that everything I thought I knew about endorphins is wrong.

My guest is Dr Joseph Firth, a UKRI research fellow at Manchester University, who researches physical health and lifestyle interventions for improving mental health.

Please let me know what you thought of the episode. Here's all the ways you can be part of the Wellbeing Lab community:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm getting scientific this week! I'm delving into the world of epigenetics, which is the study of how our behaviours and environment can cause changes that affect the way our genes work. It's a relatively new field, so I called up the wonderful Dr Chloe Wong to give me the latest. Dr Chloe is a senior lecturer in epigenetics and she works at the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience within King's College London.

One of the questions I ask, thanks to a question from you dear listener, is about whether trauma felt by our ancestors can be passed down to us genetically and the answer might not be what you think.

You can follow Dr Chloe on Twitter @ChloeCWong and if you're looking for more information on the studies she mentions you can find them here:

The EDGI Eating Disorders Genetic Initiative also on Twitter @EDGI_UK

The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study also on Twitter @ERiskstudy

The NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre also on Twitter @NIHRMaudsleyBRC and Facebook

Please share your thoughts, feelings and feedback on the episode. Here's all the ways you can get in touch with the Wellbeing Lab:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Countless people all over the world swear by the ancient practice of acupuncture, where very fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes. I've had acupuncture many times and I find it very clarifying.

In this episode I speak to Gerad Kite, a Five Element acupuncture master who runs a clinic and a training school in London. He talks about the origins of acupuncture, the philosophy behind Five Element and how acupuncture is best utilised.

And, you'll be pleased to hear that after a long time without featuring on the podcast, the dogs return! See if you can catch Domino snoring.

As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab about you acupuncture experiences on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shame can be one of the most painful and difficult emotions to deal with and most of the time, when it arises, we don't even deserve to feel it!

It's a complex topic so I called in Dr June Tangney to discuss it with me because she's been working in the field of moral emotions for decades. We talk about what moral emotions are, the difference between shame and guilt and the ways in which society's expectations can sometimes cause us to feel shame.

As always, let me know about your experiences. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another hotly requested topic for you this week.

It's Borderline Personality Disorder, explained and explored by the wonderful Dr Chetna Kang. Dr Chetna makes her return to the Wellbeing Lab to delve into the causes of BPD, the symptoms, the treatments and the misconceptions.

If you're looking for information on Marsha M. Linehan, the developer of dialectical behaviour therapy mentioned in the episode, you can find her handouts and worksheets here, plus her memoir, Building A Life Worth Living, here.

The Wellbeing Lab team read all the correspondence that comes in, so please get in touch if you have anything to say about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you feel when you spend time in nature? Have you ever hugged a tree? We all know it's supposed to do us good, so I went forest bathing to find out just what nature can do for our mental health.

My guests are Gary and Olga Evans from The Forest Bathing Institute. They're two very dedicated people and they have a lot of knowledge about the science behind forest bathing.

I had a really lovely time and I'd love to know your experiences with nature. Here's how you can get in touch with the Lab:

Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Facebook @thewellbeinglabpodcast

Twitter @thewellbeinglab

Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's topic is one of my favourites to discuss and I explain why with my guest Sarah Calvert. She's a psychotherapist who specialises in psychosexual therapy and relationships. We get deep into the common problems with communication between two people, why we slip into these habits and what we can do about it.

Sarah kindly came up with an invitation for you to try if you want to improve your communication, which you can find on her website by clicking here.

Please let me know what the results are if you give it a go. Here's all the ways you can get in touch to tell me:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you perceive hypnosis? Do you fully fathom your subconscious? Well, I'm so excited to bring you this episode because I start to understand those questions and many more.

My guest is the hypnotherapist Jessica Boston and she really helped me get to grips with what hypnosis is, how it works and how it can be used to help us move forward if we're struggling with a problem. We also dispel some myths and we laugh along the way too.

You can find out more about Jessica on her website by clicking here.

I'd love to hear from you if you've tried hypnotherapy, or if anything else you've heard in this episode resonates. You can contact the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody's perfect*, but striving for perfection can get us into mental health troubles and affect our day-to-day lives.

My guest, Thomas Curran, is the world's leading expert on perfectionism and in his book The Perfection Trap, he shares his personal experience of how impossibly high expectations stand in the way of happiness, health, and success. He also talks about why this is a growing problem and what we can do about it.

If this episode hits home for you, please share your thoughts, feelings and feedback. Here's all the ways you can get in touch with the Wellbeing Lab:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

*Except me and producer Amy at the Wellbeing Lab.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode came from a chance meeting in the sunshine. Each year I attend the Chelsea Flower Show with my mum and this summer one of the gardens was made in partnership with a charity. It's called the Centre for Mental Health and their aim is to reduce mental health inequalities by building research evidence to create fairer mental health policy.

I got chatting to Andy Bell, the Chief Executive, and decided to invite him onto the podcast because so much of the work the charity does ties in with the things I discuss on this podcast all the time.

I think it's important work and I hope you agree.

Please share your thoughts, feelings and feedback on the episode. Here's all the ways you can get in touch with the Wellbeing Lab:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find it easy to express yourself? If so, how do you like to do it?

This week I'm talking to art psychotherapist Charlotte Daley. She works predominantly with children and young people, helping them interpret and express their emotions whilst they create a piece of art. It's a form of therapy that I've benefitted from in the past, so I wanted to bring it to you and discuss some of the theory behind it. So off I went to Crystal Palace in London to meet Charlotte and make some artwork.

Follow the Wellbeing Lab social media channels if you want to see my final piece: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. You can also email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com with your thoughts and feedback. Or send me pictures of your artwork. I'd love to see them.

You can see more from Charlotte on her Instagram, or on her website.

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I welcome back the excellent Jo Stubley. She's a Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy at the Tavistock Clinic and an expert on trauma, so I invited her back to talk to me about complex post-traumatic stress disorder. We talk about diagnosis, treatment, some of the problems around the naming of these experiences and of course have a few jokes along the way.

During the conversation Jo mentions a paper looking at neurotransmitters and depression. You can read that here.

She also talks about the audiobook for 'What Happened to You', by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry, which you can find here.

And I mention Pete Walker's book 'Complex PTSD: From Surviving To Thriving' which you can find out more about here.

As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab about your experiences on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ooh I'm excited to get into this week's topic. It's quite a complicated subject, but it's one of my favourites to discuss... codependency. When I learnt about codependency it was a lightbulb moment and I hope you glean some useful information from it. My guest is counselling psychologist Dr Jane Halsall who has a special interest in addiction.

We mention a few resources in the episode:

You can find Melody Beattie's 'Codependent No More' here

Pia Mellody's 'Facing Codependence' can be found at this link

And you can get information about your local CoDA group here

And we also have a little bonus chat for you this episode, with the inspiring Danny Gray of Just Ask A Question. It's an online platform that brings together world-leading mental health professionals to answer thousands of questions about all kinds of topics related to mental health and wellbeing.

Find JAAQ here

And find out more about Warpaint For Men here

As always, let me know about your experiences on anything we've discussed in this episode. You can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief is a universal experience, but one that we navigate alone. It's also one of the most-requested topics for me to cover here at the Wellbeing Lab.

So, for the final episode of Season 2 I talk with Andy Langford about grief and bereavement. Andy has worked in this field for over twenty years and is the Clinical Director at the charity Cruse. They help people with bereavement support, information and campaigning and you can find out more about their work here.

This is a big topic and there are so many more avenues we could have explored, but I'd be delighted to hear what you thought, or to hear your experiences with grief. The Wellbeing Lab team read all the correspondence that comes in and you can contact the lab on the links below:

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com

The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.