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Why does sexual desire fade in long-term relationships? And could the way we think about sex be part of the problem? In this episode of Mastering Change, Araminta Jonsson speaks with Dr Nicole McNichols, a professor at the University of Washington and author of You Could Be Having Better Sex, about the psychology of desire, the science of pleasure and why sexual wellbeing is so often overlooked in conversations about mental health. From the pressures of modern relationships and the exhaustion of everyday life to the misconceptions surrounding orgasms and intimacy, Nicole challenges some of our most deeply held assumptions about sex. Together, they explore why desire doesn't always happen spontaneously, how shame can prevent us from communicating our needs, and why creating space for pleasure could be an important part of our overall wellbeing. In this episode, we explore: Why sexual wellbeing is so often excluded from conversations about mental healthHow exhaustion, stress and the mental load can affect sexual desireThe difference between spontaneous and responsive desireWhy planning sex doesn't necessarily make it less satisfyingThe orgasm gap and what we misunderstand about female pleasureHow shame, communication and consent shape our intimate relationshipsThe relationship between trauma, safety and sexual intimacyA thought-provoking conversation about moving beyond sexual shame and developing a healthier, more informed relationship with intimacy and pleasure. Moment of Care: This episode includes discussion of childhood trauma, serious violence, mental health and other potentially distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take care of yourself and seek support if you need it. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Trauma doesn't always end when the danger has passed. Even years after a difficult experience, our brains and bodies can continue responding as though we're still under threat. But why do these patterns persist, and can we learn to change them? This week on Mastering Change, Emma Stapleton and Araminta Jonsson speak with Siegfried Othmer, a physicist and pioneer in neurofeedback, who has spent over four decades exploring how the brain regulates itself and what happens when that regulation is disrupted. While traditional approaches to trauma often focus on understanding and processing our experiences, Siegfried offers a different perspective. He argues that trauma recovery may also depend on helping the brain develop new patterns of self-regulation, rather than relying on psychological understanding alone. Drawing on his family's personal experiences and decades of clinical work, Siegfried explores the potential of neurofeedback and why he believes the physiological dimensions of trauma deserve greater attention. We explore: Why the brain can remain in a state of threat long after danger has passedHow trauma affects the brain's ability to regulate itselfWhat neurofeedback is and how it worksWhy talking therapies may not address every aspect of traumaThe potential of brain training to support emotional and physiological regulationMoment of Care: This episode includes discussion of childhood trauma, serious violence, mental health and other potentially distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take care of yourself and seek support if you need it. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

What happens when the emotional pain we avoid begins to shape the way we treat ourselves and others?  In this episode of Mastering Change, Emma Stapleton and Araminta are joined by author and frontline practitioner George Stoimenov to explore unresolved trauma, masculinity and the possibility of breaking cycles of pain.  Originally from Bulgaria, George has spent more than a decade supporting people facing significant adversity, from unaccompanied young asylum seekers and young people experiencing homelessness to men on probation.  But his work is also deeply personal.  George reflects on his own experiences of childhood trauma, the ways he once avoided difficult emotions and the transformative experiences that eventually changed his understanding of himself. Drawing on his personal journey and professional work, he explores how unresolved pain can influence anger, relationships and destructive behaviour, and why meaningful change may require us to look beneath what someone does to understand what they have experienced. The conversation also considers the wider consequences of disconnection, including how declining community ties and growing polarisation can make it easier to project our pain onto others. We explore: How unresolved childhood experiences can shape adult behaviourWhy avoidance can prevent us from recognising emotional painWhat George has learned working with vulnerable young people and men on probationThe relationship between trauma, masculinity, anger and violenceHow the father–son relationship can influence identity and emotional developmentWhy connection and community matter for recoveryHow unresolved pain can contribute to conflict and polarisationWhat breaking cycles of trauma might look like in practiceMoment of Care: This episode includes discussion of childhood trauma, violence, criminal justice experiences and emotional distress. Please take care while listening if these subjects feel close to your own experiences. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

When someone is struggling with infertility, we often encourage them to keep going, stay hopeful and try again.  But what happens when that encouragement becomes part of the pressure they're already carrying?  This week on Mastering Change, we're joined by reproductive trauma advocate Anita Guru, who shares her deeply personal experience of endometriosis, infertility, IVF and the psychological impact of a reproductive journey that unfolded very differently from the life she had imagined.  Through years of treatment, loss and uncertainty, Anita came to recognise something that is still too often overlooked: infertility is not only a medical experience. It can also involve profound grief, shame, guilt and trauma. One of the most powerful moments in our conversation comes when Anita describes reaching the point where she wanted to stop treatment, but was waiting for someone to give her permission. Her story raises important questions about how we support people through reproductive trauma, why grief can go unrecognised when there is no visible loss, and how we can create space for different futures without diminishing the pain of letting go. We explore: Why infertility and pregnancy loss need to be understood through the lens of reproductive traumaThe emotional impact of endometriosis and fertility treatmentHow shame and guilt can shape someone's sense of identity and self-worthWhy well-intentioned encouragement can sometimes deepen distressThe often-unrecognised grief of ending fertility treatment without a childHow earlier traumatic experiences can resurface during reproductive challengesWhy feeling seen, heard and supported can make such a differenceWatch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Everything is connected. Diversity is essential for survival. And living systems have feedback mechanisms that tell us when something is out of balance. What might happen if we applied these principles of ecology to mental health? This week on Mastering Change, psychiatrist and psychotherapist Joanna Cheek introduces us to the idea of an “ecology of health” – a way of looking beyond the individual to understand our wellbeing in the context of our relationships, communities, social structures and wider environment. One idea particularly stayed with us: distress can be feedback. In trauma-informed care, we have learned to move beyond asking “What’s wrong with you?” towards “What happened to you?” Joanna invites us to widen the lens further. What is happening around us? What systems are we part of? And could some of the feelings we are trying to eliminate actually be signalling that something is out of balance? It opens up a fascinating conversation about where individual healing meets collective wellbeing – and whether caring for ourselves can ever be entirely separated from caring for the world around us. We explore: What the principles of ecology can teach us about mental healthWhy distress can sometimes be understood as feedback rather than dysfunctionHow “What happened to you?” can widen to include the systems around usWhy focusing solely on the individual can leave important causes of distress unseenThe relationship between our individual and collective wellbeingWhy diversity and connection matter for healthy living systemsWhat changes when we see self-care and collective care as interconnectedWatch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Much of what we understand about trauma recovery is rooted in psychology, neuroscience and the nervous system.  But once enough safety and capacity have been established, what helps people make sense of what they have experienced?  This week on Mastering Change, Araminta is joined by trauma educator Vanja Popovic and archetypal psychologist Lawrence Hillman for a wide-ranging conversation about archetypes, astrology, spirituality and the human search for meaning after trauma.  They explore how symbols, stories and archetypal patterns can offer different ways of understanding our experiences and why meaning-making may become particularly important as people move towards post-traumatic growth.  Rather than viewing astrology as prediction or personality typing, Lawrence describes archetypal psychology as a language for understanding the deeper patterns that shape our inner lives. Vanja explains how these ideas can become valuable during post-traumatic growth, helping people make sense of their experiences once enough safety and capacity has been established.   The conversation also examines where ancient wisdom might sit alongside modern psychology and neuroscience, why science and spirituality may not be as far apart as they first appear and what our rapidly evolving relationship with AI can reveal about our very human search for connection and meaning.  We explore:  What archetypes are and why they appear across cultures Why meaning can become important after trauma Where ancient wisdom, psychology and spirituality intersect How archetypal thinking may contribute to post-traumatic growth What our relationship with AI reveals about human needs and relationships Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Have we forgotten some of the ways humans have always sought to heal?  In this episode of Mastering Change, Emma Stapleton and Dr Keisha Siriboe are joined by Leslie Salmon Jones and Jeff W. Jones, co-founders of Afro Flow Yoga, for a conversation about healing through movement, music and community.  Drawing on nearly two decades of creating embodied healing experiences, Lesley and Jeff explore why trauma recovery can involve more than talking. Together, they discuss the role of rhythm, ancestry, breath and movement in helping people reconnect with themselves, their communities and their bodies.  The conversation explores agency, belonging and the idea that healing may sometimes be less about learning something new than reconnecting with practices that have existed across cultures for generations.  We explore:  Why movement can reach places words cannot The relationship between trauma, music and rhythm What ancestral practices can teach us about healing The role of community in recovery How safety and agency can create conditions for healing Reconnecting with the body's innate wisdom Moving from suppression to expression Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Can trauma and psychological stress actually influence how quickly our bodies age? In this episode of Mastering Change, Emma Stapleton and Araminta are joined by Professor of Biochemistry Gordan Lauc to explore the emerging science of glycans – molecules that can provide insight into inflammation, immune function and biological ageing. Gordan explains why psychological stress may play an important role in accelerated glycan ageing, particularly in younger people and how trauma and chronic stress may become reflected in our biology. But these biological markers are not necessarily  fixed. Gordan shares striking examples of people's measured glycan age changing following major shifts in their lives and explores whether biomarkers could one day help us understand not only when something is wrong, but whether the interventions we're trying are working. We explore: How psychological stress can influence biological ageingWhat glycans reveal about inflammation and immune healthWhy trauma affects different people differentlyHow fight-or-flight changes immune, reproductive and digestive functionWhether biological markers could help measure therapeutic progressWhy physiological changes can begin long before disease appearsWhat this emerging science could mean for more personalised approaches to healthMoment of Care: This episode includes discussion of childhood trauma, serious violence, mental health and other potentially distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take care of yourself and seek support if you need it. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

A major UK trial has just put a radically different approach to mental healthcare to the test. Open Dialogue puts relationships, collaboration and the individual's own voice at the centre of care. Now, findings from ODDESSI, the first randomised controlled trial of the approach, have been published in The Lancet Psychiatry. In this episode of Mastering Change, Emma Stapleton and Araminta Jonsson are joined by consultant psychiatrist and Professor of Relational Psychiatry Russell Razzaque to explore what they found and what it could mean for the future of mental healthcare. ODDESSI followed 494 people presenting to NHS mental health services in crisis over two years. The findings were striking: people receiving Open Dialogue were less likely to be admitted to psychiatric hospital or referred back to crisis services and reported improvements in recovery, quality of life and satisfaction with care. Russell also shares one particularly striking figure: 54% fewer days spent in hospital. But the conversation goes beyond the numbers. Russell explores what changes when clinicians are no longer the  sole experts in the room, families and support networks become part of care and therapeutic relationships are treated as fundamental rather than an afterthought. We explore: What Open Dialogue actually looks like in a mental health crisisWhat the ODDESSI trial found and what the results could mean for mental healthcareWhy relationships may be one of the most powerful tools in mental healthcareWhat changes when people become active participants in their own careWhy continuity and trust matter when someone experiences another crisis The surprising relationship between Open Dialogue and mindfulnessWhat it could take to implement this approach across the NHSMoment of Care: This episode includes discussion of childhood trauma, serious violence, mental health and other potentially distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take care of yourself and seek support if you need it. Russell Razzaque at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 Russell will take this exploration of relationships further at Transform Trauma Oxford this September in Open Dialogue & Mindful Listening: How Healing Happens in Relationship.  In this experiential session, he will explore how the quality of our attention can help people feel safer, understood and more connected and why learning to listen rather than immediately solve or fix can strengthen the healing potential of relationships. Through mindfulness, practical teaching and experiential exercises, participants will have the opportunity to practise these skills themselves and explore how they can be brought into therapeutic conversations. Russell will be speaking alongside leading experts Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk, Kristin Neff, Dan Siegel, Jack Kornfield, Ruby Wax, Rangan Chatterjee and many others. In-person ticket: £995Virtual ticket: £395Get tickets here Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

What can childhood trauma tell us about why some people become violent? In this episode of Mastering Change, Emma and Araminta are joined by forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Gwen Adshead, who has spent decades working with both perpetrators and survivors of serious violence. Gwen explores the significant overlap she has encountered between trauma and violence, while challenging any simple assumption that trauma causes violent behaviour. Instead, she asks what we can learn by looking beyond categories of “victim and perpetrator” or “good and bad" and understanding the complex pathways that can lead someone towards violence. Drawing on her work in hospitals, prisons and therapeutic groups, Gwen explores what happens when people who have committed serious violence begin to understand their own histories, confront shame and take responsibility for their actions. We explore: Why childhood trauma can be one factor on the pathway towards violence – but never tells the whole story What people who have committed serious violence actually confront in therapy Why understanding someone's history does not mean excusing their behaviour Why Gwen believes dividing people into “victims and perpetrators” or “good and bad” can be unhelpful How shame, isolation and social exclusion can shape recovery Why being able to understand and articulate your own mind may be a privilege we underestimate What working with violent offenders has taught Gwen about responsibility and change Why preventing future trauma may require supporting the adults who are struggling to care safely for childrenMoment of Care: This episode includes discussion of childhood trauma, serious violence, mental health and other potentially distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take care of yourself and seek support if you need it. Gwen Adshead at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 Dr Gwen Adshead will be speaking at Transform Trauma Oxford this September in her session, Unspeakable: Trauma, Language and Therapy.  Bringing together neuroscience, narrative identity and psychotherapy, Gwen will explore why trauma can leave people struggling to put their experiences into words, how it can shape autobiographical memory and the stories we tell about ourselves and how the therapeutic relationship can help people discover a new voice. If you are interested in learning more about Gwen’s work, her Oxford session offers an opportunity to explore the science of trauma and language in greater depth alongside hundreds of practitioners committed to advancing trauma-informed care.  Gwen will be speaking alongside leading experts Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk, Kristin Neff, Julia Samuel, Shi Heng Yi, Jack Kornfield, Matthias Barker, Rangan Chatterjee, Ruth Cohn and many others. In-person ticket: £995 Virtual ticket: £395Get your ticket here: https://mastersevents.com/oxford-2026/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=GwenAdshead%2FTraumaAndViolence%2FAugust2026 Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Can we really train our brains to respond differently to our thoughts?  Ccomedian, author and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax joins Emma and Araminta for a characteristically funny and candid conversation about mindfulness, depression and the science of changing our minds.  Drawing on her own experience or recurring depression alongside her studies in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy at Oxford, Ruby explores what mindfulness actually looks like in practice and why understanding it intellectually is very different from doing it.  For Ruby, mindfulness is training. Our attention wanders, we notice it and bring it back. Then we do it again. Or, as she puts it: "Just like you get a six-pack if you keep going to the gym."  From neuroplasticity and attention to loneliness, compassion and recurring depression, the conversation explores what happens when we stop expecting our minds to behave perfectly and start learning how to work with them.  We explore:  Why Ruby's experience of depression led her from comedy to studying the mind at Oxford What she has learned about recognising another depressive episode and why she no longer tries to fight it Why a wandering mind doesn't mean you're bad at mindfulness What neuroplasticity tells us about our capacity to change deeply ingrained patterns Why understanding mindfulness intellectually isn't enough, even with a master's degree in it What Ruby has learned about loneliness, compassion and our need for genuine human connection. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Ruby Wax at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 Ruby Wax will be joining us at Transform Trauma Oxford this September for two sessions exploring mindfulness, trauma and the power of lived experience. Get tickets here: https://mastersevents.com/oxford-2026/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=RubyWax%2FMindfulness%2FAugust2026 Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

What makes someone a great trauma therapist?  In this episode of Mastering Change, Emma Stapleton and Araminta Jonsson are joined by trauma specialist Dr Sarah Woodhouse for a conversation about what truly supports healing after trauma.  Drawing on more than twelve years of trauma research and extensive clinical experience, Sarah explains why she believes no single therapeutic approach can meet everyone's needs. She explores the importance of staying curious, understanding different trauma models and building the kind of therapeutic relationship in which healing can take place.   The conversation also explores the gap between research and clinical practice, why recovery extends far beyond the therapy session, and the often-overlooked role of nature, spirituality, play and connection in supporting recovery and helping people build richer lives beyond trauma.  In this episode we discuss:  Why no single therapeutic approach works for everyone What research can teach us about effective trauma therapy Why the therapeutic relationship matters Why healing extends beyond the therapy room The role of nature, spirituality and connection Why trust, play and everyday practices matter  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Join Dr Sarah Woodhouse at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026  Dr Sarah Woodhouse will be speaking at Transform Trauma Oxford this September for her session, Reclaiming Inner Knowing & Restoring Self-Trust: Why Intuition Matters in Trauma Healing. https://mastersevents.com/oxford-2026/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=SarahWoodhouse%2FWhatmakesagreattherapist%2FAugust2026  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Therapist, author and anti-oppressive practitioner Myira Khan believes that healing cannot be separated from identity, culture, faith or belonging.  In this episode of Mastering Change, Emma Stapleton and Dr Keisha Siriboe explore how these different dimensions of our lives shape the way we experience the world, our relationships and our wellbeing.  At the heart of the conversation is Myira's Rubik's Cube metaphor for identity. Rather than seeing identity as something fixed, just as different faces of the Cube come into view as it turns, she explains how different aspects of ourselves come into focus depending on the people around us, the environments we are in and the experiences we carry. It is a simple but powerful reminder that no one can be understood through a single label.  Together they discuss anti-oppressive practice, faith-sensitive wellbeing, power, privilege and why creating genuinely inclusive spaces requires more than good intentions. Throughout the conversation, Myira invites us to replace assumptions with curiosity and to recognise the complexity that exists within every person we meet.   We explore:  What anti-oppressive practice looks like in everyday care Why identity shifts across different relationships and environments The role of faith in wellbeing and healing What creates genuine belonging Why curiosity matters more than assumptions How lived experience shapes the way we understand others Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Myira Khan at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 This September, Myira Khan will join us at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 for her session, Radical Healing: Integrating Anti-Oppressive Self-Care, Spirituality, Social Justice and Relational Growth for Well-being.  Drawing on research, clinical practice and lived experience, Myira will explore how identity, spirituality, relationships and anti-oppressive practice can support sustainable wellbeing for both practitioners and clients. She will also take part in several panel discussions throughout the conference. If you'd like to explore these ideas in greater depth, this is an opportunity to experience Myira's work in person, alongside leading experts Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk, Tara Swart, Prentis Hemphill, Rangan Chatterjee, Linda Thai, Shi Heng Yi and Jack Kornfield. Now get 20% off with code SUMMER20 at checkout. The discount applies to tickets only – accommodation and evening events are priced separately. GET YOUR DISCOUNTED TICKET NOW Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Frontline workers are trained to stay calm in the middle of extraordinary situations. But trauma does not always show itself during the crisis.   In this episode of Mastering Change, clinical psychologist and researcher Nicola Cogan explores the hidden psychological impact of frontline work. Drawing on both research and clinical experience, she explains why repeated exposure to suffering can accumulate over time, why many professionals struggle to seek help and what organisations can do to better support the people who spend their lives supporting others.  We discuss:  Why trauma often emerges after the crisis has passed The hidden impact of cumulative stress and repeated exposure Burnout and the physical toll of caring Why many frontline workers wait years before seeking support Creating psychologically safer workplaces Supporting families as well as frontline workers How digital tools may help increase access to support  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Why do we crave sugar when we are stressed? Why does coffee sometimes feel essential? And why can changing our diet feel so difficult even when we know what is "healthy"?  This week on Mastering Change, Emma speaks with nutritionist and somatic practitioner Luis Mojica about the relationship between food, trauma and the nervous system.  Drawing on his Food Therapy approach, Luis explains why many cravings are about far more than physical hunger. Instead, they may reflect how our nervous system is trying to regulate stress, seek   safety or meet unmet emotional needs. Rather than viewing food through the familiar lens of willpower, restriction or “good” and “bad” choices, Luis invites us to think about our relationship with food itself. What if our cravings are not something to fight, but something to understand?  One of the most thought-provoking ideas in the conversation is that healing is not always about changing what we eat. It may begin with understanding why we reach for certain foods in the first place.  We explore:  How trauma and chronic stress influence eating patterns What cravings can reveal about emotional and physiological needs How food can help regulate the nervous system The role of stimulants, depressants and balancing foods Why our relationship with food reflects the state of our nervous system Why feeling safety is more than being safe Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.