Can AI really be used as your own personal therapist? | Steve Siddals | #018 Mastering Change
Can a chatbot provide emotional support in moments of crisis? Can AI ever replicate the safety and insight of human connection? These are the questions Steve Siddals – psychology researcher and technology executive – set out to explore in one of the first qualitative studies into AI chatbots and mental health. In this episode of Mastering Change, we dive into Steve’s surprising findings: that 18 out of 19 participants in his study found AI chatbot support helpful – some even described it as “life changing.” “It gave me the space to just be me – without judgement, without fear.” Steve’s participants used AI in diverse ways. One person said the AI helped them reclaim their life after uncovering a new perspective on their upbringing. Another shared how a chatbot supported him through grief in the days leading up to his mother’s death. Access to mental health services is deeply unequal – particularly outside high-income countries – and Steve believes AI could fill a vital gap. But this isn’t about replacing therapists. It’s about listening to real experiences, understanding the potential and doing the research we so urgently need. We also explore: The ethical concerns and fears surrounding AI and therapy What “safe” really means when speaking to a bot Where relational depth might fall short How people are unknowingly using AI in therapeutic ways Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential 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-2025 for more details.
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Justice begins with belief: standing with CSA survivors | Poppy & Miranda Eyre | #017 Mastering Change
“Why should a child have to fight an adult in a court of law?” This week on Mastering Change, we had a deeply moving conversation Poppy and Miranda Eyre. Poppy is a survivor of child sexual abuse; Miranda, her mother, was the first person she told. Theirs is a story of survival, resistance, reform, and a call for systemic change. They are one of the rare families for whom the legal system worked. But as Miranda says, “We’ve never met another family like us. That’s the problem.” “Belief is the beginning of everything.” Poppy was 11 when she spoke out. Her perpetrator – her grandfather – was convicted. But, as Poppy explains, it wasn’t justice alone that shaped her journey, it was the fact she was, simply, believed. Many others aren’t. Poppy and Miranda are using their experience to campaign for a trauma-informed legal framework that starts with belief, not proof: A system where the symptoms of trauma are recognised as evidence, not dismissed for lack of witnesses, admissions, or footage. In this episode we discuss: Why the legal system often fails survivors of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse) The long-term effects of being not believed The systemic reform needed to make trauma-informed justice possible Poppy and Miranda’s ongoing advocacy in Parliament, with the NSPCC, and beyond How abuse survivors can be discredited simply because of semantics Moment of Care: This week’s episode of Mastering Change contains themes that may be emotionally challenging, particularly for survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) or those who’ve supported someone through it.We encourage you to listen in a way that honors your capacity. If you are a survivor or this content feels especially sensitive, know it’s okay to pause, step away, or skip this episode altogether. Your safety and emotional well-being matter most. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2025 for more details.
We’re joined by acclaimed Hungarian-Canadian physician and one of the world’s foremost voices on trauma and addiction – Dr. Gabor Maté. It’s an illuminating conversation that spans everything from the inner workings of conflict, compassion and self-regulation to media and politics. We touch on polarisation which, Gabor explains, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We also explore: Rupture and repair in relationships The need to consistently recognise our body state How to balance oneself in conflict The yogic concept of the mind The principles of Compassionate Inquiry Humans’ innate drive for truth and justice Child vs. adult culture — and how today’s norms undermine the parenting role ... And the Netflix series Adolescence! “You’re responsible for how you show up, but not how others’ feel.” Gabor brings, in equal measure, practical wisdom – from decades of clinical insight – and personal revelations to this compelling conversation. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential 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-2025 for more details.
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Autism, identity & fighting the system | Katherine Uher | #015 Mastering Change
As an openly autistic psychotherapist, Dr. Katherine Uher works with those experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem and complex trauma – often shaped by a lifetime of feeling "othered." Her research explores the impact of systemic trauma, especially how institutions often misunderstand, pathologise or erase the needs of neurodivergent people. She speaks from both professional and lived experience, which she shares in the episode. “As a society, our perception of normal is rigid and we are wary of differences.” Dr. Uher’s research challenges how neurodivergent people are storied and judged by professionals. She argues that many neurodivergent people struggle with their sense of self are because their identities have been shaped by other people’s opinions of what’s right and wrong. In this episode we discuss: How Dr. Uher’s personal journey shaped her academic research The danger of pathologising differences How neurodivergent behaviours are misunderstood How neurodivergent people are taught to conform The long-term emotional toll of masking What it means to grow up “other-referencing” instead of self-referencing This was a poignant conversation, and we’re grateful to Dr. Uher for speaking so candidly about her own journey – and the wider struggles of navigating a world not designed for neurodivergent people. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself, a clinician, therapist, educator or ally, this episode is essential listening. Don't forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the illustrious Canadian physician and world-renowned addiction expert Gabor Maté on next week’s episode! Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential 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-2025 for more details.
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PTSD, nightmares and the dream completion technique | Dr Justin Havens | #014 Mastering Change
Most of us think of nightmares as something children experience, but in fact 2-8% of the adult population suffer from persistent, trauma-related nightmares. Dr. Justin Havens is on a mission to change that, sharing in this week’s episode of Mastering Change, his breakthrough dream completion technique. “You can resolve persistent traumatic nightmares in one session, in as little as 20 minutes,” he tells us as we discuss PTSD, anxiety and nightmares. “We're not removing memories. We're changing the way people feel about those memories.” A clinical psychologist and trauma specialist, Dr. Havens has trained hundreds of Ukraine therapists in this novel technique to help those with PTSD nightmares. He explains that trauma isn’t always about the event itself, but the way it’s represented for the person in the present. His technique works to change the perception and emotional intensity of a memory – a method that’s delivering rapid results across clinical and community settings. Research into nightmares has been few and far between and while sleep is a hot topic in public discourse, traumatic nightmares are seldom discussed or understood. We hope then that this conversation brings reassurance to anyone navigating their impact. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential 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-2025 for more details.
Su Mastering Change | The trauma, mental health & wellbeing podcast
Welcome to Mastering Change, a podcast co-hosted by Emma and Araminta, where we engage in meaningful conversations centred around healing. In this series, we bring together leading experts, innovative thinkers, and emerging voices to connect knowledge with real-world impact in the areas of trauma, mental health and wellbeing. Each episode features insightful discussions with respected figures as well as promising new contributors to the field. We explore a range of topics with a focus on making this knowledge available for anyone interested in supporting their own healing journey or that of others. At Mastering Change, we understand the significance of conversation as a means of fostering understanding and growth. Our aim is to create a ripple effect, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and establishing a community where impactful voices are heard. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the field, we invite you to engage in thoughtful discussions that can inspire meaningful change in your practice and personal life. Join us as we explore critical insights and perspectives, encouraging a shared commitment to healing trauma.
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