Psychology, Actually

What do you do when your child won’t go to school… and it doesn’t feel like defiance? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, we explore emotional based school avoidance (EBSA / EBSNA) – why it happens, when it’s most likely to start, and what actually helps children feel able to return to education.I’m joined by Educational Psychologist ⁨@Dr.AdamMcCartney⁩ and we discuss the psychology behind school refusal, the pressure on families and schools, and why one trusted teacher can sometimes make all the difference.If you’re a parent, professional, or aspiring psychologist trying to understand school anxiety, attendance difficulties, or child mental health, this episode will help you think about it differently.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Why “school refusal” might be the wrong term
01:36 What is EBSA / EBSNA?
04:09 Changing attitudes to education
06:12 Attendance pressure and parental stress
08:52 Why support becomes harder over time
15:04 The most common age for school avoidance
16:42 Secondary school transitions explained
17:38 The power of one teacher relationship
19:01 School attendance pressures and systems
21:27 What parents can do to support their child
22:22 What good pastoral care actually looks like
23:45 Relational vs behavioural approaches
24:41 Supporting children without blame
27:11 Real-life parenting reflections
30:08 Why emotional validation matters

Links:
📲 Listen to Adam's Podcast, Between Two Psychs: https://www.dradammccartney.com/betweentwopsychs Connect with Dr Adam McCartney here: https://www.dradammccartney.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-adam-mccartney-afbpss-647ab1221/ https://www.instagram.com/dradammcartney/
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and / or exclusive weekly content head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
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Who are you… without the roles you’ve built your life around? In this Inner Work episode, we reflect on identity, validation, and the tension between who we are and how we’re seen. We explore what it means to rely on external markers of success and how we begin to build something more internal, stable and self-defined.
📩 Business & Collaboration Enquiries ✉️ Email: [email protected]
⚠️ Disclaimer This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.
© Dr Marianne Trent

What happens when fame arrives before you know who you are… and then disappears? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, I’m joined by 90s pop star Kavana (Anthony Kavanagh) to explore the psychology of fame, addiction, identity and recovery.
We talk openly about the reality behind the spotlight - from chart success and public adoration to addiction, shame, and rebuilding a life when everything changes.Anthony shares his journey into sobriety, what recovery really looks like day-to-day, and how writing his memoir became part of that healing process.
If you’ve ever wondered about the emotional cost of success, or what it takes to come back from rock bottom, this is a powerful and honest conversation.
Check out Anthony Kavanagh's brilliant book, Pop Scars, a memoir on fame, addiction and the darker side of 90's pop: https://amzn.to/3O2R8fh
This episode is sponsored by WriteUpp the online practice management software I use in my own practice. To grab a 30 day free trial & 30% off for 60 months for up to 6 users use code Marianne30 here: https://writeupp.com/?refid=142336
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Fame vs reality – what we don’t see
01:42 Writing a memoir during recovery
03:23 Pain vs humour in storytelling
05:23 Early life and first job
08:13 Getting discovered and becoming Kavana
10:38 First experiences of fame13:04 Identity, sexuality and performance
15:45 Pressure of maintaining a persona
20:54 When things started to shift
24:39 Losing momentum and public attention
26:14 Alcohol as coping
29:01 Hollywood years and escape
31:06 Addiction, denial and rock bottom
33:41 Loss of control and blackouts
37:17 Loose Women interview experience
39:01 4 years sober – what recovery looks like
41:00 Daily practices and staying well
42:42 Being sober in social spaces
44:30 Rebuilding identity without alcohol
47:39 Life now, creativity and future plans

Links:
📲 Connect with Anthony Kavanagh here: https://www.instagram.com/kavana_real/
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and / or exclusive weekly content head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:
If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes.
Hashtags:
#aspiringpsychologist #dclinpsy #psychology #assistantpsychologist #psychologycareers #podcast #psychologypodcast #clinicalpsychologist #mentalhealth #traineeclinicalpsychologist #clinicalpsychology #drmariannetrent #mentalhealthprofessional #gettingqualified #mentalhealthprofessionals #traineepwp #mdt #qualifiedpsychologist #traineepsychologist #aspiringpsychologists #wellbeing

Is it too late to become a clinical psychologist?In this episode of Psychology, Actually, I’m joined by trainee clinical psychologist Claire Dunn, who started her journey at 40 and secured a place on the doctorate at 47.Together, we break down what retraining in psychology actually looks like practically, emotionally, and strategically.
Using real-life style examples of older applicants navigating career change, family life, and self-doubt.We explore pathways into clinical psychology, including conversion courses, assistant psychologist roles, NHS experience, and how to stay competitive when you feel “behind”.If you’re an aspiring psychologist wondering whether you’ve left it too late - this episode offers a grounded, honest roadmap.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Is it too late to retrain in psychology?
01:13 Claire’s journey to training at 47
02:23 Case study: Sarah (career change from teaching)
04:30 Transferable skills and real-world experience
05:41 How much do you need to want this?
06:39 Studying later in life (Open University + flexibility)
08:56 Balancing study, work and parenting
10:35 When is the “right” time to retrain?
12:20 Should you focus on study or experience first?
14:32 Testing whether psychology is right for you
15:25 Making the most of academic support
16:19 Case study: Mark (NHS admin to psychology)
18:10 Feeling “behind” and imposter syndrome
19:05 Does a 2:2 limit your chances?
20:31 Strengthening applications with a master’s
21:51 Assistant psychologist vs further study
23:02 Why academic references matter
24:06 Staying connected with referees
25:27 Avoiding generic references
26:35 Gaining relevant clinical experience
28:21 Alternative pathways (CAP / PWP roles)
30:18 Is it really too late? Final thoughts

Links:
📲 Connect with Claire Dunn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-dunn-037480244/
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and / or exclusive weekly content head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:
If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes.
Hashtags:
#aspiringpsychologist #dclinpsy #psychology #assistantpsychologist #psychologycareers #podcast #psychologypodcast #clinicalpsychologist #mentalhealth #traineeclinicalpsychologist #clinicalpsychology #drmariannetrent #mentalhealthprofessional #gettingqualified #mentalhealthprofessionals #traineepwp #mdt #qualifiedpsychologist #traineepsychologist #aspiringpsychologists #wellbeing

Most people think liver disease is only caused by alcohol. It isn’t. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, we explore fatty liver disease (now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), a common but often silent condition affecting 1 in 5 people in the UK.
I’m joined by NHS health coach Sharan Verma, who shares both professional insight and her personal experience of losing her father to the disease. We discuss symptoms, diagnosis, reversibility, and why so many people are unaware they have it until it’s progressed.This episode also explores the psychological impact of illness, caregiving, and grief including how difficult it can be to witness physical decline in someone you love.If you’re interested in health psychology, prevention, or understanding how physical and emotional wellbeing connect, this episode offers an important and eye-opening perspective.
Highlights
00:00 Why liver disease isn’t just about alcohol
01:22 What fatty liver disease actually is
02:15 Early symptoms and why it’s often missed
03:04 Stages of liver disease and reversibility
04:47 Why awareness needs to change
06:48 Sharan’s father’s diagnosis and missed opportunities
08:59 Rapid deterioration and hospitalisation
09:49 Losing a parent to liver disease
10:30 Guilt, hindsight and what we didn’t know
11:29 Stigma and misunderstanding around liver disease
12:44 Genetics and family patterns
14:01 Living with increased health risk
15:12 The emotional impact of watching someone decline
15:39 Physical changes at end of life
16:18 Trauma, memory and grief
17:36 Where the liver is and what it does
18:46 Diet, lifestyle and prevention
21:47 Barriers to healthy eating
22:03 Risk factors and population differences
22:42 Where to learn more

Links:
📲 Connect with Sharan: https://www.instagram.com/renourishwithsharan/ https://sharanverma.com
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and / or exclusive weekly content head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:
If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes.
Hashtags:
#fattyliver #fattyliverdisease #liverdisease