Let's Talk About CBT

In this episode, Helen is joined by Mia and Alice Farrington to talk about OCD in children and young people. Mia shares her lived experience of developing OCD as a child and what it was like to go through CBT with Alice as her therapist. Alice, a clinical psychologist at the Oxford Specialist Psychological Intervention Centre, explains how OCD presents differently in young people than in adults, why CBT works so well, and what treatment can look like, including externalising OCD and using behavioural experiments.
The conversation also covers guilt and shame, the impact on families, how OCD can change its "mask" over time, and where to find support.
Resources & Support:
Find out more about the resources and support mentioned in this podcast at OCD UK: https://www.ocduk.org
Find out more about Oxford Health Specialist Psychological Intervention Centre: https://oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/ohspic/
If you or someone you know needs urgent help, reach out to Samaritans at 116 123 (UK) or visit samaritans.org
We have more information on how you can find help and support on our Mental health support services page here: https://babcp.com/what-is-cbt/mental-health-support-services-information/
Find more information about CBT- www.babcp.com
Find our sister podcasts and all our other episodes in our podcast hub here: https://babcp.com/Podcasts
Have feedback? Email us at podcasts@babcp.com
Follow us on Instagram & Bluesky: @BABCPpodcasts
Credits:
Music is Autmn Coffee by Bosnow from Uppbeat
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/autumn-coffee
License code: 3F32NRBYH67P5MIF
This episode was produced by Steph Curnow

In this episode, Helen is joined by Becky and Romanah to talk about specific phobias and how CBT can help.
Becky shares her personal experience of living with a phobia of medical situations, also known as blood-injury phobia, what it took for her to seek help, and what the journey through therapy was really like, including the tough moments alongside the breakthroughs. Romanah was Becky's CBT therapist in an NHS Talking Therapies service and explains how CBT approaches specific phobias, the importance of working collaboratively, and how exposure work helps people gradually build confidence in situations they have long been avoiding.
Becky reflects honestly on how hard the process was, how the anxiety got worse before it got better, and what it meant to build trust with a therapist who was both supportive and willing to give her a gentle push. Both guests share advice for anyone who recognises themselves in the discussion and is thinking about reaching out for help.
Resources & Support:
If you or someone you know needs urgent help, reach out to Samaritans at 116 123 (UK) or visit samaritans.org.
Find out more about NHS Talking Therapies services and where to find help here
We have more information on how you can find help and support on our Mental health support services page here
Find more information about CBT on the BABCP website
Find our sister podcasts and all our other episodes in our podcast hub here
Have feedback? Email us at podcasts@babcp.com
Follow us on Instagram & Bluesky: @BABCPpodcasts
Credits: Music is Autumn Coffee by Bosnow from Uppbeat Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/autumn-coffee License code: 3F32NRBYH67P5MIF
This episode was produced by Steph Curnow

In this episode, Helen is joined by Colin Blowers, James Jackson, and Hashir Aazh for a thoughtful conversation about tinnitus and how cognitive behavioural therapy can help.
The panel draws on professional expertise and lived experience to explore what tinnitus is, why it can become distressing, and the importance of getting it checked. The conversation focuses on how CBT can support people to change their relationship with tinnitus, reduce distress, break unhelpful cycles of attention and anxiety, and live a full and meaningful life even when tinnitus is present. Key themes include acceptance, habituation, flare-ups, and why learning to manage reactions to tinnitus, rather than trying to eliminate it, can make a real difference.
This episode will be helpful for anyone experiencing tinnitus, supporting someone who is, or interested in how CBT can help people live well with long-term conditions.
Resources & Support:
Helpful website:
NHS information about tinnitus: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tinnitus/
More information about tinnitus can be found at Tinnitus UK
World Tinnitus Congress- https://wtc2027.co.uk/
Books:
Living Well with Tinnitus: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural therapy- Hashir Aazh and Brian C.J. Moore
 
Find more information about CBT- www.babcp.com
Find our sister podcasts and all our other episodes in our podcast hub here: https://babcp.com/Podcasts
Have feedback? Email us at podcasts@babcp.com
Follow us on Instagram & Bluesky: @BABCPpodcasts
Credits:
Music is Autmn Coffee by Bosnow from Uppbeat
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/autumn-coffee
License code: 3F32NRBYH67P5MIF
This episode was produced by Steph Curnow

In this episode, Helen is joined by Jackie and Professor Roz Shafran to explore loneliness through both lived experience and clinical psychology perspectives. Jackie shares her personal journey with anxiety, bereavement, and loneliness, describing how these experiences affected her mental health and led her to seek CBT support. She reflects on what helped, what was challenging, and how strategies such as goal setting and connection building continue to support her today.
Roz Shafran, Emeritus Professor of Translational Psychology at UCL, offers a clear and compassionate overview of how loneliness is understood in research and clinical practice. The conversation explores the difference between loneliness and social isolation, how loneliness can affect people at different stages of life, and what effective interventions can look like.
The discussion covers stigma around loneliness, access to support and why loneliness deserves to be taken seriously. Jackie and Roz also share practical advice for anyone who recognises themselves in the discussion and is considering reaching out for help.
Resources & Support:
If you or someone you know needs urgent help, reach out to Samaritans at 116 123 (UK) or visit samaritans.org
We have more information on how you can find help and support on our Mental health support services page here: https://babcp.com/what-is-cbt/mental-health-support-services-information/https://babcp.com/what-is-cbt/mental-health-support-services-information/
The loneliness umbrella study mentioned by Roz is:
Solmi, M., Veronese, N., Galvano, D., Favaro, A., Ostinelli, E.G., Noventa, V., Favaretto, E., Tudor, F., Finessi, M., Shin, J.I., Smith, L., Koyanagi, A., Cester, A., Bolzetta, F., Cotroneo, A., Maggi, S., Demurtas, J., De Leo, D. and Trabucchi, M. (2020). Factors Associated With Loneliness: An Umbrella Review Of Observational Studies. Journal of Affective Disorders, [online] 271, pp.131–138. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.075.
Find more information about CBT- www.babcp.com
Find our sister podcasts and all our other episodes in our podcast hub here: https://babcp.com/Podcasts
Have feedback? Email us at podcasts@babcp.com
Follow us on Instagram & Bluesky: @BABCPpodcasts
Credits:
Music is Autmn Coffee by Bosnow from Uppbeat
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/autumn-coffee
License code: 3F32NRBYH67P5MIF
This episode was produced by Steph Curnow

In this episode, Helen Macdonald talks with CBT therapist Sally Tribe about the impact of menopause and how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can help.
Sally shares her own experience of perimenopause, describes the wide range of symptoms people can experience, and explains how CBT can support those affected. The discussion covers the biological, psychological, and social aspects of menopause, the importance of awareness in workplaces and healthcare, and what reasonable adjustments and compassionate understanding can look like.
They also talk about the latest guidance from NICE, how to access CBT through the NHS or private routes, and why no two menopause experiences are the same.
Useful Information
The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) is the lead organization for CBT in the UK.
Find a NHS Talking Therapies service here
Read the article by Sally on the menopause here
Get in Touch
If you have any questions or suggestions for future episodes, please email the Let's Talk About CBT team at podcasts@babcp.com.
You can also follow us on Instagram and BlueSky at @BABCPPodcasts.
Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our sister podcasts: Let's Talk About CBT - Practice Matters and Let's Talk About CBT - Research Matters.
Credits:
Music is Autmn Coffee by Bosnow from Uppbeat
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/autumn-coffee
License code: 3F32NRBYH67P5MIF
This podcast was edited by Steph Curnow