Intensive relationship therapy: moving through discomfort, not around it | Priscilla Short | #033 Mastering Change
The traditional model of therapy tends to be one hour, once a week. But how effective is this? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with psychotherapist Priscilla Short, who’s challenging the way we think about relationship and trauma therapy. She introduces us to the world of intensive therapy – where months of work are condensed into a few focused days. It’s immersive, honest and allows both clients and therapists to stay with what’s uncomfortable long enough for real change to happen. “It’s called intensive therapy” says Priscilla, “but I actually find it far less intense. You’re not constantly restarting – you can stay in it, work through it and watch people transform in front of you.” She explains why this model can help couples move beyond patterns that weekly sessions can’t reach, and why the depth of connection it creates can be life-changing – for both clients and therapists. We explore Why traditional weekly therapy may slow down deep relational change How intensives allow clients to move through discomfort, not around it What happens when therapists fully step into the relational dynamic Why it can feel less intense for practitioners, not more Research showing stronger, longer-lasting outcomes for couples who do intensives 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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Breaking the silence: Healing from racial trauma | Ashley McGirt | #032 Mastering Change
What happens when silence becomes a survival strategy – and healing means finding your voice again? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with therapist, author and founder of the Washington Therapy Fund Foundation Ashley McGirt about the impact of racial and intergenerational trauma. Ashley shares how trauma rooted in racism and injustice can echo through generations, shaping families, relationships and self-worth – and how healing begins when we start to name what was once unspeakable. “Just saying it out loud is healing. Naming it takes away some of its power.” We explore How racial trauma lives in the body and is passed through generations The role of silence and survival in Black families and communities Why healing requires being witnessed in our pain How storytelling and community care can transform collective wounds This conversation is both grounding and liberating – a reminder that breaking silence isn’t just about telling your story, but reclaiming your power. 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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Slowing down to heal: Somatic intelligence | Chen Lizra | #031 Mastering Change
What if healing meant slowing down, softening, and coming back to your body? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Chen Lizra – somatic practitioner and founder of The Power of Somatic Intelligence – about how trauma pulls us away from ourselves and how presence, movement, and pleasure can guide us back. Chen explains why safety is the foundation for any healing process, how to recognise when we’re overriding our nervous system and why slowing down can be the most courageous step we take. She also shares practical ways to reconnect with the body in daily life. We explore Trauma’s impact on body disconnection The role of pleasure in restoring regulation How to work with the nervous system instead of against it Simple practices to return to presence and safety 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.
What if healing meant slowing down, softening, and coming home to your bodyThis week on Mastering Change, we speak with Chen Lizra – somatic practitioner and founder of The Power of Somatic Intelligence – about how trauma disconnects us from ourselves, and how movement, pleasure, and presence can guide us back.Chen explains how working with the nervous system, rather than overriding it, creates the conditions for safety and lasting change. She shares how slowing down can be an act of courage, and why pleasure isn’t indulgence – it’s a pathway to regulation, connection, and resilience.We explore:Why trauma pulls us out of our bodies – and how to gently returnHow the nervous system responds to slowing down versus pushing throughThe role of pleasure and embodiment in restoring safetyPractical ways to bring presence into daily lifeWhy healing is not about fixing, but about reconnectingThis is a grounding and inspiring conversation for anyone wanting to feel more at home in their body and more present in their life.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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Building trauma-informed systems: Early help for young people | Dr. Asha Patel | #029 Mastering Change
How do we stop working at “the wrong end of the spectrum” – only intervening when it’s too late? This week on Mastering Change, clinical psychologist and Innovating Minds founder Dr. Asha Patel shares her journey from working in forensic services to building trauma-informed systems for schools and community-based organisations. Asha explains how behaviour is always a form of communication, why exclusion punishes pain instead of addressing it, and how compassion, regulated adults and safe environments can change young people’s life trajectories. We also explore: Why trauma-informed systems are essential in schools The role of emotional regulation in supporting children How early intervention prevents cycles of trauma from repeating Practical ways to shift from punishment to compassion 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.
About 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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