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