• Body identity dysphoria, also known as body integrity identity disorder, is a rare condition characterized by a desire to have a limb or body part amputated.
• Extreme body modifications, such as castration, can be driven by a range of factors, including sexual sadism, self-hatred, and a desire for attention or shock value.
• Treatment for body identity dysphoria is challenging due to the lack of research and understanding. Psychotherapy and talking therapy may be effective in addressing underlying psychological issues.
• Ethical considerations arise when considering surgical interventions for body identity dysphoria, and early intervention and support are crucial in minimizing harm and providing appropriate care.

Summary

David Busch, a retired psychotherapist, has developed a self-help program called Se-rem that combines elements of six different therapies, including EMDR, self-hypnosis, meditation, music therapy, Gestalt therapy, and Awe therapy. The program uses classical music and guided imagery to stimulate the brain into an REM state, which is effective at processing trauma and creating vivid images. Se-rem has been successful in helping people overcome various traumas, including car accidents, phobias, grief, and childhood trauma. It has been praised for its effectiveness and is available in 32 countries. David aspires to make therapy more accessible and affordable to those who cannot afford traditional therapy.

https://se-rem.com/

KeywordsSe-rem, self-help program, therapy, trauma, EMDR, REM state, classical music, guided imagery, mental health

Takeaways

• Se-rem is a self-help program developed by David Busch that combines elements of six different therapies.
• The program uses classical music and guided imagery to stimulate the brain into an REM state, which is effective at processing trauma.
• Se-rem has been successful in helping people overcome various traumas, including car accidents, phobias, grief, and childhood trauma.
• David hopes to make the program more accessible and affordable to those who cannot afford traditional therapy.

Summary

David Busch, a retired psychotherapist, has developed a self-help program called Se-rem that combines elements of six different therapies, including EMDR, self-hypnosis, meditation, music therapy, Gestalt therapy, and Awe therapy. The program uses classical music and guided imagery to stimulate the brain into an REM state, which is effective at processing trauma and creating vivid images. Se-rem has been successful in helping people overcome various traumas, including car accidents, phobias, grief, and childhood trauma. It has been praised for its effectiveness and is available in 32 countries. David aspires to make therapy more accessible and affordable to those who cannot afford traditional therapy.

https://se-rem.com/

KeywordsSe-rem, self-help program, therapy, trauma, EMDR, REM state, classical music, guided imagery, mental health

Takeaways

• Se-rem is a self-help program developed by David Busch that combines elements of six different therapies.
• The program uses classical music and guided imagery to stimulate the brain into an REM state, which is effective at processing trauma.
• Se-rem has been successful in helping people overcome various traumas, including car accidents, phobias, grief, and childhood trauma.
• David hopes to make the program more accessible and affordable to those who cannot afford traditional therapy.

Summary

https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/anna-motz-3/a-love-that-kills/9781474624381/

Anna Motz, is a forensic psychotherapist, clinical and forensic psychologist. In this conversation she discusses her focus on the darker side of women and their use of violence. She explains how her interest in this area developed from her experiences working in psychiatric hospitals and forensic services. Anna highlights the differences between male and female patterns of violence, particularly in terms of violence against the self and violence in the domestic realm. She also discusses the prevalence of female sexual abuse of children and the societal challenges in recognizing and addressing this issue. Anna shares her journey of training as a forensic psychotherapist and the impact it has had on her practice. She emphasizes the importance of psychotherapy in forensic settings and the need for cultural change within prisons and the community. Anna also discusses her latest book, A Love That Kills, which aims to challenge stereotypes and myths about women and motherhood. Finally, she reflects on the importance of self-care and emotional well-being in her work.

Takeaways

• Women who are violent are often both perpetrators and victims, and their stories are often untold and invisible.
• Female violence often takes the form of violence against the self and violence in the domestic realm.
• Female sexual abuse of children is more prevalent than official crime statistics suggest due to the private nature of traditional female violence and societal stereotypes.
• Training as a forensic psychotherapist provides a more nuanced understanding of perpetration and the role of society in shaping individuals' behavior.
• Writing about the darker side of women and their use of violence can help challenge stereotypes and myths and promote understanding and compassion.
• Self-care and emotional well-being are essential for professionals working in the field of forensic psychotherapy.

Chapters

00:00Focusing on the Darker Side of Women

06:06Differences in Male and Female Patterns of Violence

07:09Violence Against the Self

09:32Female Violence in the Domestic Realm

10:19Female Sexual Abuse of Children

23:27The Influence of Childhood and Marginalization

28:56The Importance of Psychotherapy in Forensic Settings

36:34Writing A Love That Kills

46:11Protecting the Integrity of the People in the Book

48:26Self-Care and Emotional Well-Being

If you were to ask anybody who's lived or worked in a prison, what's the most striking thing about prison? I suspect their answer would fall within the domain covered by their research. So we're meeting with Kate Herity and Jason Waugh. Jason's not a new guest. If you've not already heard him talking about forensic psychology on a podcast a few weeks ago, then you really should. He's associate professor in criminology at the University of Nottingham with research interests in penology, the Sociology of Power, Narrative and Sensory Criminology and the Philosophy of Science.

• The sensory experiences of individuals in prison have a significant impact on their well-being.
• Sound, silence, smell, and touch play crucial roles in shaping the prison environment.
• The lack of kind touch and the intrusion of unwanted touch can have profound effects on individuals in prison, particularly those with neurodivergence or trauma histories.
• Understanding and addressing the sensory aspects of the prison environment is essential for promoting dignity, well-being, and rehabilitation. The sensory environment in prisons communicates power dynamics and punishment.
• Researchers in prison must navigate the sensory environment and consider their own positionality.
• The sensory impact of prison affects both prisoners and staff, and can have long-lasting effects.
• The creation of harsh sensory environments is a deliberate part of the punishment in prisons.

If you were to ask anybody who's lived or worked in a prison, what's the most striking thing about prison? I suspect their answer would fall within the domain covered by their research. So we're meeting with Kate Herity and Jason Waugh. Jason's not a new guest. If you've not already heard him talking about forensic psychology on a podcast a few weeks ago, then you really should. He's associate professor in criminology at the University of Nottingham with research interests in penology, the Sociology of Power, Narrative and Sensory Criminology and the Philosophy of Science.

• The sensory experiences of individuals in prison have a significant impact on their well-being.
• Sound, silence, smell, and touch play crucial roles in shaping the prison environment.
• The lack of kind touch and the intrusion of unwanted touch can have profound effects on individuals in prison, particularly those with neurodivergence or trauma histories.
• Understanding and addressing the sensory aspects of the prison environment is essential for promoting dignity, well-being, and rehabilitation. The sensory environment in prisons communicates power dynamics and punishment.
• Researchers in prison must navigate the sensory environment and consider their own positionality.
• The sensory impact of prison affects both prisoners and staff, and can have long-lasting effects.
• The creation of harsh sensory environments is a deliberate part of the punishment in prisons.

Malinder is a forensic psychologist from Australia who moved to the UK in 2003. She enjoyed a diverse and exciting career in a number of NHS forensic mental health services around the UK, before moving into private practice in 2020 after some very difficult workplace experiences and bereavement, which coincided with the onset of the pandemic. Her private practice is growing and diversifying, it is underpinned by a passion for practicing from a position of lifelong experience of being "different". Her main interests are helping those who have struggled with being "different", and the effective, meaningful and ethical intervention for, and prevention of the impact of trauma on professionals in mission-driven roles, particularly experiences of moral injury and institutional betrayal. She has lived experience of autism and is passionate about contributing to increasing awareness and understanding of the experiences of highly-masked, late-diagnosed autistic people. She has a keen interest in the development and application of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Summary

Malinder Bhullar, a forensic psychologist, discusses her experiences working in forensic mental health services, including her time at Rampton Hospital and her involvement in delivering radically open DBT. She also shares her decision to transition to private practice and the difficulties she faced in institutional settings. Additionally, Melinda talks about her realization of being autistic and her contribution to a forthcoming book on neuro-narratives of mental health. In this conversation, Malinder discusses her journey of discovering her neurodiversity, specifically autism. She shares how she initially had no awareness of neurodiversity and only began to recognize it when working with high-functioning clients. The moment of realization came when she saw a profile on LinkedIn that resonated with her own experiences. Malinder decided to pursue a formal diagnosis for validation and credibility. This has since been confirmed. She also discusses the challenges of whistleblowing and the importance of rules in forensic practice. Finally, she explores the implications of autism for her work as a psychologist and the importance of self-care.

Key points;

• Working in forensic mental health services can involve both rewarding and challenging experiences.
• Radically Open DBT is a treatment approach specifically designed for individuals who have excessive emotional control.
• Transitioning to private practice can provide more autonomy and flexibility for clinicians.
• Institutional settings can present difficulties and challenges for professionals, and there is a need for greater awareness of whistleblowing and addressing systemic issues.
• Self-reflection and self-discovery can lead to a better understanding of one's identity and experiences. Neurodiversity, specifically autism, can go unrecognized for a long time, even by professionals in the field.
• Discovering one's neurodiversity can bring a sense of fitting in one's own skin and provide answers to past experiences.
• Formally pursuing a diagnosis can provide validation and credibility, especially for individuals who are highly masked.
• Whistleblowing and autism may be connected.

Malinder is a forensic psychologist from Australia who moved to the UK in 2003. She enjoyed a diverse and exciting career in a number of NHS forensic mental health services around the UK, before moving into private practice in 2020 after some very difficult workplace experiences and bereavement, which coincided with the onset of the pandemic. Her private practice is growing and diversifying, it is underpinned by a passion for practicing from a position of lifelong experience of being "different". Her main interests are helping those who have struggled with being "different", and the effective, meaningful and ethical intervention for, and prevention of the impact of trauma on professionals in mission-driven roles, particularly experiences of moral injury and institutional betrayal. She has lived experience of autism and is passionate about contributing to increasing awareness and understanding of the experiences of highly-masked, late-diagnosed autistic people. She has a keen interest in the development and application of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Summary

Malinder Bhullar, a forensic psychologist, discusses her experiences working in forensic mental health services, including her time at Rampton Hospital and her involvement in delivering radically open DBT. She also shares her decision to transition to private practice and the difficulties she faced in institutional settings. Additionally, Melinda talks about her realization of being autistic and her contribution to a forthcoming book on neuro-narratives of mental health. In this conversation, Malinder discusses her journey of discovering her neurodiversity, specifically autism. She shares how she initially had no awareness of neurodiversity and only began to recognize it when working with high-functioning clients. The moment of realization came when she saw a profile on LinkedIn that resonated with her own experiences. Malinder decided to pursue a formal diagnosis for validation and credibility. This has since been confirmed. She also discusses the challenges of whistleblowing and the importance of rules in forensic practice. Finally, she explores the implications of autism for her work as a psychologist and the importance of self-care.

Key points;

• Working in forensic mental health services can involve both rewarding and challenging experiences.
• Radically Open DBT is a treatment approach specifically designed for individuals who have excessive emotional control.
• Transitioning to private practice can provide more autonomy and flexibility for clinicians.
• Institutional settings can present difficulties and challenges for professionals, and there is a need for greater awareness of whistleblowing and addressing systemic issues.
• Self-reflection and self-discovery can lead to a better understanding of one's identity and experiences. Neurodiversity, specifically autism, can go unrecognized for a long time, even by professionals in the field.
• Discovering one's neurodiversity can bring a sense of fitting in one's own skin and provide answers to past experiences.
• Formally pursuing a diagnosis can provide validation and credibility, especially for individuals who are highly masked.
• Whistleblowing and autism may be connected.