When shame becomes your identity | Annalie Howling | #019 Mastering Change
Often what keeps us stuck isn’t the trauma itself but the shame it leaves behind. This week on Mastering Change, we sit down with Annalie Howling – EMDR therapist, performance coach, and author of Unapologetic – to explore shame as one of trauma’s most corrosive legacies. Annalie speaks openly about her own history of violence, self-harm, and the masks she wore to stay hidden. She shares why she refuses to offer a step-by-step guide to healing – and how pulling shame “out by the root” is the only way to make room for compassion and lasting change. In this episode, we explore: What shame is – and why it’s so hard to talk about How trauma often leaves behind a lingering stain of “I am…” beliefs How shame becomes identity Why people-pleasing and perfectionism are often trauma responses How shame shows up in the body – especially after sexual violence The cultural forces that reinforce shame in women The difference between guilt and shame – and why self-compassion is the cure This is a fierce and moving conversation, and, for anyone who’s ever felt shame (that’s all of us), supremely validating. 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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The hidden dangers of an AI therapist in mental health support. Part 2 of 3 | Steve Siddals & Catherine Mooney | #018 Mastering Change
In Part III of our three-part series with psychology researcher and technology executive Steve Siddals, we explore perhaps the most important and challenging question yet: What happens when people in crisis turn to AI for help – and it gets it wrong? Joined by AI ethicist Catherine Mooney, we dig into the unintended consequences and ethical grey areas emerging as more and more people turn to chatbots for emotional support. In this final episode, we explore: The alarming cases where chatbots affirmed delusions and psychosis Why “when it’s free, you are the product” matters more than ever How AI may be offering comfort – but not necessarily safety What we owe users when the technology is already being used at scale Cat brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of AI and ethics. Steve shares the latest findings from his research and reflects on the sometimes-unsettling stories people are sharing about their use of chatbots. Together, we look honestly at the complexity of what’s unfolding: the risks and the questions AI is raising about safety and trust. If you’ve been following this series on Mastering Change, don’t miss this final episode. 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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Can AI Replicate Human Connection? Part 2 of 3 | Steve Siddals | #018 Mastering Change
It’s Part II of our conversation with psychology researcher and technology executive Steve Siddals. Last week, we uncovered surprising insights into how people are using AI chatbots for emotional support. Now in Part II of this three-part series, Steve unpacks the ethical complexities, unintended consequences and extraordinary potential of using AI in therapeutic contexts. We explore the paradox: how something that isn’t human can help us relate more deeply to other humans. And we ask big questions: Can chatbots ever replicate the relational depth of human connection? What happens when trauma survivors find “safety” in machines instead of people? Is AI a bridge or a barrier to healing? We also discuss: The hidden therapeutic power of a consistent, non-judgemental presence How AI may offer a “starting point” for those too afraid to talk to a therapist Whether bots are just tech, or a tool for relational transformation AI is a controversial topic and while it’s one Steve is passionate about, he comes to the subject from a place of curiosity and neutrality, simply questioning whether AI is a worthwhile tool in the space. 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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Can AI really be used as your own personal therapist? Part 1 of 3 | Steve Siddals | #018 Mastering Change
Can a chatbot provide emotional support in moments of crisis? Can AI ever replicate the safety and insight of human connection? These are the questions Steve Siddals – psychology researcher and technology executive – set out to explore in one of the first qualitative studies into AI chatbots and mental health. In this episode of Mastering Change, we dive into Steve’s surprising findings: that 18 out of 19 participants in his study found AI chatbot support helpful – some even described it as “life changing.” “It gave me the space to just be me – without judgement, without fear.” Steve’s participants used AI in diverse ways. One person said the AI helped them reclaim their life after uncovering a new perspective on their upbringing. Another shared how a chatbot supported him through grief in the days leading up to his mother’s death. Access to mental health services is deeply unequal – particularly outside high-income countries – and Steve believes AI could fill a vital gap. But this isn’t about replacing therapists. It’s about listening to real experiences, understanding the potential and doing the research we so urgently need. We also explore: The ethical concerns and fears surrounding AI and therapy What “safe” really means when speaking to a bot Where relational depth might fall short How people are unknowingly using AI in therapeutic ways 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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Justice begins with belief: standing with CSA survivors | Poppy & Miranda Eyre | #017 Mastering Change
“Why should a child have to fight an adult in a court of law?” This week on Mastering Change, we had a deeply moving conversation Poppy and Miranda Eyre. Poppy is a survivor of child sexual abuse; Miranda, her mother, was the first person she told. Theirs is a story of survival, resistance, reform, and a call for systemic change. They are one of the rare families for whom the legal system worked. But as Miranda says, “We’ve never met another family like us. That’s the problem.” “Belief is the beginning of everything.” Poppy was 11 when she spoke out. Her perpetrator – her grandfather – was convicted. But, as Poppy explains, it wasn’t justice alone that shaped her journey, it was the fact she was, simply, believed. Many others aren’t. Poppy and Miranda are using their experience to campaign for a trauma-informed legal framework that starts with belief, not proof: A system where the symptoms of trauma are recognised as evidence, not dismissed for lack of witnesses, admissions, or footage. In this episode we discuss: Why the legal system often fails survivors of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse) The long-term effects of being not believed The systemic reform needed to make trauma-informed justice possible Poppy and Miranda’s ongoing advocacy in Parliament, with the NSPCC, and beyond How abuse survivors can be discredited simply because of semantics Moment of Care: This week’s episode of Mastering Change contains themes that may be emotionally challenging, particularly for survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) or those who’ve supported someone through it.We encourage you to listen in a way that honors your capacity. If you are a survivor or this content feels especially sensitive, know it’s okay to pause, step away, or skip this episode altogether. Your safety and emotional well-being matter most. 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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