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This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies: Mental Health, Therapy & Becoming a Therapist

This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies: Mental Health, Therapy & Becoming a Therapist

By: John-Paul Davies
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🎙️ Welcome to This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies

Honest conversations and reflections on mental health, emotional wellbeing, and the realities of becoming and being a therapist in private practice.



Whether you're a therapist, aspiring to become one, or simply someone curious about the inner world of emotional growth and healing, this podcast offers grounded insights and personal stories that connect.



Hosted by John-Paul Davies, a former City solicitor who retrained as a psychotherapist in 2007, the show explores:




  • Changing careers into therapy



  • What it’s really like being a therapist and making a living as a helping professional



  • Mental health and emotional wellbeing topics inc. relationships, narcissism, trauma, navigating imposter syndrome and burnout, boundaries, self-worth and growth



  • Bisexuality






🔗 Watch the video versions on YouTube: youtube.com/@JohnPaulDaviesTTP



🌐 More about John-Paul: thistrustedplace.co.uk



If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and leave a rating or review — it makes a big difference. Thank you for listening.© 2026 This Trusted Place with John-Paul Davies: Mental Health, Therapy & Becoming a Therapist
Career Success Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • S11 | E10 Do Therapists Ever Develop Feelings for Their Clients?
    Jun 18 2026

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    Can therapists develop romantic feelings for their clients?

    It's a question that many people wonder about but one that is rarely discussed openly. In this video, I explore the reality of romantic attraction in the therapy room, why it can happen, why it matters, and what ethical responsibilities therapists have if these feelings arise.

    I also discuss concepts such as erotic transference, supervision, professional boundaries, and why feelings themselves are very different from actions.

    This is an honest conversation about a complex and often misunderstood aspect of therapy, viewed through both a human and professional lens.

    If you're a therapist, trainee therapist, current therapy client, or simply curious about what really happens behind the scenes in therapy, I hope you'll find something useful here.

    🎯 1:1 Mentoring & Consultancy

    Thinking about changing career to become a therapist? Already qualified and wanting to start up a private therapy practice? In private practice and looking to grow? Or maybe you're curious about sharing your voice on YouTube? I offer supportive, one-to-one mentoring on career change and becoming a therapist, starting and building a private practice, and creating meaningful content on YouTube. All the details are on my website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

    ✅ If you're thinking about exploring therapy generally, I'd love to hear from you and you're very welcome to get in touch with me via my website (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk) to find out more or to arrange an initial conversation.

    🎁 My FREE personal development course 'Life Unlimited: 10 Steps to Real Change' is now available on this channel in a playlist on the homepage.

    Whether you're looking to move through anxiety, stress, depression, chronic anger, addictive behaviour, co-dependency, narcissism, low self-esteem/confidence, relationship problems, feeling stuck, lost or lacking in purpose – or simply want to experience more happiness, contentment and fulfilment in your life – this course is carefully designed to help you do just that.

    ‘Life Unlimited’ Course testimonials include:
    "John-Paul's course Life Unlimited more than lives up to its promise as a practical and accessible guide to making meaningful, positive changes in your life. He takes you on a clear path towards self-awareness and self-acceptance, helping you to set healthy boundaries in your relationships with others."
    "The course is packed with valuable content, yet John-Paul's warm, non-judgemental style makes it feel more as if a friend is sharing some wonderful wisdom. 100% recommend."

    Support the show

    If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • S11 | E9 Why One Stranger on the London Tube Changed Me Forever
    May 28 2026

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    30 years ago, a shocking event on a London tube train changed the way I think about human connection and trauma.

    In this video, I share a story about a young man who experienced a sudden act of violence and chose a response that completely overrode the natural "fight, flight, or freeze" instinct. As a therapist, I look back on this moment to explore how we can integrate difficult experiences without letting them harden us or dictate how we see humanity.

    I look at:

    - The natural physiological trauma response.
    - How trauma can "harden" us and lead to social disconnection.
    - The power of choosing connection over fear.
    - Discerning between safe and dangerous individuals without generalising.

    Question for you: Has a stranger ever shown you a different way to live or changed your perspective through a single act? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments.

    🎯 1:1 Mentoring & Consultancy

    Thinking about changing career to become a therapist? Already qualified and wanting to start up a private therapy practice? In private practice and looking to grow? Or maybe you're curious about sharing your voice on YouTube? I offer supportive, one-to-one mentoring on career change and becoming a therapist, starting and building a private practice, and creating meaningful content on YouTube. All the details are on my website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

    ✅ If you're thinking about exploring therapy generally, I’d love to hear from you and you’re very welcome to get in touch with me via my website (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk) to find out more or to arrange an initial conversation.

    🎁 My FREE personal development course 'Life Unlimited: 10 Steps to Real Change' is now available on this channel in a playlist on the homepage.

    Whether you’re looking to move through anxiety, stress, depression, chronic anger, addictive behaviour, co-dependency, narcissism, low self-esteem/confidence, relationship problems, feeling stuck, lost or lacking in purpose – or simply want to experience more happiness, contentment and fulfilment in your life – this course is carefully designed to help you do just that.

    Support the show

    If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • S11 | E8 A Day in My Life as a Therapist (4 Years On)
    May 13 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Four years after my first "Day in the Life" video, I’m revisiting what a typical day looks like as a private practice therapist. In this video, I share the habits, routines, and boundaries that have helped me build a sustainable career over the last 15 years.

    In this video, I revisit my “day in the life of a therapist”, not as someone newly qualified, but years into building a private practice.

    What does the work actually feel like now?
    What’s become easier… and what still matters just as much?

    I take you through a typical day, from my morning regulation routine to supervision, client sessions, and the reality of administration, including some of the things I wish I’d known when I first qualified. We also look at how the profession is changing, including the rise of online therapy and using platforms like YouTube to reach a global audience.

    Along the way, I share some of the things I wish I’d known earlier, especially if you’re thinking about becoming a therapist, currently in training, or finding your way in the early stages of your career.

    How to design your therapy room video link: https://youtu.be/pAYPNF_7PiU

    🎯 1:1 Mentoring & Consultancy

    Thinking about changing career to become a therapist? Already qualified and wanting to start up a private therapy practice? In private practice and looking to grow? Or maybe you're curious about sharing your voice on YouTube? I offer supportive, one-to-one mentoring on career change and becoming a therapist, starting and building a private practice, and creating meaningful content on YouTube. All the details are on my website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

    ✅ If you're thinking about exploring therapy generally, I’d love to hear from you and you’re very welcome to get in touch with me via my website (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk) to find out more or to arrange an initial conversation.

    **📹 More videos just like this:**
    (https://youtu.be/bv5sDWM-7TI)
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0FT3jEKjXI)
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j84cmhWOFN0)
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUCQ481nYP0)
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVnUo3BFoq8)

    🎁 My FREE personal development course 'Life Unlimited: 10 Steps to Real Change' is now available on this channel in a playlist on the homepage.

    Whether you’re looking to move through anxiety, stress, depression, chronic anger, addictive behaviour, co-dependency, narcissism, low self-esteem/confidence, relationship problems, feeling stuck, lost or lacking in purpose – or simply want to experience more happiness, contentment and fulfilment in your life – this course is carefully designed to help you do just that.

    Support the show

    If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
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