The Proper Mental Podcast

Beatrice Birch and Inner Fire, the healing community offering an alternative to medication

Welcome to episode 237 with Beatrice Birch, who is a Hauschka Artistic Therapist and the founder of Inner Fire, a proactive healing community that offers a choice for adults to recover from debilitating and traumatic life challenges with minimal use of medications.

Beatrice has worked as an artistic therapist and consultant since 1986 and over these years she has worked in schools, hospitals, rehab facilities and prisons in the United States, England and Holland, and has lectured as far afield as Taiwan.

Inner Fire, founded by Beatrice in 2015, creates a framework for deep and lasting healing, through an intensive program that first stabilises a person in crisis, gradually replaces medication with holistic healing practices, addresses the core issues and develops skills for growing beyond these issues.

In this episode I chat to Beatrice about her early work as an artistic therapist, how she came to work in this space and the events and experiences that led to starting Inner Fire.

We chat about the Inner Fire approach to recovery and healing, what an average day looks like, how it all works and the process behind it.

We chat about the role of choice, the importance of rhythm and how these things support the process of tapering medication and we chat about working with clay and water colours, the creative spirit and why Beatrice feels that mental health is a reductionist term for soul health.

We all know the stats around mental health and they aren’t getting any better and if we want things to be different then we need to do things differently and Beatrice is doing exactly that, and like she’s says during our conversation, her work is simply about offering people a choice.

It’s exciting to know that places like Inner Fire exist and it was wonderful to learn more about this incredible space and how it came to be.

Learn more at INNER FIRE | Residential Healing Community | Addiction Recovery Without Medication

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

Live at Mental Wealth Festival 2025 with Sam Delaney and Shaun Flores

Welcome to episode 236 recorded live at the City Lit Mental Wealth Festival 2025!

On Saturday 11^th October I was joined by Sam Delaney and Shaun Flores for a live recording of Proper Mental which was titled ‘On Being a Man: Contemporary Masculinities & Mental Health’

We set out to explore what it means to be a man in 2025, the mental health challenges men face, and the resources and interventions available to help support and enhance their wellbeing and we did so in front of a sold out, live audience.

Huge thanks to Ian Tucknott and City Lit for getting me involved, creating a great atmosphere and handling all the recording side of things.

And another huge thank you to Shaun and Sam for their insight, wisdom and humour on the day!

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

Louise Beech on the the day her mother jumped from the Humber Bridge and the memoir it inspired

Welcome to episode 235 with Louise Beech, who is an award-winning author and writer who was making up stories in her head before she was even old enough to hold a pen.

One of her many published works is the incredible memoir ’18 Seconds’ where she writes about the day her mother jumped from the Humber Bridge and somehow survived the fall.  This event inspired Louise to look back at her life and recon with the impact that parental mental illness and alcoholism had on her childhood.

In this episode I chat to Louise about her mother’s suicide attempt, the lifetime of madness that led to it and how her mother’s behaviour over the years impacted both her and her siblings.

We chat about growing up in and out of the care system and her complicated relationship with her mum and we chat about unhealthy coping mechanisms, cutting ties, moving on and why trauma is not an excuse for harmful behaviour.

We also chat about Louise’s lifelong passion for writing and how she refused to give up on her dream of becoming a published author despite years of trying and hundreds of rejections.

Despite an incredibly challenging subject matter, it was a joy to chat to Louise!  We really get in to some deep waters here but we do so with Louise’s trademark humour and openness.

Learn more about 18 Seconds and all aspects of Louise’s work here:  https://louisebeech.co.uk

Connect on social media @louise_beech_swanson

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

Andy Ellis on feeling things deeply, dealing with rejection and This is England

Welcome to episode 234 with Andy Ellis, who is an actor, voice actor and film maker known for his roles in This is England, The Walk In and Supertato.  He is also acting coach at Scene to Screen Acting School in Manchester.

Andy found a passion for acting in high school and it was almost by chance that he landed a part in Shane Meadow’s BAFTA winning film ‘This is England’.  He went on to star in a number of film and television productions as well as reprising his role as the lovable ‘Gadget’ in ‘This is England’ television series.

In this episode I chat to Andy about growing up in Manchester, getting in to acting and why it’s particularly hard for working class people to find work in the creative industries.

We chat about the coaching side of his work and how acting can help people to get in touch with their emotions, be part of a community and practice being vulnerable in a safe space.

And we chat about dealing with rejection and navigating the feast or famine nature of Andy’s work, how going to counselling and learning to open up helped him to find a way through some dark times and we also talk about his recent short film ‘Blackpool’ which touches on themes of class, mental health and suicide.

There’s loads of This is England chat in here too and it was very cool to chat to Andy about acting and mental health and everything in between!

Follow Andy on social media: @andy_lp_ellis

Scene to Screen Acting School: @scene2screenmcr

Watch the ‘Blackpool’ trailer at: https://vimeo.com/1067269265?fl=pl&fe=sh

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

Finding meaning and answering life's big questions with Brother Richard Hendrick

Welcome to episode 233 with Brother Richard Hendrick, who is a Capuchin Franciscan priest-friar, a mindfulness and meditation teacher, and a poet and author.

For over 20 years, he has worked to bring the insights of the Christian Contemplative tradition to wider public awareness, particularly in relation to modern mindfulness theory and has worked as a retreat giver and chaplain in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and prisons.

He is the author of two books about mindfulness and mediation and his poem 'Lockdown' went viral in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and was translated into twenty-six languages.

In this episode I chat to Brother Richard about why he decided to join the priesthood, his path to becoming a monk and the origins of the Capuchin Franciscan brotherhood.

We chat about the difference between meaning and purpose, how to find meaning in all aspects of life, facing our own mortality and looking for answers to life’s big questions.

We also chat about small acts of service, getting curious, the importance of differentiating between self-centeredness and self-compassion and how to cultivate compassion for ourselves as well as others.

This conversation with Brother Richard had quite a profound effect on me and I’ve found myself coming back to it several times since we spoke.

I can’t wait to hear what you take from it if you choose to listen!

Follow Brother Richard on social media @brorichard

His blog can be found at Brother Richard's blog: mindful mystical musings.

More about his books here: Brother Richard Hendrick | Hachette UK

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

I'm sorry my mental illness isn't sexy enough for you with Katja Pavlovna from Lives Not Labels

Welcome to episode 232 with Katja Pavlovna, who is an educator and award-winning activist and the co-founder of Lives Not Labels, a project designed to shine a light on the mental health conditions and labels that are stigmatised, discriminated against and typically left out of the mainstream conversation.

After years of struggling with her mental health and fighting to access support, Katja received a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD/EUPD).  She was later diagnosed with Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD), which is now her primary diagnosis, and an eating disorder.

In this episode I chat to Katja about her experiences with mental illness, everything that led to her diagnosis and why she decided to set up Lives Not Labels with her oldest friend and co-author, Kay Garbett.

We chat about personality disorders and variations of these types of conditions; we chat about some of the common misconceptions and stereotypes that drive the stigma and fear around them and we chat about the day-to-day realities of living with multiple labels and knowing where one diagnosis stops and another one starts.

We also chat about the new book that Katja and Kay have written, which is called ‘Sorry My Mental Illness Isn’t Sexy Enough for You’ which is part memoir, part self-help guide and tells the story of how the project came to be and the unique journeys of the authors.

Some people are just left out of the mental health discourse and it’s all OK to not be OK until you have a label or diagnosis that isn’t as palatable or as common as anxiety or depression.

Stigma can exist for everyone of course, but there is definitely more of it for some than there is for others and through Lives Not Labels and this new book, Katja and Kay are doing incredible work to give everyone a voice.

Follow on socials @livesnotlables and learn more about this incredible work at www.livesnotlables.com

The book is available everywhere learn more here: Book Sorry My Mental Illness Isn't Sexy Enough for You

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

Krystal Evans on how to survive a fire and a chaotic childhood without losing your sense of humour

Welcome to episode 231 with Krystal Evans who is a writer and stand-up comedian.

Krystal is also the author of The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp, a memoir about growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother and narrowly escaping a house fire that led to the unimaginable tragedy of losing her sister.

In this episode I chat to Krystal about the chaos of her childhood, the impact of constantly moving from place to place, changing schools and repeatedly starting over and how identity and a sense of place are important for how we come to understand ourselves and build a foundation for good mental health.

We chat about what it’s like to grow up in an unpredictable household, why things like blame and responsibility get complicated when it comes to family and how everyone assumes a traumatic childhood automatically leads to a messed-up adult.

We also chat about the housefire that Krystal survived when she was 14, the process of finding comedy in that tragedy and how she wrote about it for her comedy special and her book.

Krystal’s book is funny and heart breaking and a lot of other things too and it was a pleasure to chat to her all about it.

Follow Krystal @krystalevanscomedy and learn more at www.comedykrystal.com

The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp is available here: Buy the Book | Krystal Evans

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

Sophie Scott on how to support a loved one's mental health without losing your own

Welcome to episode 230 with Sophie Scott, who is a practicing transpersonal psychotherapist and the Founder of Balance, an award-winning wellness media brand working to bring mental and physical wellbeing to the masses.

Sophie is also the author of ‘You Are Not Alone in This’ a book aimed at the partners, parents, siblings and children of people who are suffering, that offers practical ideas on how to support a loved one with their mental health without losing your own.

In this episode I chat to Sophie about her own experience of growing up around mental illness and having to support family members through challenging times and how that inspired her book.

We chat about how to start difficult conversations, how to be there for someone and the messy feelings that come with caring for someone you love.

We talk about burnout, compassion fatigue, cognitive distortions, warning signs and safety plans and taking a holistic approach to mental health.

This is an important part of the mental health conversation that is neglected and forgotten about and as someone who’s mental health has played havoc with his family over the years, I know full well how useful knowing some of this stuff would have been for the people in my life when I was unwell.

I stumbled across Sophie’s book in my local library and knew straight away that it would make an impactful and insightful episode.  It’s a wonderful book, with loads of ideas and tools, and I highly recommend giving it a read!

Follow Sophie on social media @sophie.b.scott

Learn more about her work and book here:  www.sophiescott.co

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

"Labels are for jars mate!" Glyn Butcher and the life saving power of true peer support

Welcome to episode 229 with Glyn Butcher, who is a member of the People Focused Group in Doncaster and an Ambassador for the Citizen Network.

Growing up Glyn experienced racism, abuse, poverty and discrimination on a daily basis.  When he was 11 his Mum was sectioned under the mental health act and not long after that he left to school to care for her at home.

He spent his youth bouncing in and out of care homes and his adulthood bouncing around the mental health system and spent 39 years as part of one institution or another and struggling with suicide, self-harm and addiction.

Things started to change for Glyn when he was introduced to the People Focused Group, an organisation that embraces a new way to deliver support in the community, based on people power and since experiencing true peer support, Glynn hasn’t looked back.

In this episode Glyn guides me through the challenges and trauma of his early life and how he ended up trapped in the mental health system.

We chat about his path to the People Focus Group, what happened when he got there and the incredible work that he does now.

We chat about hearing voices, the power of community, taking back control, meeting people where they are at and why Glyn has come to see his experiences with mental illness as a gift.

And we talk about the work that PFG are doing in and around Doncaster and how they are harnessing the power of the local community to do things differently to not just change lives, but to empower people to save themselves.

Glyn is an incredible human being!  It was a privilege and a joy to chat to him and it’s impossible to spend time in his company and not feel inspired and hopeful.

If, like me, you’re a bit cynical of World Mental Health Day and you want to cut through the noise and the performance of it all, then this is a conversation that you need to hear.

Follow Glyn on Twitter @glynbutcher

Learn more about the incredible things happening at PFG here: https://peoplefocused.org.uk

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

Dr Eugene Lipov is upending everything you think you know about trauma and PTSD

Welcome to episode 228 with Dr Eugene Lipov, who is an anaesthesiologist and pain physician and a leading expert in treating post-traumatic stress.

When advanced brain scans revealed trauma’s invisible scars on the brain, Dr Lipov realised that if trauma could be seen, then it could be treated and he became the pioneer of using a stellate ganglion block to alleviate the symptoms of PTSD, a procedure that is so impactful that it has been nicknamed ‘The God Shot’ by a Royal Marine who received the treatment.

The stellate ganglion is a cluster of sympathetic nerves in the neck that plays a big part in the body’s fight or flight response and it’s this upregulated state that can become hypersensitive in people who have experienced trauma or have a diagnosis of PTSD.

A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a medical procedure that involves injecting a local anaesthetic in to these nerves, which essentially turns off the stress response, and allows the nervous system to reset to a less anxious state.

In this episode, Dr Lipov joins me to talk about this revolutionary procedure, how he came to work with it and the science behind how it works.

We chat about his own experiences with trauma and how they informed and inspired his passion for this work and he breaks down the myths around treatment of trauma and PTSD that keep people trapped and offers his take on real healing and full recovery.

And we chat about the physiology of trauma, how trauma can be contagious and passed between generations, ending stigma through science and looking at trauma as a physical injury and not a mental weakness.

You can learn more about Dr Lipov’s work at Dr. Eugene Lipov | Stellate Ganglion Treatment for PTSD

His book The God Shot.  Healing Trauma’s Legacy: The Science, the Stories, the Solution is out next year and available for pre order here: The God Shot | By Dr. Eugene Lipov and Lauren Ungeldi

Follow Dr Lipov on social media @dreugenelipov

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

You can support the show and help me to keep it independent and ad free by buying a coffee at
www.buymeacoffee.com/propermental

Another great way to support the show and spread the word is to rate, review and subscribe on whatever platform you get your podcasts from.

If you or anyone you know needs to find support in your local area, please go to www.hubofhope.co.uk

Thanks for listening!