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In this deeply personal interview, Paul Drayton opens up about his journey through ADHD, addiction, recovery and the process of finally discovering his authentic self.

Paul reflects on his life in the public eye, his marriage to Alan Carr, his friendship with Adele and the challenges of finding his own identity while being the partner of a hugely successful public figure. He also talks openly about his late ADHD diagnosis and how understanding himself better changed the way he viewed his past.

In this video, we discuss:

Paul's experience with ADHD and addiction.
His journey through recovery and mental health challenges.
Life and identity during his marriage to Alan Carr, including his friendship with the music artist Adele.
People-pleasing and learning to put himself first.
Finding self-compassion and his authentic self.
Resilience, recovery and what comes next.

Paul is the author of Ride or Die Trying, with profits from the book going to dog charities.

Paul's Instagram: @pauldrayton1
Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ride-Trying-before-during-laughter/dp/1918428441

🎧 Podcast version of this video: (http://www.buzzsprout.com/2067601)

🌐 Website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

If you find this video helpful, please do LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more content like this. It really helps the channel and means a lot, thank you!

✅ If anything in this video resonates with you or brings up something you'd like to explore further and you're thinking about therapy, I'd love to hear from you. 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 book *Finding a Balanced Connection* is available on Amazon here: (https://mybook.to/Z8i2)

**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 free course is carefully designed to help you do 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."*

and

*"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

Send us Fan Mail

What does it really take to build a private therapy practice that you can sustain for years?

There are lots of things we learn during psychotherapy training, but there are also many practical realities of being a therapist that we only discover once we're actually doing the job.

In this conversation, I'm joined again by psychotherapist Lindsay Percival to talk about what it takes to build a therapy practice that is sustainable, both professionally and personally.

We talk about therapist burnout, managing your caseload, setting boundaries, choosing the right clients, trusting your intuition, the importance of assessment and supervision, self-care, money, administration and managing your diary.

We also discuss some of the myths around being a psychotherapist, including the idea that we should have endless amounts of empathy, compassion and emotional availability.

Lindsay talks openly about her own experience of burnout and why learning to understand your own limits is so important if you want to do this work well over the long term.

This is particularly aimed at people considering becoming therapists, trainees, newly qualified therapists and those setting up or developing a private practice, but there is plenty here for more experienced therapists too.

🎧 Podcast version of this video: (http://www.buzzsprout.com/2067601)
🌐 Website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

If you find this video helpful, please do LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more content like this. It really helps the channel and means a lot, thank you!

🎯 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 anything in this video resonates with you or brings up something you'd like to explore further and you're thinking about therapy, I'd love to hear from you. 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 book *Finding a Balanced Connection* is available on Amazon here:
https://mybook.to/Z8i2

**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 free course is carefully designed to help you do 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.”
and
“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

Send us Fan Mail

If you've recently realised you're bisexual while in a long-term relationship, one question often comes up:

"Do I have to explore this?"

In this clip, coach and author Rob Brooks Cohen explains why there's no one-size-fits-all answer. For some people, exploration feels important. For others, simply understanding and accepting their sexuality is enough.

The real question isn't what everyone else does, it's what's right for you, your relationship and your values.

Watch the full conversation for a much deeper discussion on bisexuality, mixed-orientation relationships, authenticity and self-acceptance.

🎧 Podcast version of this video: (http://www.buzzsprout.com/2067601)

🌐 Website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

If you find this video helpful, please do LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more content like this. It really helps the channel and means a lot, thank you!

✅ If anything in this video resonates with you or brings up something you'd like to explore further and you're thinking about therapy, I'd love to hear from you. 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 book *Finding a Balanced Connection* is available on Amazon here: (https://mybook.to/Z8i2)

**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 free course is carefully designed to help you do 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."*

and

*"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."*

#Bisexuality #Relationships #Marriage #MentalHealth #Therapy #LGBTQ

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

Send us Fan Mail

How do you know when sexual behaviour has become an addiction rather than a healthy expression of sexuality? Why do some people find pornography or compulsive sexual behaviour so difficult to stop? And what actually helps people recover?

In this conversation, I'm joined by *Dr Paula Hall*, one of the UK's leading specialists in *porn addiction, sex addiction and compulsive sexual behaviour*. Drawing on more than 30 years' experience as a psychotherapist, Paula explains why porn addiction develops, the role of attachment and trauma, why shame and secrecy keep people stuck, and the practical, evidence-based approaches that help people recover from porn addiction and rebuild healthy relationships.

We also explore the impact of addiction on partners and relationships, including betrayal trauma, rebuilding trust, therapeutic disclosure, forgiveness and what gives couples the best chance of moving forward together.

Whether you're struggling with pornography or compulsive sexual behaviour yourself, trying to understand a partner's behaviour, rebuilding trust after betrayal, or you're simply interested in the psychology of addiction, relationships and recovery, I hope you'll find this conversation both helpful and thought-provoking.

**In this interview we discuss:**

• Porn addiction and sex addiction
• Compulsive sexual behaviour (CSBD)
• Healthy sexuality versus addictive behaviour
• Why pornography can become addictive
• Attachment, trauma and emotional regulation
• Shame, secrecy and honesty in recovery
• Why the digital world makes pornography harder to escape
• Practical strategies to overcome compulsive behaviours
• Group therapy and accountability
• Betrayal trauma and relationship recovery
• How couples rebuild trust after addiction
• Therapeutic disclosure versus "full disclosure"
• Supporting a partner through addiction recovery
• Sexuality, sexual orientation and recovery
• Whether abstinence is always the best approach

Dr Paula Hall's links

For affordable, anonymous, professional self-help: (https://pivotalrecovery.org)

For therapy, assessments and group recovery programmes: (https://thelaurelcentre.co.uk)

🌐 Website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

If you find this helpful, please do LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more content like this. It really helps the channel and means a lot, thank you!

✅ If anything in this video resonates with you or brings up something you'd like to explore further and you're thinking about therapy, I'd love to hear from you. 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 book *Finding a Balanced Connection* is available on Amazon here: (https://mybook.to/Z8i2)

**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 free course is carefully designed to help you do 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."*

and

*"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

Send us Fan Mail

Tired of the "post and disappear" cycle of traditional social media? I talk in this video about why I think YouTube is the most sustainable way to grow an aligned therapy practice and connect with the right clients.

I share my journey of moving beyond short-form platforms to build a sustainable presence on YouTube, covering the unique benefits for mental health professionals, including:

• Why YouTube’s search power (and connection to Google) gives you huge visibility
• How long-form content helps clients feel connected before they even meet you
• Why YouTube is a slower burn, but far more sustainable than Instagram
• How to use YouTube as part of a wider ecosystem (website, directories, podcasts, social media)
• The role of AI, search, and community in growing your reach
• How YouTube can lead to multiple income streams (clients, talks, mentoring, collaborations)
• The personal and professional growth that comes with creating a channel and posting consistently
• What I wish I’d known before starting (including unpredictability, consistency, and visibility)

More than half of my clients now come through YouTube and, more importantly, it’s enabled me to build a practice that feels aligned and sustainable.

🌐 Website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

If you find this video helpful, please do LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more content like this. It really helps the channel and means a lot, thank you!

🎯 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 anything in this video resonates with you or brings up something you'd like to explore further and you're thinking about therapy, I'd love to hear from you. 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 book *Finding a Balanced Connection* is available on Amazon here:
https://mybook.to/Z8i2

**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 free course is carefully designed to help you do 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.”
and
“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

Send us Fan Mail

When we think about narcissism, our attention is often drawn to the more extreme end of the spectrum - grandiose narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder. But what if there is also a more ordinary, everyday form of narcissism that many of us experience without even realising it?

In this video, I explore the idea that our natural drive for survival and status can lead us to become self-centred in ways that affect both ourselves and our relationships. Rather than focusing solely on identifying narcissism in other people, I also consider the role of empathy, self-awareness and our capacity to recognise narcissistic traits within ourselves.

I also introduce a simple exercise that may help you reflect on the depth of your own empathy and whether there are times when curiosity about others gives way to judgement or condemnation. My hope is that this offers a more balanced and compassionate way of thinking about narcissism that helps us better understand ourselves as well as the people around us.

If you find this video helpful, please do LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more content like this. It really helps the channel and means a lot, thank you!

✅ If anything in this video resonates with you or brings up something you'd like to explore further and you're thinking about therapy, I'd love to hear from you. 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 book *Finding a Balanced Connection* is available on Amazon here:
https://mybook.to/Z8i2

**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 free course is carefully designed to help you do 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.”
and
“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

Send us Fan Mail

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

Send us Fan Mail

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