I sit down with former detective, husband and dad Jason Blackbourn for a raw, incredibly human conversation about what happens when you've spent years witnessing trauma, studying human behaviour and operating in environments where being alert to danger is part of the job. This isn't just a conversation about Jason the detective. It's about Jason the human being when the uniform came off.

Jason speaks openly about his own experience of PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, brain fog and living in a constant state of alert and what happened when the pace finally slowed down and his body and mind began processing everything they had carried.

We talk about treatment, medication, asking for help and the particular challenges emergency service workers can face when the culture around them has historically rewarded being strong, getting on with the job and keeping things to yourself.

Then the conversation shifts....

We talk about domestic violence, coercive control, stalking, manipulation, jealousy, isolation, monitoring, financial control and the behaviours that can begin long before physical violence ever occurs. Jason explains why investigators don't necessarily look at one isolated incident they look for patterns.

I also share some of my own lived experience of domestic violence in this episode, alongside what I now see from the other chair as a therapist.

We talk about why intelligent, capable people can still miss red flags. Why we people please. Why we rationalise behaviour. Why we doubt ourselves. Why leaving isn't always simple. Why someone's reaction when they begin losing control can be an incredibly important time to think about safety.

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In this episode of The Barbara Thompson Podcast I’m joined by Dave from Is He Worthy? for a direct and honest conversation about dating, relationships, emotional safety and the questions we often avoid asking when we really like someone.

We speak about how chemistry can sometimes override our intuition, why people pleasing and low self worth can keep us in relationships that aren’t right for us and the importance of looking at someone’s patterns not just their potential.

Dave also shares the W.O.R.T.H.Y. Method, a practical approach designed to help women slow down, recognise red flags, assess compatibility and make clearer decisions before becoming deeply emotionally invested.

This conversation isn’t about becoming fearful or suspicious of love. It’s about learning how to trust yourself, honour your standards and remember that wanting a relationship should never require you to abandon yourself.

Listeners can also use my special code BARBT to receive an exclusive discount from Is He Worthy? The code is available for 30 days only. You can try this method and make a list of what you want in a partner for FREE.

www.isheworthy.com

Buy the Book: Is He WORTHY?: Using Red Flags to Find Your Perfect Match
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRMKPDYQ

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Walking into therapy for the first time can feel incredibly vulnerable. You might be wondering what to say, whether you'll cry, if your problems are "big enough," or what your therapist is really thinking.

The truth is... I've wondered those same things too. Before I became a counsellor, I was a client. In this personal episode, I share what I've learnt from sitting in both chairs..first as someone asking for help and now as someone privileged enough to walk alongside others on their healing journey.

If you've ever thought about going to therapy, have your first appointment coming up or simply want to understand what therapy is really like, I hope this conversation leaves you feeling a little less afraid and a lot less alone.

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What if the reason you still don't feel "good enough" has nothing to do with positive thinking?

In this episode, I'm unpacking one of the biggest misconceptions about self worth. So many of us believe that if we just thought more positively, repeated enough affirmations or became more confident, we'd finally feel enough.

We'll explore:

• Why affirmations often don't stick
• How childhood experiences and conditioning shape the way you see yourself
• The everyday habits that quietly erode your self worth
• Why people pleasing, weak boundaries and self abandonment reinforce the "I'm not enough" story
• Practical ways to start building genuine self worth one small action at a time

If you've ever questioned your value, struggled with confidence, constantly put others before yourself or felt like you're never quite enough, this episode is for you.

Remember... self worth isn't built in the mirror. It's built in the moments when nobody else is watching.

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation today.

Want to work with me?

I'm Barbara Thompson, therapist and founder of Self Care Studio. I work with adults and teens navigating anxiety, overthinking, relationships, self worth and building a healthier relationship with themselves.

@self_care_studio
www.selfcarebybarbarathompson.com.au

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Have you ever felt like you're not good enough, no matter how hard you try?
In the very first episode of The Barbara Thompson Podcast, I explore one of the most common core beliefs I see in my counselling practice: "I'm not enough." Together we'll unpack where this belief comes from, how it can show up in our relationships, anxiety, people pleasing, overthinking and self doubt and most importantly, what you can start doing today to challenge it.

If you've ever questioned your worth, compared yourself to others or felt like you have to constantly prove yourself this episode is for you.

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In this episode I talk openly about anxiety. What it actually is, what it can feel like in the body and why it looks different for all of us.

For me anxiety showed up through grief, people pleasing, disconnection from myself and staying in an unhealthy relationship longer than I should have. I remember feeling dizzy, lightheaded, my heart racing and constantly on edge. It was horrible. Over time I realised my anxiety wasn’t against me it was trying to communicate with me.

This episode is not about “fixing” anxiety overnight. It’s about understanding it differently. Learning to listen to your body instead of fighting it. Understanding your nervous system. Recognising the signs your body may no longer feel emotionally safe, aligned or heard.

I also share:
– why anxiety happens
– the message that can sit underneath it
– how anxiety can show up physically, emotionally and mentally
– practical tools to help regulate your nervous system
– how therapy and self awareness changed my life

If you are someone who overthinks, feels constantly on edge, struggles to switch off or feels exhausted from carrying everything alone. This episode is for you.

You can find me on Instagram @self_care_studio.

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So many of us think that if something is right it should feel easy. The right path will challenge you just as much as it inspires you. It will stretch you, confront you and sometimes even scare you not because it’s wrong, but because it’s growing you.

In this episode I talk about the difference between something that is hard because it’s aligned and something that is hard because it’s not right for you. We dive into the signs to look for, how your nervous system plays a role in what feels “safe” and why discomfort doesn’t always mean you’re going the wrong way.

If you’ve been questioning where you are in life this episode will help you come back to yourself and start trusting what actually feels true for you.

Instagram: self_care_studio

www.selfcarebybarbarathompson.com.au

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In this episode I break down something I see every single day in my clients and something I’ve personally lived through too. The constant overthinking, second guessing and feeling like you have to be liked to feel okay.

From a survival perspective being accepted used to mean safety. Being rejected meant danger. Even though we don’t live in those times anymore… your nervous system still responds like you do.

So now you find yourself:

• overthinking everything you say
• worrying how you’re perceived
• shaping yourself to be accepted
• feeling like you can’t fully be you

In this episode I take you through:

• Why your brain works this way
• How this pattern forms
• How social media is making it worse
• How to start taking your power back

I’ve also included a short bonus at the end of this episode with practical tools and a journaling exercise to help you begin changing this pattern.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re living your life based on what other people think… this episode is for you. If this resonates and you’re ready to go deeper, you can work with me through Self Care Studio online or in studio sessions available.

Instagram: self_care_studio

Website: www.selfcarebybarbarathompson.com.au

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