Content Warning: This episode discusses domestic abuse and may be difficult or emotionally challenging for some listeners. Please listen only if and when it feels right for you. If now isn't the right time, that's completely okay. Your wellbeing comes first, and this episode will still be here whenever you're ready.In this episode of The Therapy Files, Craig and Callum are joined by Gemma Lawford for a sensitive and important conversation about domestic abuse.

Together, they explore what domestic abuse can look like, how it can affect people emotionally and psychologically, and why it is so important to move beyond stereotypes or simplistic ideas of who abuse happens to.

The conversation considers the impact of control, fear, isolation, shame, and uncertainty, as well as the courage it can take for someone to recognise what is happening and reach out for support.

This episode is not intended to replace specialist advice, but to open up thoughtful discussion, raise awareness, and signpost listeners towards support.

Please take care while listening, especially if this topic feels close to home.

Support

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Call 0808 2000 247 — free, confidential and available 24 hours a day.

Men’s Advice Line
Call 0808 801 0327 — support for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them.

Galop LGBT+ Abuse and Violence Helpline
Call 0800 999 5428 — support for LGBT+ people experiencing abuse or violence.

Listeners outside the UK are encouraged to contact local emergency services, domestic abuse charities, or crisis support services in their own country.

The Therapy Files is back.

In the first episode of Series 5, Craig and Callum explore the complex and often heartbreaking subject of missing people. They discuss why people may go missing, the impact on families and loved ones, and the emotional weight of uncertainty when someone’s whereabouts are unknown.

The episode looks at UK and global statistics, including the fact that someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK, and considers issues such as mental health, domestic abuse, homelessness, trafficking, voluntary disappearance, and unresolved grief.

Craig and Callum also reflect on missing people in popular culture, including music, documentaries, and television, asking why these stories continue to stay with us.

This is a thoughtful and sensitive conversation about absence, hope, fear, ambiguity, and the people left waiting for answers.

Support

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
For non-emergency missing person reports in the UK, call 101.

Missing People
Call or text 116 000
Website: missingpeople.org.uk

Samaritans
Call 116 123
Website: samaritans.org

Childline
Call 0800 1111
Website: childline.org.uk

Other organisations mentioned include Locate International, Look4them, the Missing Persons Information Hub, Barnardo’s, The Children’s Society, and UK Coroner Services.

Listeners outside the UK are encouraged to contact local emergency services, missing persons charities, or mental health crisis support in their own country.

TW: This episode alludes to violence and rape culture.

Join us, Callum & Craig as we finally sit down after a long hiatus for Episode 31 as we delve into the intricate world of Incels, examining their origins, community dynamics, notable figures, and the ramifications of their beliefs. Incels, short for "Involuntary Celibates," predominantly consist of men congregating in online spaces, attributing their romantic shortcomings to perceived attractiveness.

Research by O’Malley et al. (2020) reveals alarming patterns within the incel community, citing misogynistic tendencies, favourability towards violence, and resemblances to extremist groups. These groups revolve around five core beliefs, including the sexual market, demonisation of women, validation of masculinity, perceptions of male oppression, and alarming tendencies towards violence.

From a feminist viewpoint, these ideologies are concerning. Incels often propagate anti-feminism, blaming it for disrupting natural selection and contributing to a perceived 'rape culture'. However, this perspective disregards the societal roots of their struggles.

As feminists and therapists, we discuss and challenge the complexities surrounding Incels, acknowledging the need for a nuanced approach that addresses underlying societal issues while providing support and interventions to prevent further harm.

The episode takes a closer look at Incels and debates whether this group constitutes a terrorist entity. We explore potential strategies for intervention, rehabilitation, and deradicalization, including therapeutic and psychiatric interventions.

📚 References and Sources:

• O’Malley, R. Et.al (2020). An Exploration of the Involuntary Celibate (Incel) Online Subculture.
• Speckhard, A. Et al. (2021). Involuntary Celibates’ Experiences of and Grievance over Sexual Exclusion and the Potential Threat of Violence Amongst Those Active in an Online Incel Forum.
• Lindsay, A. (2022). Swallowing the black pill: Involuntary celibates’ (Incels) anti-feminism within digital society.
• Morris, S. (2023). Plymouth Shooter Fascinated by Serial Killers and ‘Incel’ Culture, Inquest Hears.
• Zimmerman, S. (2022). The Ideology of Incels: Misogyny and Victimhood as Justification for Political Violence