Coping with Bereavement - with Dr Anna Pytlowana

In the final episode of our Coping With… series, I’m joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Catherine O’Leary, author of Coping with Psoriasis, to explore the psychological impact of living with a visible chronic condition, and the relationship between her personal experiences and professional life.(Watch on video here)Catherine shares her experiences of living with psoriasis since childhood, and how she gradually found the confidence to speak openly about her condition and bring her lived experience into her professional work. We discuss the challenges of navigating professional identity, self-disclosure and vulnerability, particularly when working in a helping profession.Our conversation explores the emotional and psychological impact of psoriasis, including experiences of shame, stigma and unwanted attention from others. Catherine shares practical strategies for managing difficult social situations, alongside the importance of emotional awareness, validation and self-compassion.We also consider the relationship between stress, emotions and physical symptoms, and why it is so important that healthcare professionals recognise psoriasis as much more than a skin condition. Catherine reflects on the value of feeling seen and understood, and how clinicians can better support people living with psoriasis.Finally, we talk about Catherine’s experience of writing Coping with Psoriasis, the responses she has received from readers, and the importance of sharing personal experiences to challenge stigma and offer hope to others.Useful linksBuy Coping with PsoriasisCoping with Psoriasis – Catherine's websiteDr Catherine O'Leary on Instagram – @‌drcatherineolearyDr Catherine O'Leary on LinkedInCoping with Psoriasis on SubstackPsoriasis Association – Information and support for people affected by psoriasis____________________________I’d love to connect with you so please come and say hi on LinkedIn or via my website.The Coping With series is available via Sequoia Books and Routledge. ACP-UK members receive a discount on all ACP-UK titles - details are in the monthly members’ newsletter, The Buzz. Do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.

In this episode of When Work Hurts, I’m joined by Dr Anna Pytlowana, Clinical Psychologist and author of Coping with Bereavement, to explore the deeply personal experience of grief and loss, and how our experiences of bereavement can shape both our personal and professional lives.(Watch the video version here)Anna shares the experiences that led her to write the book, and we discuss the individual and ever-changing nature of grief, including how our relationships, identities and cultural backgrounds influence the ways we mourn and remember those we have lost. We also explore the importance of connection, community and rituals in navigating bereavement.Our conversation considers the particular challenges faced by those working in helping professions, including what happens when our own experiences of loss intersect with our professional roles. Anna reflects on the importance of self-compassion, boundaries, supervision and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, rather than feeling that we must always be the person offering support.We also discuss practical psychological tools and resources for coping with bereavement, alongside some of the bigger questions that grief can bring up about mortality, ageing and what matters most in our lives.Useful links:Buy Coping with BereavementAnna’s websiteAnna on Instagram____________________________I’d love to connect with you so please come and say hi on LinkedIn or via my website.The Coping With series is available via Sequoia Books and Routledge. ACP-UK members receive a discount on all ACP-UK titles - details are in the monthly members’ newsletter, The Buzz. Do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.

In this episode of When Work Hurts, I’m joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Kirsty Harris, author of Coping with Endometriosis, to explore the personal, psychological and professional impact of living with this chronic condition.(Watch the video version here)Kirsty shares her own experiences of endometriosis, including the challenges of obtaining a diagnosis, navigating healthcare systems and living with chronic pain and uncertainty. We discuss how endometriosis affects much more than reproductive health, and the importance of recognising its impact on all aspects of life.We also explore what it means to live and work with an often invisible condition, including the challenges of disclosure, self-advocacy and recognising when support or adjustments are needed. Kirsty reflects on her own experiences of navigating professional identity alongside chronic illness, and what employers and healthcare professionals can do to provide more compassionate and effective support.Our conversation considers the psychological impact of living with endometriosis, including experiences of shame, self-stigma and the pressure to keep going despite significant difficulties. Kirsty explains how Compassion Focused Therapy can offer a different way of responding to pain, distress and uncertainty, helping us relate to ourselves with greater kindness and understanding.Finally, we talk about Kirsty’s experience of writing Coping with Endometriosis, the importance of community and shared experiences, and how telling our stories can help challenge stigma and bring about change.Useful links:Buy Coping with EndometriosisDr Kirsty Harris on Instagram – @‌dr_k_harrisEndometriosis UK – Information, advocacy and supportWellbeing of Women UK – Women's reproductive and gynaecological health charityMenstrual Health Project – Education, awareness and practical resourcesThe Compassionate Mind Foundation – Resources on compassion-focused approaches____________________________I’d love to connect with you so please come and say hi on LinkedIn or via my website.The Coping With series is available via Sequoia Books and Routledge. ACP-UK members receive a discount on all ACP-UK titles - details are in the monthly members’ newsletter, The Buzz. Do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.

In this episode of When Work Hurts, I’m joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Momotaj Islam to explore her personal and professional experiences of menopause, and the insights behind her book Coping with Menopause.🎥 Watch the video version hereMomotaj draws on a biopsychosocial understanding of menopause, exploring how biological changes interact with our psychological wellbeing, relationships, work and wider social and cultural contexts. We discuss the importance of looking beyond symptoms alone, and the role that humour, gratitude and self-compassion can play in navigating this stage of life.We also explore the impact of menopause on professional identity, including experiences of cognitive changes and brain fog, the challenges these can present at work, and the importance of supportive workplace cultures, policies and practical adjustments.Our conversation considers how psychological approaches can help us respond to difficult experiences with greater understanding and compassion, and what health professionals can do to better support people experiencing menopause.Finally, Momotaj reflects on the process of writing her book, the vulnerability involved in sharing personal experiences, and how menopause can also offer an opportunity to reconsider our priorities, reconnect with our values and reflect on what matters most.Useful links:Buy Coping with Menopause (use code Momotaj25 to get 25% off until 31/10/26)Momotaj's websiteMomotaj on LinkedInMomotaj on InstagramEmployment Rights Act - Menopause Action Plan GuidanceRoyal College of Psychiatrists' position statement on menopause and mental healthRoyal College of Psychiatrists' Women’s Mental Health Strategy____________________________I’d love to connect with you so please come and say hi on LinkedIn or via my website.The Coping With series is available via Sequoia Books and Routledge. ACP-UK members receive a discount on all ACP-UK titles - details are in the monthly members’ newsletter, The Buzz. Do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.

In this episode of When Work Hurts, I’m joined by Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Sarah Swan to talk about her experience of breast cancer and how becoming a patient affected her both personally and professionally.(🎥 Watch the video version here)Sarah shares the story behind her book Coping with Breast Cancer, and we explore the emotional realities of cancer diagnosis and treatment – including fear, uncertainty and the pressure created by some of the familiar cultural narratives about how people are supposed to cope with cancer.We also talk about what it is like to navigate serious illness while working as a psychologist. Sarah reflects on decisions about what to tell clients, the complexities of self-disclosure and professional boundaries, and how her experience challenged and reshaped aspects of her professional identity.Our conversation explores the role of values when life becomes uncertain, what psychological skills can – and can’t – offer when you are living through your own difficult experience, and what it feels like to encounter healthcare professionals from the other side of the consulting room.Finally, Sarah shares some of the things she wishes health professionals understood about supporting people through cancer, and we discuss the wider Coping with… book series and its aim of providing accessible, psychologically informed support for people facing difficult life experiences.Useful links:Buy Coping with Breast CancerConnect with Sarah on LinkedIn____________________________I’d love to connect with you so please come and say hi on LinkedIn or via my website.The Coping With series is available via Sequoia Books and Routledge. ACP-UK members receive a discount on all ACP-UK titles - details are in the monthly members’ newsletter, The Buzz. Do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.

This episode was originally released in 2024, and we’re revisiting it as part of our Coping With… series. Dr Yvonne Waft is one of the authors in the series, and her conversation about trauma, professional identity and the experiences we bring to our work fits perfectly with the themes we’re exploring this season.Health professionals are not immune to trauma. In fact, many are motivated to become healthcare professionals as a way of understanding and even healing their own wounds. They are also vulnerable to experiencing trauma in their personal lives, just as much as anyone else, and especially likely to be exposed to trauma through their work.In this episode, Paula is joined by Dr Yvonne Waft, a clinical psychologist and EMDR consultant, and author of Coping with Trauma: Surviving and Thriving in the Face of Overwhelming Events, published by Sequoia Books in association with ACP-UK.Yvonne talks about her own experiences of trauma, how these have informed her professional life, and how health professionals can look after themselves when they are impacted by traumatic events, either at work or in their personal lives.Useful linksBook: Coping With Trauma: Surviving and Thriving in the Face of Overwhelming Events - Sequoia BooksWebsite: www.catalystclinpsy.co.ukInstagram: @‌waftyvonneFacebook: Dr Yvonne Waft - Catalyst Clinical Psychology LinkedIn: Dr Yvonne Waft____________________________I’d love to connect with you so please come and say hi on LinkedIn or via my website.The Coping With series is available via Sequoia Books and Routledge. ACP-UK members receive a discount on all ACP-UK titles - details are in the monthly members’ newsletter, The Buzz. Do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.

Dr Paula Redmond, Clinical Psychologist, announces that Season 8 of the When Work Hurts podcast is on its way.This season is brought to you by the Association of Clinical Psychologists, the representative professional body for clinical psychologists in the UK.So far the podcast has largely focussed on ways in which the world of work can affect us as health professionals. But of course, as humans, we’re exposed to the same stressors and challenges in life as everyone else. Whilst we may have professional knowledge and skills to draw on this doesn’t mean we’ve got immunity from suffering or that we’ve got it all sorted.Facing tough times, whether that’s a health crisis, a chronic condition or significant life event, also creates unique challenges for our professional roles, identities and relationship to work.This season explores this through conversations with clinical psychologists who have written about their personal experiences of coping with a variety of difficult life circumstances and events. These have formed the Coping with Series published by ACP-UK, Sequoia and Routledge. The books weave together first-person accounts of navigating difficult times with psychologically informed information and guidance.We’ll explore the intersection of the personal and professional in coping with breast cancer, trauma, menopause, endometriosis, bereavement and psoriasis.Listen for a taster of what's coming up.____________________________I’d love to connect with you so please come and say hi on LinkedIn or via my website.The Coping With series is available via Sequoia Books and Routledge. ACP-UK members receive a discount on all ACP-UK titles - details are in the monthly members’ newsletter, The Buzz. Do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.

In this episode Dr Paula Redmond speaks with a team of colleagues in Wales about their groundbreaking and award-winning work on avoidable employee harm within NHS complaint and disciplinary processes.Working at the intersection of psychology, HR, and healthcare quality improvement Benna Waites, Dr Adrian Neal, and Andrew Cooper highlight the wide-ranging psychological and systemic impacts of complaints processes, not only for the staff under investigation and their teams, but also for the managers and HR professionals handling these cases.They discuss interventions and initiatives designed to reduce harm and promote psychological safety in this arena, with meaningful impact at both operational and policy levels.This episode shines a light on what it takes to build cultures of care within organisations, where accountability and compassion can coexist — and how clinical psychologists can bring something unique to organisational systems change.About the speakers:Benna Waites: Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Joint Professional Lead for Psychology, Counselling and Arts Therapies for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (co-leading around 300 staff). Programme Director for Leading People – a successful in house intensive leadership development programme currently celebrating its 10th year. Seconded part time in the national improvement team in NHS Wales and chaired the national Psychology for Improvement project funded by the Health Foundation’s q Community. Co-founder of http://compassionpractices.net – set up during the pandemic to make compassion practices – a highly structured conversation to support compassion in groups of staff – freely available.Dr Adrian Neal: Consultant Clinical Psychologist / Head of Employee Wellbeing Service, Aneurin Bevan University Health BoardAndrew Cooper: Head of Programmes for Employee Wellbeing, Aneurin Bevan University Health BoardResourcesNew book out November 2025: Bristol University Press | Under Investigation - Transforming Disciplinary Practice in the WorkplaceThe Avoiding Harm programme by the HPMA – www.hpma.org.uk/avoiding-harmPaper on harm to investigators: Understanding the Impact of Employee Investigations on Those Who Lead Them: A Case Study from NHS Waleswww.compassionpractices.netWhat does it really mean to lead with curiosity, especially in today’s complex health and care systems? | Improvement Cymru___________I’d love to connect with you so do come and find me on LinkedIn or at my website and do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.Follow and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Dr Paula Redmond speaks with two clinical psychologists — Dr Caroline Taylor and Dr Amber Johnston — about their personal stories of receiving a fitness to practise complaint.They discuss what it was like to go through the process, how it affected them personally and professionally, and what they’ve learned along the way. Together they reflect on themes of shame, fear, and isolation, but also on meaning-making, growth and the importance of support._____About the speakers:Dr Caroline Taylor is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice. You can connect with her via Psychology Today or LinkedIn.Dr Amber Johnston is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist. She runs the Healthy Mind Psychology clinic. You can connect with her on Instagram or Linkedin.___________I’d love to connect with you so do come and find me on LinkedIn or at my website and do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.Follow and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

What should do you do if you get a fitness to practise complaint? What can you expect from the process? How long does it take, what are the possible outcomes, and where can you go to get support?To answer these questions Paula spoke with Nicholas Stöckling, who works with psychologists and other health professionals as a regulatory adviser providing legal and emotional Fitness to Practise guidance, as well as webinars and training for professional bodies.In this conversation, Nicholas discusses his extensive experience with fitness to practise issues and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). He shares insights into the emotional and professional impacts of fitness to practice complaints on health professionals, particularly psychologists. The discussion covers the purpose of the HCPC, the investigation process, potential sanctions, and practical advice for professionals facing complaints. Nicholas emphasises the importance of understanding the process, seeking support, and maintaining mental health during challenging times.____To get in touch with Nicholas you can contact him via email or LinkedIn.Listeners may find the following resources helpful:ACP-UK Webinars (free to members):Demystifying the HCPC Part 1Demystifying the HCPC Part 2Navigating the Grey Zone: Everyday Boundary Dilemmas in Psychological Work (live on 16th October 2025)Emotional Agility by Susan David – an accessible book offering practical strategies for navigating uncertainty and psychological pressure.___________I’d love to connect with you so do come and find me on LinkedIn or at my website and do check out the ACP-UK and everything it has to offer.Follow and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!