Wired for Hope

Brain Injury and Homelessness: The Hidden Picture (Part 1)

In this episode, Dr Jess is joined by George Evans, commissioner of supported housing and homelessness at Lewisham Council in South East London. They explore the intertwined relationship between brain injury, alcohol-related brain damage, and homelessness - a topic that remains under-recognised in both clinical and policy settings. George describes what homelessness really looks like, from the stark statistics on rough sleeping in London to the wide variety of hostel environments, and explains why the assumptions people bring to the sector can be so damaging. The discussion turns to why alcohol-related brain damage is so prominent, and yet under-diagnosed, in the homeless population, as well as touching on the reality of services that exclude people with substance misuse from neurological rehabilitation. George’s career give him a unique perspective. It has taken him from acting, to detective work with the Metropolitan Police, to the front line of homelessness services.  This is part one of a two-part conversation. Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss part two which will be released in a fortnight. Links:  StreetLink - Connecting people sleeping rough to local services [https://thestreetlink.org.uk/] Homeless Link [https://homeless.org.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1503033030&gclid=CjwKCAjw5ZXQBhBdEiwAI5XVWQUeyIDNp5GUQEVKQxxGlTUr5AtmeGk1M8iQx6Da8RR_LSYif_zgkBoCwqgQAvD_BwE] Expert‑led Online Training for Health, Social Care & Frontline Workers | Aneemo [https://www.aneemo.com/] Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me. Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠ [https://anthonyzahra.my.canva.site/] Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/sigmamusicart-36860929/] DISCLAIMER:  This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line. UK Resources Include: • Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999 • Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123 • NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111 • Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services. • ⁠Headway⁠ [https://www.headway.org.uk/] – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families. Limitation of Liability While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content. Please see full disclaimer in the show description. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Iced Viking: Practical Breathwork Advice (Part 2)

In part two of this conversation, Chuck McGee III, brain injury survivor, breathwork coach, and ACT therapist, picks up where he left off, sharing the deeply personal impact that breathwork has had on his mental health, relationships, and sense of self.  He reflects honestly on moving from hyper-vigilance and reactivity to developing what he calls "a pause button," and explains how ACT principles, including defusion, naming his inner critic "Charlie," and psychological flexibility, sit alongside breathwork in his daily practice.  Chuck also guides Dr Jess through two practical breathwork exercises live on the podcast, including his own "cognitive reset protocol."  If you missed part one of this conversation, find the Wired for Hope podcast on your preferred player to access previous episodes. Links:  Chuck's website: https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com  [https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com ] Instagram: @icedvikingbreathworks  Free weekly Zoom breathwork sessions: https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com [https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com] Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me. Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠ [https://anthonyzahra.my.canva.site/] Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/sigmamusicart-36860929/] DISCLAIMER:  This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line. UK Resources Include: • Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999 • Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123 • NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111 • Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services. • ⁠Headway⁠ [https://www.headway.org.uk/] – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families. Limitation of Liability While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content. Please see full disclaimer in the show description. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Iced Viking: Trauma, Breath, and Recovery (Part 1)

In this episode, Dr Jess meets Chuck McGee III, also known as Iced Viking, a traumatic brain injury survivor, breathwork coach, and ACT therapist based in California.  Chuck opens up about his remarkable and at times raw journey: surviving approximately 24 brain injuries across car and motorcycle accidents and years of working as a bartender in high-conflict environments, where violence became both an occupational hazard and, for a time, an addiction.  He shares how a chance encounter with the Wim Hof method transformed his health, eventually leading him to retrain as a breathwork instructor and ACT practitioner.  Dr Jess and Chuck explore the science behind the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, why so many of us are unknowingly overdriving our stress response through habitual mouth breathing and poor posture, and why breathwork can be a particularly accessible and powerful tool for people living with brain injury. This is part one of a two-part conversation. Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss part two which will be released in a fortnight. Links:  Chuck's website: https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com  [https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com ] Instagram: @icedvikingbreathworks  Free weekly Zoom breathwork sessions: https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com [https://www.icedvikingbreathworks.com] Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me. Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠ [https://anthonyzahra.my.canva.site/] Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠ [https://pixabay.com/users/sigmamusicart-36860929/] DISCLAIMER:  This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line. UK Resources Include: • Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999 • Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123 • NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111 • Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services. • ⁠Headway⁠ [https://www.headway.org.uk/] – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families. Limitation of Liability While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content. Please see full disclaimer in the show description. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Sex, intimacy, and disability

In this episode we explore a topic that rarely gets discussed in brain injury rehabilitation: sex, intimacy, and disability. Dr Jess is joined by two experts in this area - Bea Meadow is an award-winning somatic sexologist and retired conscious sex worker ,specialising in disability. Dr Giles Yates is a clinical neuropsychologist and couples therapist with more than 20 years' experience in sexuality-focused work after brain injury. Together, they make the case for why sexual wellbeing deserves a central place in rehabilitation, and what gets lost when it stays in the shadows. The conversation covers the complex legal landscape facing people with disabilities who wish to access sexual services in the UK, how brain injury can alter sexual desire, and the crucial topic of consent. Links: Bea Meadow: @beavermeadow_ [https://www.instagram.com/beavermeadow_/] Dr Giles Yates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-giles-yeates-5b3016178/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-giles-yeates-5b3016178/] Wheel of Consent: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-wisdom-of-anger/202408/boundaries-and-the-wheel-of-consent [https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-wisdom-of-anger/202408/boundaries-and-the-wheel-of-consent] Anna Smith Higgs burlesque performance: https://www.google.com/search?q=Anna+Smith+Higgs+burlesque+performance&oq=Anna+Smith+Higgs+burlesque+performance&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigAdIBBzY3MGowajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b159c48e,vid:Ij0RukixRFw,st:0 [https://www.google.com/search?q=Anna+Smith+Higgs+burlesque+performance&oq=Anna+Smith+Higgs+burlesque+performance&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigAdIBBzY3MGowajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b159c48e,vid:Ij0RukixRFw,st:0] Mencap – healthy and happy relationships article: https://www.mencap.org.uk/blog/consent-important [https://www.mencap.org.uk/blog/consent-important] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Psychedelic Afterglow Neuroplasticity: How Mushrooms Rewire Your Brain for Weeks | Therapy & Healing

Psychedelic Afterglow Neuroplasticity is emerging as an exciting discovery in modern neuroscience. Research suggests that after a psychedelic experience, the brain may enter a powerful period of increased flexibility, coinciding with what is experienced as a felt afterglow effect. During this time, neuroplasticity may remain elevated, creating a unique opportunity for emotional healing, personal growth, and long-term psychological change. In this episode of Wired for Hope, Dr. Jess speaks with Henry Whitfield, a psychedelic therapist and PhD researcher at the Department of Psychopharmacology at Maastricht University, about the implications of Psychedelic Therapy Afterglow and Neuroplasticity. They explore how this window of psilocybin neuroplasticity can combine with psychotherapy for lasting effects. A key focus of this conversation is the integration of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and a reexperiencing of psychedelic experiences. Henry explains how principles like psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and imaginal exposure (reliving with imagery) can support the therapeutic process. The discussion also dives into findings from Henry’s psychedelic mental health research, where he studied how psilocybin therapy benefits may continue for months after the initial experience, when followed by such processes. You’ll learn how psychedelic-assisted therapy may support emotional processing, trauma recovery, and long-term behavioral change. TOPICS EXPLORED IN THIS EPISODE: • The science of Neuroplasticity after psychedelics • Understanding the psychedelic afterglow effect • The role of psychedelic assisted therapy in modern mental health care • Insights from psychedelic neuroscience study findings • The benefits of psychedelic integration therapy after the experience • Psychedelic trauma therapy may stabilise emotional healing • The relationship between psychedelics and mindfulness experience • How these therapies may influence psychedelic depression treatment • The future of psychedelic psychotherapy research Henry also shares his personal journey into the field—from discovering hypnosis at age 14 to training over 1,500 therapists worldwide. The episode explores the idea that “feeling is healing”, and how allowing emotional experiences to unfold can support deep psychological transformation. Learn more about Henry’s work and retreats: http://www.psychflex.co.uk [http://www.psychflex.co.uk/] Subscribe to Wired for Hope for more conversations about neuroscience, cognition, mental health, and psychological recovery. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton Produced by Anthony Zahra Music Credit: SigmaMusicArt TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction to Psychedelic Afterglow Neuroplasticity 02:45 – Meet Henry Whitfield & His Research Journey 05:30 – Early Interest in Psychology & Consciousness 08:20 – What is Psychedelic Assisted Therapy? 11:05 – Understanding Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Spectrum of Selves model 14:10 – The “Feeling is Healing” Principle Explained 17:00 – The Psychedelic Afterglow Effect & Brain Changes 20:15 – How Psilocybin Neuroplasticity Works in the Brain 23:30 – Psychological Flexibility vs Rigidity 27:05 – A Naturalistic Study on Psychedelic Therapy 31:20 – Preparation Before a Psychedelic Therapy Session 36:10 – Integration: Why Post-Experience Therapy Matters 40:25 – Psychedelic Therapy Revisiting Past Aversive Events & Emotional Processing 45:10 – Long-Term Results: Depression, Anxiety & Valued Living 50:00 – The Future of Psychedelic Psychotherapy Research 56:33 – Final Thoughts & Closing #PsychedelicTherapy #PsilocybinTherapy #Neuroplasticity #PsychedelicAfterglow #MentalHealthResearch #PsychedelicScience #BrainHealing #PsychedelicResearch #ACTTherapy #ConsciousnessResearch #PsychedelicIntegration #MindfulnessHealing #DepressionTreatment #AnxietyRelief #Neuroscience Please see full disclaimer in the show description. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.