Mastering Change | The trauma, mental health & wellbeing podcast

Relationships, repair and the practice of connection | Prentis Hemphill | #072 Mastering Change

Many of us think of healing as something we do on our own.  We focus on understanding ourselves, regulating our nervous system and working through our patterns in private. But what if healing is not something that happens outside of relationship?  This week on Mastering Change, writer, therapist and somatic facilitator Prentis Hemphill explores why connection is not simply something that supports healing but an essential part of it.  Drawing on their work in embodied leadership and collective healing, Prentis explains how trauma can disrupt our sense of safety, belonging and connection with others. Healing is not only about changing what happens within us. It is also about learning how to remain present, authentic and connected with those around us.  One of the most thought-provoking parts of the conversation explores friendship. Together, we discuss why so many adults find friendship unexpectedly vulnerable, why longing for connection can feel uncomfortable and how fear, self-protection and defensiveness can shape the way we relate to others.  In this episode, we explore:  * Why trauma is fundamentally relational  * Friendship, vulnerability and belonging  * Love, control and self-protection  * Rupture, repair and accountability  * How defensiveness shapes our relationships  * Everyday practices for building deeper connection  Prentis Hemphill is also joining us at Transform Trauma Oxford 2026. In their keynote, The Three Body States, they will expand on many of these ideas, bringing together stress science, embodiment and spiritual awareness to explore how clinicians can help people access the internal, relational and spiritual resources that support lasting healing.   Secure your tickets here [https://mastersevents.com/oxford-2026/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=PrentisHemphill%2FRelationshipsandConnection%2FJuly2026] Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Who are you without the performance? | Robbie Tubajon | #071 Mastering Change

For most professional athletes, sport is not simply something they do. It becomes part of who they are.  Years of training, competition and sacrifice shape their identity, relationships and sense of purpose. Success and failure are experienced publicly. The routine is familiar. The goal is always clear.  But what happens when that identity no longer fits?  This week on Mastering Change, Emma and DK are joined by Robbie Tubajon, Vice President of Leadership Development at Pro Athlete Community, to explore the psychological transition many athletes face when their sporting careers come to an end.  Robbie explains why retirement from professional sport can feel less like a changing career change and more like the loss of a part of yourself. Together, they discuss the grief, uncertainty and disorientation that can emerge when the role that has shaped your life for decades suddenly disappears.  One of the most striking ideas in the conversation is that the very qualities that drive elite performance can become challenges in the next chapter of life. The inner critic, relentless discipline and constant pursuit of achievement do not always disappear when the game ends.  We explore:  * Why life after sport can feel like a loss of identity  * The emotional impact of transitioning out of elite performance  * How fear, shame and uncertainty emerge during major life changes  * Why community plays such an important role in rebuilding identity  * Rediscovering purpose beyond achievement  * What high performers can teach us about resilience, growth and belonging   A conversation about identity, transition and who we become when performance no longer defines us.  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Can Movement Heal Trauma? | Amber Gray | #070 Mastering Change

When we think about trauma recovery, most of us think about talking therapy.  In this episode of Mastering Change, the human rights psychotherapist and dance movement therapist Amber Gray, explains why movement may be one of the most overlooked aspects of trauma recovery.  Drawing on decades of work with torture survivors, refugees, indigenous communities and people affected by conflict and disaster, Amber explores how trauma lives in the body and how movement can help people reconnect with themselves, others and the world around them.  One of the most thought-provoking ideas in the conversation is that movement is far more than exercise or dance. It exists on a continuum that begins with breath, posture and the subtle ways our nervous system responds to the world around us.  The conversation also explores the influence of Polyvagal Theory, the importance of bearing witness to suffering and why healing is not always about processing the past. Sometimes it's about helping people survive what they are still living through.   We explore:  * Why movement exists on a spectrum from breath to dance  * How Polyvagal Theory helps people understand trauma responses  * The relationship between trauma, isolation and belonging  * Why healing does not always mean deep trauma processing  * Dance movement therapy and nervous system regulation  * The role of rhythm, community and collective healing  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

What makes psychedelic healing work? | Rob Coffey | #069 Mastering Change

Psychedelic therapy is attracting more attention than ever before.  But amidst the growing excitement, an important question often gets overlooked: what actually helps people turn these experiences into lasting change?  This week on Mastering Change, we speak with psychotherapist and Inward Bound co-founder Rob Coffey, who has spent years supporting people through psychedelic retreats, trauma recovery and deep personal growth.   While much of the conversation around psychedelics focuses on the medicine itself, Rob takes a different view. He argues that the most important factors are often what happens around the experience: preparation, safety, integration and the relationships that help translate insight into everyday life.   One of the most thought-provoking themes in the episode is the role of community. Drawing on both indigenous traditions and years of retreat work, Rob explores why community matters. He suggests that connection with others can be just as important as the psychedelic experience itself.   We explore:  * Why psychedelics are not a magic cure  * The importance of preparation and integration  * Group healing versus one-to-one approaches  * Ethics and safety in psychedelic spaces  * Reconnecting to nature, community and a deeper sense of belonging  * Why healing can happen through joy, not just suffering  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.

Can humour help us heal? | Glenn Maloney | #068 Mastering Change

Can something as simple as laughter help us heal?  When we think about therapy, humour is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Yet according to clinical social worker and addiction counsellor Glenn Maloney, it may be one of the most overlooked tools available to us.  This week on Mastering Change, Glenn explains that humour is far more than comic relief. He explores its role in therapy, trauma recovery and addiction treatment and argues that far from distracting from difficult emotions, it can help reduce isolation, support nervous system regulation and offer new ways of relating to challenging experiences.   At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: humour is fundamentally about connection. When used thoughtfully, it can help people feel safer, more understood and more able to engage with challenging experiences.  We also explores the complexities of humour. Sometimes it helps us engage with difficult emotions. Sometimes it becomes a way of avoiding them. The skill lies in recognising the difference.  We discuss:  * Why humour is fundamentally about connection  * How laughter can support nervous system regulation  * The role of humour in addiction recovery and trauma work  * When jokes become a form of avoidance  * The risks of humour used poorly  * Why therapists may need more training in the basic skills of human connection  This is a thoughtful conversation about laughter, connection and why healing is often more human than we imagine.  Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.  Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.