Unscripted | Mental Health Podcast

Losing Your Voice From Stress? The Psychology of Vocal Strain & Anxiety | Dr Mercer & Amrita Mahal | Schoen Clinic Unscripted

Can stress or anxiety affect your voice? Yes — and it’s far more common than people realise. In this episode of Schoen Clinic Unscripted, Dr Isabelle (Izzy) Mercer (Clinical Psychologist) and Amrita Mahal (Advanced Speech, Language & Communication Therapist / voice therapist) explore the mind–voice connection: why anxiety, stress, trauma, masking and nervous system activation can cause hoarseness, throat tightness, vocal strain, voice loss, and that “lump in the throat” sensation. If you’ve ever noticed your voice becoming high-pitched, flat, shaky, croaky, or suddenly “not you” in meetings, interviews, conflict, or high-pressure situations — this conversation explains what’s happening in the body, and what helps you find a more natural, free voice again. You’ll learn: How the voice is produced (and why the vocal cords’ first job is protection) What “vocal breakdown” means and what it feels like day-to-day Why stress and anxiety tighten the throat (fight/flight + vagus nerve) How people judge tone before content — and why that affects confidence How trauma and identity shape communication, self-expression and safety Why masking (especially at work) can lead to exhaustion and burnout Practical tools used in clinic: breathing support, humming/chanting, pacing, and “finding your free voice” 📌 Learn more about our specialists and services: Schoen Clinic Chelsea: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea] Dr Isabelle Mercer: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-isabelle-mercer]alists/dr-isabelle-mercer [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-isabelle-mercer] Amrita Mahal: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/amrita-mahal]alists/amrita-mahal [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/amrita-mahal] If you found this helpful, please like, subscribe, and comment with topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes. Important note: This podcast is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you need urgent help, contact emergency services or local crisis support in your country. If you’ve noticed ongoing voice changes (hoarseness, pain, strain, loss of voice), seek medical advice first (GP/ENT) to rule out structural or medical causes. If you’re medically cleared and symptoms persist, voice therapy and psychological support may help address tension patterns and stress responses. 🏥 About Schoen Clinic Chelsea This episode was recorded at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, a leading private mental health clinic in London. Our expert team of consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and therapists provide world-class care for conditions such as ADHD, trauma, depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, burnout and more. We offer fast, confidential self-booking appointments and a full range of outpatient therapies to support recovery.

How to Overcome Social Anxiety: CBT Strategies, Safety Behaviours & Self-Confidence | Schoen Clinic Unscripted

Social anxiety is more than shyness. It’s often a persistent fear of social judgment that can affect friendships, dating, work meetings, group chats — even therapy itself. In this episode of Schoen Clinic Unscripted, we’re joined by Dr Bradley Powell (Clinical Psychologist & Psychotherapist) and Evangelia Mylona (Psychotherapist) to unpack what social anxiety really is, why it persists, and what actually helps. We cover: The textbook definition of social anxiety — and how it differs from shyness/introversion How long symptoms typically need to persist (often 6+ months) before it becomes clinically significant Common “masking” and safety behaviours, including: Alcohol to feel confident Smoking or “escaping” social moments Over-talking, joking constantly, filling every pause The social anxiety thought spiral: Physical sensations (blushing, sweating, racing heart) Catastrophic predictions (“They’re judging me”) Self-focus that pulls you out of the moment The deeper roots: how self-worth, shame, identity, and early messages (“you’re quiet”, “you’re shy”) shape adult social confidence The CBT model for social anxiety: beliefs → anxiety → safety behaviours → more anxiety Why avoidance can lead to underachievement, low mood, and missed life opportunities What works in therapy: Dropping safety behaviours (gradually, with support) Behavioural experiments (not just “force yourself to socialise”) Building inner safety, self-compassion, and self-acceptance Practical strategies for real life: Shifting attention externally (getting “lost” in the conversation) Checking the facts after social events “Zooming out” when post-event rumination hits Key message: Social anxiety is common — and it’s also one of the most treatable anxiety problems with the right psychological support. 🧡 Find out more about our specialists: Dr Bradley Powell: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-bradley-powell]alists/dr-bradley-powell [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-bradley-powell] Evangelia Mylona: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/evangelia-mylona]alists/evangelia-mylona [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/evangelia-mylona] Schoen Clinic Chelsea: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea] If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may be struggling quietly. Important note: This podcast is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you need urgent help, contact emergency services or local crisis support in your country. 🏥 About Schoen Clinic Chelsea This episode was recorded at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, a leading private mental health clinic in London. Our expert team of consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and therapists provide world-class care for conditions such as ADHD, trauma, depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, burnout and more. We offer fast, confidential self-booking appointments and a full range of outpatient therapies to support recovery.

Trauma Lives in Patterns: Relationships, Triggers & Healing | Zoe Laxton & Georgia Mancroft | Schoen Clinic Unscripted

Trauma doesn’t always show up as a single dramatic memory. Often, it lives on through patterns — in the body, in relationships, and in the strategies we use to feel safe. In this episode of Schoen Clinic Unscripted, host Greg Anderson is joined by Psychotherapists Zoe Laxton and Georgia Mancroft (Schoen Clinic Chelsea) to explore how trauma is internalised by the nervous system, how early relationships shape beliefs, and what recovery can look like over time. We cover: Why many people don’t label their experience as trauma (especially without a “big event”) Big-T vs small-t trauma, and how repeated “smaller” wounds can be profound PTSD vs Complex PTSD (and why prolonged trauma changes the picture) Relational/developmental trauma: when the “injury” is the absence of safety How early experiences shape beliefs like “I’m too much” or “I’m not enough” Protective strategies that can become painful over time (people-pleasing, withdrawal, outbursts) Relationship patterns: reassurance-seeking, fear of abandonment, and the “push-pull” dynamic Mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and “wise mind” (DBT concepts) Why we repeat familiar relationship dynamics (“we repeat what we know”) Links between unresolved trauma and anxiety/eating disorders (and why emotions matter) The healing power of the therapeutic relationship: consistency, boundaries, co-regulation Signs trauma work is integrating: steadier mood, safer relationships, fewer maladaptive coping strategies Hopeful takeaway: you are not what happened to you 🧡 Learn more about our specialists and trauma-informed therapy: Zoe Laxton: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/zoe-laxton]alists/zoe-laxton [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/zoe-laxton] Georgia Mancroft: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/georgia-mancroft]alists/georgia-mancroft [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/georgia-mancroft] Schoen Clinic Chelsea: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea] If this episode resonates, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may find it validating. Important note: This podcast is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you need urgent help, contact emergency services or local crisis support in your country. 🏥 About Schoen Clinic Chelsea This episode was recorded at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, a leading private mental health clinic in London. Our expert team of consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and therapists provide world-class care for conditions such as ADHD, trauma, depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, burnout and more. We offer fast, confidential self-booking appointments and a full range of outpatient therapies to support recovery.

Resilience Isn’t “Powering Through”: Boundaries, Growth Mindset & Healing | Schoen Clinic Unscripted

What does “resilience” actually mean — and what is it not? In this episode of Schoen Clinic Unscripted, host Greg Anderson is joined by Psychotherapist Lorraine Green and Counselling Psychologist Dr Irem Aksu to unpack resilience as a psychological process shaped by self-awareness, flexibility, boundaries, meaning, and support. We discuss: Why resilience is not stoicism, perfection, or never struggling The difference between coping vs resilience (passive “powering through” vs active adaptation) Why avoidance can shrink resilience (and how small challenges build capacity) Growth mindset (“not yet”) and why it matters for resilience Neuroplasticity: how the brain can change through practice and new thinking styles Early foundations: attachment, emotional regulation, and role modelling How trauma can reduce resilience (hypervigilance, rigidity, emotional exhaustion) Why resilience became a buzzword — and how hustle culture gets it wrong Practical tools: cognitive reframing, thought diaries, problem-solving, boundaries, reflection Post-traumatic growth: “bouncing forward” after adversity Why connection and support systems are central to recovery If you’re feeling like you “should be coping better”, this conversation offers a more realistic and compassionate lens: resilience is built over time, not switched on overnight. 🧡 Learn more about our specialists: Lorraine Green: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/lorraine-green]alists/lorraine-green [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/lorraine-green] Dr Irem Aksu: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-irem-aksu [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-irem-aksu] Schoen Clinic Chelsea: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea] If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe for upcoming conversations on mental health, therapy, and recovery. Important note: This podcast is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you need urgent help, contact emergency services or local crisis support in your country. 🏥 About Schoen Clinic Chelsea This episode was recorded at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, a leading private mental health clinic in London. Our expert team of consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and therapists provide world-class care for conditions such as ADHD, trauma, depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, burnout and more. We offer fast, confidential self-booking appointments and a full range of outpatient therapies to support recovery.

Depression Explained: Symptoms, Brain Chemistry, Motivation & Hope | Dr Isabelle Mercer | Schoen Clinic Unscripted

Depression is often misunderstood as “just feeling sad” — but clinically, it can affect energy, motivation, sleep, concentration, pleasure, and your sense of self. In this episode of Schoen Clinic Unscripted, host Greg Anderson is joined by Dr Isabelle (Izzy) Mercer, Clinical Psychologist at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, to explore what depression really feels like, what’s happening in the brain, and why recovery is rarely a straight line. We cover: What depression can feel like (beyond sadness): emptiness, heaviness, loss of joy How depression differs from low mood (duration, intensity, and impact) Links between depression, trauma and PTSD (and why symptoms can overlap) Why progress can come in ups and downs — not a perfect upward line What the brain is doing in depression (reward system, dopamine, motivation) Why sleep matters (and how sleep problems can maintain low mood) Practical approaches used in therapy: breaking tasks into manageable steps, behavioural activation, reducing shame/self-criticism How support networks help (and why small check-ins can matter) A hopeful message for anyone struggling right now If you’re feeling low, you’re not alone — and support is available. 🧡 Learn more about our specialists and services: Schoen Clinic Chelsea (UK): https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/chelsea] Dr Isabelle Mercer: https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/speci [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-isabelle-mercer]alists/dr-isabelle-mercer [https://www.schoen-clinic.co.uk/specialists/dr-isabelle-mercer] If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need it. Important note: This podcast is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you need urgent help, contact emergency services or local crisis support in your country. 🏥 About Schoen Clinic Chelsea This episode was recorded at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, a leading private mental health clinic in London. Our expert team of consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and therapists provide world-class care for conditions such as ADHD, trauma, depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, burnout and more. We offer fast, confidential self-booking appointments and a full range of outpatient therapies to support recovery.