Psychology, Actually

What does an IQ score actually tell us about a person and what can it miss? The answer is far more complicated than a single number, especially when we consider strengths, weaknesses, culture, education and real-world ability. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent joins Dr Keith Jenkins to explore the history and evolution of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), what...

Would you take a pay cut for a job that looks worse on paper? Sometimes the move that feels like a step backwards is exactly what your career needs next. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent explores when a sideways or seemingly backwards career move, like dropping from a Band 5 to a Band 4 assistant psychologist role, could actually help you grow. Drawing on a real Reddit ca...

Replaying your worst interview answer on a loop? You're not alone and it probably says less about you than you think. In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent explores why we ruminate over interview mistakes, the difference between a poor answer and a poor candidate, and how to use post-interview embarrassment as information rather than punishment. 🎧 Listen to the Professor Paul Gilbert L...

Ever wonder how much of your stress is actually yours or whether you've quietly picked up someone else's expectations along the way? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent explores where stress really comes from, the difference between acute and chronic stress, and the hidden costs of ignoring it, from sleep and relationships to burnout. She shares practical ways to audit your...

What if the person you've stopped trusting is yourself? In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent explores why self-doubt often traces back to childhood experiences, and how to gently begin trusting your own judgement, hopes, and dreams again. #InnerWork #TrustYourself #mentalhealthawareness Grab Simon Squibb’s What’s Your Dream book: https://amzn.to/4d57H3c Another Inner Work Episode I thi...

Why can being signed off work feel like you're doing something wrong, even when you know you're genuinely unwell? Resting can become tangled up with guilt, productivity, and self-worth. In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent explores why we compare ourselves to colleagues, feel the need to prove we're ill, struggle to switch off from work, and find it difficult to give ourselves permissi...

The Traitors is a game of lies, but what does it really reveal about how our brains decide who to trust? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Dr Ellie Buckley to explore first impressions, thin slice judgements, confidence versus competence, and why our instincts often fail us. From roundtable pressure to the risks of over-trusting AI, they unpack how trust is bu...

When depression makes even the smallest things feel enormous, knowing where to start can feel impossible. But sometimes, one minute is enough to begin making a small shift. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent explores five one-minute habits that helped her with depression and low mood. She discusses behavioural activation and why you may need to take action before motivation...

One piece of criticism. A thousand catastrophic thoughts. Sound familiar? In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent unpacks why work feedback can spiral into self-doubt, how to separate thoughts from facts, and practical ways to steady yourself, from breathing techniques to knowing when to lean on a union, HR, or a trusted person in your corner. #InnerWork #WorkplaceCriticism #mentalwellbei...

Could one badly judged email, social media post, or rough patch at work put your psychology career at risk before it even begins? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent joins Nicholas Stöckling to explore fitness-to-practice proceedings for trainee psychologists and other pre-qualified healthcare professionals. They unpack what actually triggers FTP concerns, how the process di...

Why did no one see who he really was sooner? The answer might be charisma itself. In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent reflects on Netflix's Worst Ex Ever and unpacks why charm, confidence, and love bombing can quietly shut down our ability to spot red flags. #Charisma #RedFlags #LoveBombing 📚 Get your copy of The Psychopath Effect by Dr Emma Kavanagh: https://amzn.to/455qlUu 💡 Want...

Could you spot a psychopath before it's too late, or does their charm switch off the very part of your brain that would warn you? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Dr Emma Kavanagh to explore the psychology of psychopathy, why charismatic people can trigger the "guru effect" in our brains, and how love bombing, gaslighting, and trauma bonding trap people in da...

What if the answer that changed your life wasn't actually the final answer? Sometimes the biggest breakthrough begins with questioning a single "no". In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent explores why rejection hurts, how our brains respond to hearing "no", and why curiosity, perseverance, and self-reflection can sometimes open doors you thought were closed. #Rejection #PersonalGrowth #...

What if the biggest obstacle to becoming a psychologist isn't your qualifications, but simply not knowing all your options? This little-known route could save aspiring psychologists years of time, money, and unnecessary setbacks. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Esther Teo to explore the BPS Assessment of Equivalence, how it can provide an alternative route t...

What if the thing you've been searching for isn't confidence or happiness, but a genuine sense of safety? Feeling safe can transform how you think, connect, and experience the world. In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent explores why psychological safety is essential for emotional wellbeing, how our nervous system learns to expect danger, and why finding moments of safety can be the fir...

Could one of the most effective wellbeing tools already be sitting in a knitting bag? Sometimes the simplest habits can have a bigger psychological impact than we expect. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Dr Mia Hobbs and Dr Paula Redmond to explore how knitting and crochet can support mental health, emotional wellbeing and self-care through evidence-informed...

Trauma doesn't always look the way people expect. Sometimes it shows up as anxiety, depression, emotional numbness or unhealthy coping strategies instead. In the Episode, Dr Marianne Trent explores why we avoid emotional pain, how trauma affects the brain, and why therapies such as EMDR can help you reconnect with yourself and move towards healing. #Trauma #EMDR #MentalHealth 💡 Want to support th...

What if trauma isn't over because your brain still thinks you're in danger? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by clinical psychologist and EMDR trainer Dr Alex Button to explore how EMDR therapy works, why PTSD develops, and how trauma can affect grief, anxiety and everyday life. Discover the three core PTSD symptom groups, the difference between big and small tr...

Are you always trying to improve yourself or is it time to accept where you are? In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent explores self-acceptance, perfectionism, alcohol, and the pressure to keep optimising ourselves. 💬 Where do you draw the line between growth and acceptance? #InnerWork #SelfAcceptance #MentalHealth 💡 Want to support the channel? Like, comment, and share this episode!...

Most people think Tourette's is just swearing, but that's one of the biggest myths. In this episode, Dr Marianne Trent and clinical psychologist Dr Jason Codner explore what Tourette's syndrome is really like, how it affects everyday life, common misconceptions, diagnosis, treatment, and the support available. #tourettesyndrome #MentalHealth #psychology #tourettes Highlights 00:00 Introduction 00:...

What if the story you've been telling yourself isn't true? In this episode, Dr Marianne Trent explores why change is possible, how curiosity can transform your life, and why seeking the right support could change everything. 💬 What would you change if you could? #psychology #MentalHealth #selfgrowth 💡 Want to support the channel? Like, comment, and share this episode! #psychologypodcast #choosey...

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What do you do when someone you love is struggling, but you can’t fix what they’re going through? In this episode of Inner Work, Dr Marianne Trent explores the importance of holding hope, focusing on what we can control and responding to distress with compassion rather than shame. Drawing on psychology, systemic therapy and personal reflections, Marianne discusses how curiosity, understanding and...

What actually helps someone recover from anorexia? After developing anorexia as a teenager, Tiffany Luxford spent approximately two years receiving inpatient treatment. Today, she is fully recovered and using her lived experience to improve how eating disorders are understood and supported. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Tiffany joins Dr Marianne Trent to share what genuinely helped her...

Are you waiting to be chosen… or are you choosing yourself? How often do we wait for permission before pursuing the life we really want? Whether it's applying for a new job, reaching out to someone we admire, asking for help or taking the first step towards a goal, it can feel safer to wait for someone else to notice us. In this episode of Inner Work, I reflect on one of the biggest ideas to emerg...