In this episode we speak with Dr Tom Clements, an Educational Psychologist, about the problems with withdrawing playtime from children and young people. We discuss why teachers may resort to removing playtime and how they view this approach touching on a realisation that this can often be making the problem worst. We discuss alternatives to the removal of punishment that teachers themselves came to in the course of the project and think about why it is important that teachers refle...

In the episode we speak to Dr Duncan Gillard, an Educational Psychologist who is using evidence informed approaches to promote the well-being of children and young people in his work. We discussed DNA-V (the Acceptance and Commitment model for youth) and how this has been adapted to universal, targeted and more specialist levels for use in schools. We discuss how important it is for interventions in school to be evidence based and evidence informed and how this has been proven for the C...

In this episode we speak with Dr Clio Berry about her research which has explored hope in young people.We explore a new model of hope and how we could apply this to help build hope in young people. We discuss the malleability of hope and what can be done to try and increase hope for those that are struggling with low hope, alongside considering why hope is such an important area to consider in students.For more information about Clio's work please visit:YouTube channel: @hoperesearchsus...

In this episode we speak with Dr Emily Hattersley, Educational Psychologist, about teacher's views on young people's mental health in schools.We explore how teacher's try to understand the needs of those they work with and how their insights and thoughtfulness show the level of care, and desire to help, behind the profession. However, we also discuss the difficulties in meeting needs whilst adhering to the demands of the curriculum, and how this takes its toll on the teacher's own wellb...

In this episode we speak with Dr Becky Morgan, Educational Psychologist, about how language can impact on the identities of adolescent, autistic girls.We discuss how words can influence how autistic girls see themselves and are seen by others and how power also feeds into this identity. We explore how different dialogues can help or hinder young autistic girls and how we can use this to help support them to develop positive self-concepts. To find out more: Autistic Masking: Understandin...

In this episode we speak with Dr Emma Barrow, Educational Psychologist, about the barriers to adolescents seeking help for their mental health. We discuss how issues such as perceived impact of the help they will receive and stigma about mental health create barriers to adolescents seeking the help they need and also consider what facilitates this behaviour. We think about the impact these findings have on whole school approaches to mental health and the importance of listening to pupil...

In this episode we speak with Dr Nadia Siddique about her work which has explored the effectiveness of interventions on outcomes for students. We discuss her evaluation of the Philosophy4Children intervention in schools and what she learnt from this study. We talk about the power of using questions in classroom practice and how this can develop a range of skills above and beyond the lesson being taught. To find out more about Philosophy4Children visit: Philosophy4Children...

In this episode we speak with Dr Emma Williams, from the University of Surrey, about her research investigating how autistic pupils in mainstream school settings make sense of themselves and what impacts on this. Emma discusses her synthesis of studies which found that most autistic pupils appear to make sense of themselves as being different in a negative way to other pupils. This puts them at higher risk of developing low self-esteem and poor mental well-being. We discuss ways o...

In this episode we speak to Dr J. J. Kelly, of 'Unorthdocs Inc.', about how she has taught young people to have the skills to love themselves. We discuss J. J.'s use of dialectical behavioural therapy to help people build the skills they need to support themselves. We touch on some of the unique approaches she uses in her own work, such as mentoring and a focus on values, and consider how these can be applied in schools. To find out more about J. J.'s work you can visit her we...

In this episode we speak to Dr Lawrence Howells, Clinical Psychologist, about his work which focuses on a move away from diagnosing mental health disorders towards an emotion based approach to well-being. We discuss how understanding the developmental stage of adolescence is crucial in understanding how best to support adolescent well-being. We explore how this understanding does not fit with the medical model of diagnosis, which highlights difficulties and difference. Instead, La...