Octopus Psychology

09/10/2026

We're beginning to get our heads round the scale of sexual abuse by men. What about sexual abuse by women?

This week's conversation features Ffyona Campbell discussing the motivation behind her long walks - the search for justice for girls sexually abused by nuns.

The conversation is powerful and shocking. Ffyona doesn't discuss the details of the abuse but focuses on the degree of deception and the barriers to justice.

Links to listen and read the transcript below

Naomi Murphy Ffyona Campbell Appreciation Society.

07/10/2026

AI – friend or foe?

On Monday I was lucky enough to participate in the wonderful educative and thought-provoking AI and Psychology summit curated by Esther Cole and Aisha Tariq (assisted by Matt Allen).

I’ve been following discussions about AI with much interest and it was so good to participate in an event which, rather than scaremonger, offered genuine insight and advice from a wide range of professionals with different perspectives.

My own paper positions AI as an opportunity for us to get back to doing the things that really count in therapy. Since the mid 1990s and the import of neoliberalism and managerialism ideals into psychology, it seems to me, that we’ve drifted away from what really matters in therapy and increasingly focused on manuals and technique at the expense of the relationship. The more manualised the approach we adopt in therapy, the easier it is to replace us. What research has repeatedly shown over many decades is that what really counts in therapy is the relational skills of the therapist and the ability to be truly present with our clients.

So, what does AI mean for therapy? I believe AI is giving us a gift. In a world where we are more disconnected than ever, now is the time that cultivating our sense of authentic presence and recognising our ability to sit relationally, human to human, is at a premium. In AI delivered therapy, silence is deadness not a pregnant pause or a frozen one; there is little scope for rupture, repair and growth with a sycophantic mirror and the urge to hide that accompanies shame is never confronted.

My own foray into the more useful side of AI has been the development of CalmCore an app to encourage the development of interoceptive awareness – a skill that is implicated in improved affect regulation and increased authenticity. You can find a link below

You can still watch the day on catch up via the link in the comment. It includes contributions from Winnie Akadjo, Jo Desborough, Clare Veal, Natalie Scott and Dr Rima Lamba

28/09/2026

In the latest compelling episode of the Locked Up Living podcast, hosts David Jones and Dr Naomi Murphy are joined by Dr Elly Hanson, clinical psychologist and strategy director at CEASE (Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation) and research lead at Fully Human. The episode dives deep into the commercial and cultural forces driving sexual exploitation and abuse, focusing on the influence of the po*******hy industry, the challenges of advocating for change in the face of powerful interests, and the personal and professional toll of working in this demanding field.
Dr Elly Hanson shares candid reflections on what it means to tackle deeply entrenched societal problems, the importance of collective action, and the need to uphold hope and integrity even when faced with resistance and setbacks. The conversation also explores the concept of post-traumatic growth, the dangers of bureaucratic indifference, and the power of literature and philosophy to sustain resilience.

Key highlights include:
• How commercial interests shape unhealthy sexual scripts in society
• The challenges of protecting children and societal responses to harmful content
• The emotional and ethical complexity of working with trauma and abuse
• Reflections on resilience, compassion fatigue, and remaining human in challenging systems
• Signs of societal progress: New laws and shifts in attitudes around online abuse and regulation
• Personal strategies for staying hopeful, inspired, and connected despite adversity—including poetry and collective effort
If you work in social care, education, or just care about social justice and the future of our digital society, this is an unmissable episode packed with insight, honesty, and hope.

🔗 Listen now and join the conversation every Wednesday morning at 6am UK time. Find us wherever you get your podcasts or via the links in the comments

28/09/2026

On Sunday 18 October, Physis Oundle comes to The Talbot Hotel – a one-day wellbeing festival exploring the art and science of human flourishing. The future of wellness, without the woo.
If you work with trauma, anxiety or the nervous system, here's what's worth the trip:

🔹 Metaphor and the capacity to think – Dr Libby Nugent, Clinical Psychologist and Group Analyst, leads a reflective, interactive workshop using Sleeping Beauty as a lens on what happens to our minds under pressure. A chance to go deeper into symbolic thinking and how myth can hold what's hard to say directly.
🔹 Family Constellations – Richard Buckworth offers an experiential introduction, with live demonstrations of how generational patterns show up in the present.
🔹 Hypnosis for anxiety – Laura Alexander, clinical hypnotherapist, explains how anxiety works and what feeds it, then leads a live group hypnotherapy session so you can experience the approach from the inside.
🔹 Somatic movement – Nahid de Belgeonne, author of Soothe, guides a live somatic yoga class on why the body can't switch off (limited spaces, add £15 at booking).
🔹A grounding workshop with expert in Functional Neurological Disorder expert, Kerryn Withers Green
🔹 The Discovery Zone – try technologies designed to calm the nervous system, including NeurOptimal® neurofeedback, RoshiWave™ light and sound, Neurox and Sona.

A rare chance to experience, first-hand, approaches your clients may be asking about – and to spend a day with colleagues who care about the same things.

📍 The Talbot Hotel, Oundle
🗓 Sunday 18 October, 9am–5pm
🎟 £70 – all talks, workshops and the Discovery Zone

Book at www.physisoundle.com



Elaina Smith Coaching Oundle Business

27/09/2026

What if you could meditate like a monk… without the 20 years of practice? The biohackers toolkit is coming to Oundle

On Sunday 18th October, the Discovery Room at Physis Oundle (The Talbot Hotel, Oundle) is your chance to find out.
We've gathered some of the most talked-about wellbeing technology in one room, and you're invited to try it for yourself:

🎧 NeurOptimal® – neurofeedback that reflects your brain's activity back to it through music, giving it the chance to rebalance on its own terms
🧠 NeuroX – cutting-edge neurotech and brain–computer interface devices
🕶️ ROSHIwave – light-and-sound glasses designed to quieten the "monkey mind" and guide you towards a deep meditative state in minutes
⚡ NES miHealth – a handheld device using gentle pulsed frequencies to support the body's natural rhythms
💓 SONA – a wearable vagus nerve stimulator that syncs with your breath and heartbeat to help your nervous system step out of "high alert"
🌿 Flix VR Mindfulness – slip on a headset and step into an immersive 360° world of calm

Many of these devices cost hundreds, and some several thousand, pounds to own, or come at a hefty price per session in a clinic. This is a rare chance to try them all under one roof, in one afternoon, and discover what actually works for you.
Curious? Sceptical? Both are welcome. Come and see for yourself.

📅 Sunday 18th October
📍 The Talbot Hotel, Oundle
🎟️ www.physisoundle.com



Elaina Smith Coaching

23/09/2026

We might all have an opinion on whether musicians should pull out of performances in solidarity with free speech. What role are we playing in the health of our society? Should we look a little closer to home?
Delighted to share this blog post in the comments from Des McVey who’s a powerful and thought provoking speaker. You can catch him in person at Physis Oundle on 18th October 2026.
Tickets available via www.physisoundle.com

22/09/2026

Curious about how fairytales can help you make sense of life?

I’m delighted Dr. Libby Nugent: Clinical Psychologist is joining us at Physis Oundle - Wellbeing Festival on 18/10/26

Tickets available via www.physisoundle.com

Follow the red thread… 🧶

I’ve been writing these two companions for a while now — one for anyone who wants to wander through everyday life with fairy tales as a guide, and one for mental health professionals navigating the woods of work.

Into the Woods
A Fairy-Tale Companion for Reflection on Everyday Life

Into the Woods at Work
A Reflective Practice Companion for Mental Health Professionals

Both invite you to sit with familiar stories (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, Bearskin and more), notice what they stir, and write your own reflections in the generous pages provided.

If you’re curious, you can find them here:
https://amzn.eu/d/0d04FaRL
With warm wishes,
Libby

22/09/2026

Such a heartbreaking snapshot of our society and how we fail to protect the most vulnerable. I was pleased to be invited to contribute to this piece.

64% children who end up in youth custody have been through the care system.

Is it any surprise that treating children who've already been harmed through neglect, rejection and abuse within a system built around behaviourism results in harsh and punitive measures. A well-adjusted child would struggle in this system, we surely don't expect psychologically hurt ones to fare better?

HM Inspectorate of Prisons said standards in secure training centres and young offender institutions remained “woeful”, despite the number of children held in custody falling to its lowest level

21/09/2026

We might all have an opinion on whether musicians should pull out of performances in solidarity with free speech. What role are we playing in the health of our society? Should we look a little closer to home?

Delighted to share this blog post in the comments from Des McVey who’s a powerful and thought provoking speaker. You can catch him in person at Physis Oundle on 18th October 2026.

Tickets available via www.physisoundle.com

Elaina Smith Coaching Naomi Murphy Inkwell Printing

https://naomimurphy.substack.com/p/from-shame-to-compassion?r=2itz5x&utm_campaign=post-expanded-

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17/09/2026

Are you in the third of the population that experience anxiety or stress on a daily level?

Then Physis Oundle on Sunday 18th October 2026 is the event for you. With a somatic movement class with Nahid de Belgeonne to reset your nervous system, a workshop on coping with anxiety by hypnotherapist Laura Alexander Hypnotherapy (who will also run a small group hypnotherapy session live) and a session devoted to grounding with FNDwellbeing 's Kerryn Withers-Green there’s plenty to participate in and learn new skills that will leave you calmer and relaxed.

We also have a discovery zone where you can have free sessions on many amazing technologies that can calm your nervous system, improve your ability to sleep and even help you get into a flow state more easily.

Most of all, this will be a day that will be fun, enjoyable and give you some new ways to approach life without feeling overwhelmed.

Get your ticket for £70 for the full day at www.physisoundle.com

Elaina Smith Coaching Inkwell Printing Oundle Business