Psychology, Actually

Are soft skills more important than qualifications?
When people think about building a successful psychology career, it's easy to focus on degrees, experience and technical expertise. But what if the qualities that matter most are the ones we don't always put on our CV?
In this episode of Psychology, Actually, I'm joined by Clinical Psychologist Cliff Hawkins to explore why reliability, curiosity, communication, professionalism and emotional intelligence may be the real ingredients of a successful psychology career.
Whether you're an aspiring psychologist hoping to secure your first Assistant Psychologist post, a trainee navigating placements, or an experienced clinician wanting to reflect on what makes teams truly thrive, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest reflections.
We explore why fresh perspectives matter, how transferable skills can become your biggest strength, why confidence sometimes grows through taking opportunities rather than waiting for them, and why being dependable may be one of the most underrated professional skills of all.
If you've ever wondered whether you're "enough", questioned what you really bring to a team, or worried that everyone else knows more than you do, this episode is for you.
⏱️ Highlights
00:00 Why soft skills might matter more than qualifications
00:45 Meet Clinical Psychologist Cliff Hawkins
01:45 Why trainees and assistants bring fresh thinking to teams
03:18 Feeling like "just the trainee"
04:44 Why your value isn't defined by your job title
06:04 When soft skills become your greatest strength
06:47 Why "soft skills" aren't soft at all
08:19 Reliability, respect and professional relationships
09:43 Marianne reflects on breaking cycles around punctuality
11:37 Seizing opportunities and building confidence
13:21 Creating your own opportunities in psychology
15:24 Why being yourself matters more than sounding perfect
16:34 Keeping promises and building trust
18:23 The McKinsey 7S Model explained
20:49 Using soft skills to strengthen psychology interviews
21:31 Where to find Cliff Hawkins
22:00 Marianne's reflections and resources for aspiring psychologists

Links:
📲 Click to Follow Cliff Hawkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliff-hawkins-1b2ba530/
Check out Cliff's Website: www.Cliffhawkinspsychology.com
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and support the show head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:
If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes.
Hashtags:
#softskills #psychologycareer #psychologygraduate
⚠️ Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.
© Dr Marianne Trent

In this week's Inner Work, I reflect on the surprising grief that can emerge when we begin to understand our patterns more clearly. Sometimes the sadness isn't about what happened. It's about what didn't happen.The support, safety, consistency or care that might have changed everything.We explore grief, boundaries, childhood experiences and what happens when we begin to realise that our needs were valid all along.
These Inner Work videos were previously members only but I have decided to share them with you so thanks for being here.
📩 Business & Collaboration Enquiries
✉️ Email: Info@GoodThinkingPsychology.co.uk
🎧 Stay Connected With Me
Links:
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:
If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.
© Dr Marianne Trent

Why do so many of us feel responsible for everyone else's emotions?Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you wanted to say no? Feeling guilty for setting boundaries? Or carrying the weight of other people's feelings long after the conversation has ended?
In this episode of Psychology, Actually, I am joined by forensic psychologist Dr Nicole Harvey to explore the psychology of people pleasing, emotional responsibility, boundaries and the surprisingly powerful "dog poo bag" analogy.
We discuss why people pleasers often become exhausted, overwhelmed and resentful, how childhood experiences can shape our relationship patterns, and why saying no can feel genuinely frightening for some people. We also explore complex trauma, coercive control, workplace dynamics, anger, self-worth and the process of learning to put down emotional baggage that was never yours to carry in the first place.
Whether you're a recovering people pleaser, someone who struggles with boundaries, or simply curious about relationship psychology, this episode offers practical insights and plenty of moments that may feel uncomfortably familiar.
Timestamps:
00:00 The dog poo bag analogy explained
01:23 Why Dr Nicole Harvey became interested in people pleasing
02:36 Carrying emotions that don't belong to you
03:29 How resentment quietly builds
04:28 Early signs you may be a people pleaser
05:46 Saying yes when you really mean no
06:45 How people pleasing shows up at work
07:56 Power dynamics, managers and authority figures
08:20 Why saying no can feel genuinely frightening
09:20 Anger, boundaries and complex trauma
10:07 Losing yourself in relationships
11:15 Parenting, autonomy and enmeshment
12:40 How people pleasing develops in childhood
13:45 The impact on physical and emotional health
14:26 Recovery as a lifelong process
15:40 The Dog Poo Bag Test
16:36 Final reflections and next steps

Links:
📲 Connect with Dr Nicole Harvey: https://www.instagram.com/dogpoobagtest/ Get your FREE dog poo bag test score here: https://dogpoobagtest.com
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:
If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes.
Hashtags:
#peoplepleaser #peoplepleaserrecovery #sayingno

What if your nervous system is paying attention to far more than you realise?
In this week's Inner Work, I reflect on my conversation with Health Psychologist Dr Sula Windgassen and explore the idea that our bodies are constantly taking in messages about safety, worth and belonging.
We consider what happens when we repeatedly dismiss our own feelings, stay silent when something doesn't sit right, or fill our environments with content that leaves us feeling "less than".
This isn't about dramatic life changes. It's about the small moments of self-advocacy, self-respect and self-compassion that can quietly reshape how we experience ourselves and the world around us.
Highlights
00:00 Your nervous system is always listening
00:32 The cost of invalidating yourself
01:01 Self-advocacy and safe relationships
02:06 Doomscrolling and protecting your nervous system
02:38 Retraining your algorithm
03:11 Final reflections

My Inner Work series is a space to pause and think more deeply about yourself. I explore where those roles come from… and whether they’re still serving you now.
These videos were previously members only but I have decided to share them with you so thanks for being here.
💡 Want to support the channel? Like, comment, and share this video!
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📩 Business & Collaboration Enquiries
✉️ Email: Info@GoodThinkingPsychology.co.uk
🎧 Stay Connected With Me
🌍 Aspiring Psychologists Website: www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk
🌍 Good Thinking Psychology Website: www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk
💼 LinkedIn: Dr Marianne Trent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marianne-trent-psychology/ 📘
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodThinkingPsychologicalServices
🐦 Twitter/X: @DrMarianneTrent
📸 Instagram: @DrMarianneTrent
🎵 TikTok: @DrMarianneTrent.
📚 My Books on Amazon
📖 The Grief Collective → https://amzn.to/4hNHru5
📖 The Clinical Psychologist Collective → https://amzn.to/3ErIEJs
📖 The Aspiring Psychologist Collective → https://amzn.to/4jSxc9N
📖 Talking Heads: Stories of Psychology & Mental Health → https://amzn.to/3EvbKaN
📖 An Autistic Anthology: Neuro-Narratives of Mental Health Professionals → https://amzn.to/3WXBpz9

⚠️ Disclaimer This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk. © Dr Marianne Trent
#psychologypodcast

When doctors tell us our tests are normal, many people hear a very different message: "It's all in your head." But what if that phrase is based on a complete misunderstanding of how the mind and body actually work together?
In this episode of Psychology, Actually, I am joined by Health Psychologist Dr Sula Windgassen, author of It's All In Your Body, to explore chronic illness, pain, recurrent UTIs, adenomyosis, periods, stress, nervous system regulation and the powerful relationship between physical and psychological health.
We discuss why so many people feel dismissed when living with chronic symptoms, how medical uncertainty can become psychologically overwhelming, and why understanding the mind-body connection can be deeply validating rather than blaming.Whether you're living with chronic illness, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how psychology and physical health interact, this episode offers practical insights and hope.
Highlights
00:00 Why "it's all in your head" misses the point
01:06 Dr Sula's personal journey with chronic illness
02:51 Why the book is called It's All In Your Body
04:09 The problem with normal test results
06:36 Chronic illness, fibromyalgia and feeling blamed
10:36 Periods, pain and adenomyosis
13:33 Why women often normalise suffering
14:39 Chronic illness and trauma responses
16:33 Why we need better conversations about periods
18:00 Psychobiological loops explained
21:23 Biology-balanced behaviour and allostatic load
25:47 Migraines, sleep and routine
27:15 Glutamate, decision fatigue and modern life
29:26 The Default Mode Network and creativity
33:19 Chronic illness, fear and nervous system responses
36:11 How breathing changes physiology
39:13 Hope, healing and taking back control

Links:
📚 Grab Sula Windgassen's Book It's All in Your Body: A Practical Roadmap to Healing Through Mind-Body Connection here: https://amzn.to/4oE9mBG
📲 Connect with Dr Sula Windgassen here: https://www.instagram.com/the_health_psychologist_/
Sula's Website: https://www.healthpsychologist.co.uk
🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and / or exclusive weekly content head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join
📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0
📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97
💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership
🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses
Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)
✍️ Get your FREE Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/free-resources
📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent
💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity
Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:
If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes.
Hashtags:
#chronicpain #chronicillness #healthpsychology