Octopus Psychology

Octopus Psychology Octopus Psychology specialises in helping people recover from trauma, particularly experiences rooted in childhood abuse, neglect, or institutional harm such as bullying, whistleblowing, or boarding school environments.

Our in person and online services combine in depth psychological therapy, life coaching, and cutting edge neurotechnology to support nervous system regulation and long term healing. Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burnt out, we tailor our work to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

With over 30,000 hours of experience each, our doctoral level clinicians (HCPC registered) and Consultant Nurse Psychotherapist (NMC-registered, BABCP-accredited) provide a neuroscience-informed approach using clinical psychology, psychotherapy, coaching, and non-invasive neurotech tools such as NeurOptimal®, RoshiWave, and Safe & Sound Protocol.

Our work is grounded in compassion, confidentiality, and deep expertise in trauma recovery.

We offer complimentary consultations to craft the right therapeutic pathway for you, with flexible delivery via Oundle or online.

Enhance your emotional regulation, focus & flow, proprioception and sleep

What does it take to work on Hunted?In this conversation, Pasha Munroe, hunter and security expert, shares his journey f...
22/10/2025

What does it take to work on Hunted?
In this conversation, Pasha Munroe, hunter and security expert, shares his journey from a challenging upbringing to a successful career in security and military with David and Naomi. He discusses the importance of resilience, the impact of mentorship, and the challenges of transitioning to civilian life. Pasha emphasizes the significance of mental health support and the need for role models, particularly for young people. He reflects on his experiences in the military, the moral dilemmas faced in security work, and the importance of community engagement through motivational speaking.
Key takeaways
• Pasha's work includes close protection for celebrities and royalty.
• He emphasizes the importance of resilience in overcoming adversity.
• His military background shaped his approach to personal and professional challenges.
• Pasha believes in the value of mentorship and role models for youth.
• He highlights the need for mental health support in high-stress professions.
• Transitioning to civilian life can be challenging but rewarding.
• Networking is crucial for career advancement and opportunities.
• Pasha advocates for honesty and openness about mental health.
• He encourages young people to pursue their dreams regardless of obstacles.
• Pasha's experiences have led him to engage with communities through motivational speaking.

Links to watch and listen in the comments.

19/10/2025

Last week David and Naomi had the privilege of speaking with bestselling author and historian Andrew Lownie on the Locked Up Living podcast. Andrew’s work delves into the hidden, often uncomfortable truths about powerful institutions—including the British royal family—and explores what it means to “speak truth to power.”
His dedication to bringing hard evidence and transparency to stories routinely suppressed or ignored is a lesson in courage and integrity. As Andrew shared, “We have a duty to speak truth to power and that people shouldn’t be allowed to get away with their bad behaviour just because they’re rich and powerful.”
In a world where accountability is often lacking, conversations like these remind us why robust, fearless investigation matters.
Link to book review in the comments

Look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts or via the links below

We Mourn the Men We Paid to Destroy Themselves: The Hypocrisy of Our Violent CultureWhen Ricky Hatton’s death was announ...
18/10/2025

We Mourn the Men We Paid to Destroy Themselves: The Hypocrisy of Our Violent Culture

When Ricky Hatton’s death was announced, the nation grieved. Tributes poured in for the “People’s Champion” — a working-class hero who embodied grit, courage, and heart. At his funeral, the pews were filled with familiar faces: boxing greats like Frank Bruno and Tyson Fury, both of whom have publicly battled suicidal thoughts. Yet among those mourning were many of the same people who once paid for ringside seats to watch Hatton inflict and receive brutal violence.

There is something deeply uncomfortable about that.

Link to read the full post in comments

15/10/2025

If this episode of Locked Up Living were a true crime novel, it would be a sharp, suspenseful investigation into the shadowy corridors of power, privilege, and secrecy within Britain’s royal family. The story opens with historian and biographer Andrew Lownie—our detective, armed with a thirst for the truth and an unyielding curiosity—peeling back velvet curtains to reveal the criminal undertones beneath the monarchy’s glittering surface.
The novel’s protagonist is drawn not by loyalty to the crown, but by the evidence of corruption and cover-up—Mountbatten’s hidden crimes, Edward VIII’s N**i sympathies, the financial misdeeds and moral failings of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. No stone is left unturned; archival record-fudging, sealed wills, and legal loopholes are used to conceal, not protect, and all contribute to the deepening sense of conspiracy and danger.

As the investigator pushes deeper, each chapter escalates the tension. Documents disappear; witnesses fall silent; the establishment itself moves to discredit, threaten, and bankrupt those who get too close to the truth. The protagonist endures financial ruin, legal intimidation, and character assassination—collateral damage in the hunt for accountability at the highest levels.

Andrew Lownie isn’t merely compiling evidence—he’s piecing together a secret history. The privileged suspects, emotionally stunted and desperate for validation, are cast in dual roles: both perpetrators and victims of a system that fosters entitlement and impunity. Child abuse, sexual addiction, and profound insecurity haunt their gilded lives, giving their crimes a tragic, human dimension.

Throughout this “case,” Naomi Murphy and David Jones are his allies, asking probing questions and drawing powerful parallels to the criminal justice system. Their conversations weave together forensic psychology and investigative journalism, painting a chilling portrait of a society where the powerful rewrite the rules, and where whistleblowers and outsiders pay the highest price for daring to speak out.

In the book’s final chapters, the tension mounts: will the protagonist’s relentless pursuit of truth shame the untouchable, or will the machinery of monarchy grind him down as it has so many before? The ending is unresolved, lingering with the uncomfortable knowledge that the crimes of the elite rarely find justice.

Locked Up Living’s “true crime novel” is not just about royal scandals—it’s about conscience, consequence, and the unending fight to expose those who believe themselves to be above the law

Links to watch and listen in the comments

15/10/2025

We’re thrilled to share the latest episode of Locked Up Living, featuring the brilliant Philip Stokoe in conversation with Dr. Naomi Murphy and David Jones. Philip takes us on a fascinating journey through his early days in forensic work, the challenges of leading therapeutic communities with young offenders, and the life-changing moment he discovered the power of understanding projected feelings in therapeutic environments.
Key takeaways from this episode:
✨ The importance of creating safety for young people who offend—not just physical containment, but emotional safety through genuine curiosity and “benign inquiry.”
✨ What really matters in therapy: boundaries, ruptures, and the art of recognizing and working with countertransference.
✨ Why organisations need to build spaces for staff to process emotional experiences at work—and how doing so prevents burnout and enables meaningful change.
✨ Insights on hierarchy, decision-making, and what makes a truly healthy organisation.

Philip’s reflections are inspiring for anyone working in forensic, mental health, social care, or organizational consultancy. Whether you’re a practitioner, manager, or student, don’t miss this deep dive into real change in challenging environments.

Catch the full episode now and join the conversation! Links below in comments

Do you feel alone? As if you’re the only one experiencing the challenges that you’re facing? As if you’re somewhat adri...
13/10/2025

Do you feel alone? As if you’re the only one experiencing the challenges that you’re facing? As if you’re somewhat adrift? Could healing be easier if more people could see who you really are?

At Octopus Psychology we offer individual therapy sessions to help you overcome your personal struggles and support you to be the person you are truly meant to be. But sometimes, it helps to know that others can also see this and are walking this journey with you. We invited Chris Braitch of Seen & Heard to tell us why peer support groups are so helpful to those recovering from trauma arising from Boarding Education as well as those who just feel a bit lost.

You can find a link to his compassionate and thoughtful post below

09/10/2025

Have you heard of the Emmett technique?

I’d never heard of it until this summer when I happened to be at an event with several Emmett therapists. Several of the people at the event had problems with anxiety or other physical manifestations of distress which came up during the time there. Each time, the Emmett therapists worked their magic helping people ground and stabilise within a moment or two. Which made me wonder why I’d not encountered Emmett before? As a sensorimotor psychotherapist, I understand how interwoven our minds and bodies are. Releasing bodily tension can create a huge shift in emotional well-being and help restore a feeling of being grounded. So, I’m curious to learn more.

What is Emmett?
It’s the application of light finger touch to release body tension and anxiety that people can be taught to use on themselves. These simple light touch movements are designed to trigger responses from the body’s nervous system, promoting healing and offering relief from chronic pain and tension.

It can be used on animals too.

I’m investigating Emmett further to see if I can incorporate it into therapy to help those struggling with anxiety. If you’ve experienced Emmett for an emotional issue or incorporated Emmett or other body-based strategies into your psychological practice I would love to hear from you.

You can learn more about using Emmett for yourself at a one day event later this month with Catriona Alderton or train as a practitioner to help others with Lesley Salt. Link to training is below. Both Cat and Lesley are lovely, warm and knowledgeable practitioners.

05/10/2025

How should we navigate the risks of AI to gain the benefits?

Is your therapist using AI for their clinical records - does that come at a cost?

Octopus Psychology are NOT using AI to manage your clinical notes. Your privacy is guaranteed!

04/10/2025

For Therapists: Embracing Humility and Presence in Complex Trauma Work

Listening to Anneke Lucas’s story on the Locked Up Living podcast is a powerful reminder of the complexities survivors face and the pivotal role therapists play in their healing journey.
Anneke, who endured unimaginable childhood abuse within elite trafficking networks, speaks candidly about her long road through therapy—and the barriers she faced along the way. She highlights something all therapists must remember: when working with survivors of profound trauma, we need to be both present and humble.

Key takeaways for therapists from Anneke’s experience:
• Suspend Judgment: Even when disclosures seem unfathomable, our job is not to validate or invalidate, but to hold compassionate space. As Anneke puts it, “privately, you don’t necessarily have to believe this person, but you do have to create this container… you have to watch yourself all the time when you’re with clients.”
• Do Your Own Work: If you notice strong internal reactions—disbelief, discomfort, or a need to be the ‘expert’—see these as invitations for self-reflection. Anneke encourages therapists to stay open, work through unresolved personal trauma, and not let ego or unexamined worldview get in the way of being effective helpers.
• Trauma Is Not Linear: Anneke’s healing journey spanned decades, involved missteps and multiple therapists. Real progress sometimes means sitting with not knowing.
• Humility and Power Dynamics: Therapists must be willing to examine their own need for authority or admiration, and notice when these dynamics play out in the room. The client is the expert in their own story.
• Hold Space Without Hierarchy: Anneka’s “Unconditional Model” is about meeting people where they are—with real presence, and without assuming we know better.
As Anneka learned and now teaches, the privilege of being a witness is profound. When we, as therapists, model humility, ongoing self-examination, and genuine presence, we create the safest conditions possible for healing. Your willingness to keep learning from survivors will always matter more than having all the right answers.

If you’d like to learn more about Anneka’s Unconditional Model or integrate these lessons in your practice, check out her workshops at her website.

Feel free to share this with your colleagues or bookmark it as a reminder of why your presence—more than your expertise—matters so deeply in trauma work.

Links to watch/listen and read below or look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts

We choose our friends, but not our family. How can we navigate these relationships more easily?Thanks very much to Acti...
04/10/2025

We choose our friends, but not our family. How can we navigate these relationships more easily?

Thanks very much to Active Magazine for including this piece in this months issue

Did Panorama’s “Undercover in the Police” really show us the true picture? Panorama has a long history of using undercov...
03/10/2025

Did Panorama’s “Undercover in the Police” really show us the true picture?

Panorama has a long history of using undercover filming to expose shocking behaviour inside institutions. Des McVey highlights how the recent documentary set inside Charing Cross police station, where officers were caught on hidden camera engaging in racist, misogynistic, violent and degrading behaviour, follows a now familiar formula. A previous programme at Edenfield hospital showed equally appalling conduct from mental health nurses.

The structure rarely changes. First, the audience is confronted with undeniable footage of misconduct by staff — often at sergeant level or below in the police, or charge nurse level and below in healthcare. Then, we are shown the reaction of a senior figure from the profession. These individuals, introduced as experts with decades of experience, sit down to watch the footage and pronounce their judgement.

If these programme makers want to make a real difference, does their formula need to change? You can read Des’s observations via the link in the comments

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