Octopus Psychology

07/09/2025

The Hidden Realities of ICU Trauma & Workplace Violence

This week on the Locked Up Living podcast, David and Naomi published a profound conversation with Lee Powers, a nurse, ICU and workplace violence survivor, and international speaker whose lived experience has become a catalyst for change in healthcare.

Lee’s story is both harrowing and deeply inspiring. After being assaulted during a psychiatric ICU night shift, she faced a long, challenging recovery—physically, financially, and emotionally. Her openness about the difficulties of returning to life after such trauma shines a light on serious gaps in healthcare and staff safety, especially in the U.S., where legal protections for assaulted healthcare workers vary drastically by state.
What struck us most was Lee’s remarkable strength and resilience—her drive to make the system safer for others, her willingness to talk candidly about ICU patient experience, and her call for more compassionate, human-centred care. Lee reminds us of the importance of supporting not just patients, but also the professionals on the front line.

Key takeaways:
• Nurse and healthcare worker safety IS patient safety
• ICU patients can be deeply aware, even while appearing unconscious
• Honest communication and humanity at the bedside matter just as much as clinical expertise

Lee’s determination to use her story for system change is truly moving. If you work in healthcare—or care about those who do—we encourage you to listen and join the conversation about how we can make our institutions safer and more supportive for everyone.

🔗 Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts or follow the links in the comments

27/08/2025

What is coercive control and how do you recognise when your relationship is bad for your health?

Thanks very much to Active Magazine for giving me the space for this piece on one form of toxic relationship

27/08/2025

Thanks very much to for giving me space for this piece on coercive control

27/08/2025

Delighted to contribute an article on coercive control to this issue. Thanks very much to Active Magazine for giving me the space to raise this important issue

The September issue is out today and there’s lots in it. Pick up your copy locally or read online at theactivemag.com

27/08/2025

How does the NHS cope in the aftermath of a patient su***de? And what are the consequences for loved ones, clinicians and the service?

Today’s Locked Up Living conversation features Dr Rachel Gibbons, Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst and Group Analyst.

Rachel’s career has been profoundly shaped by experiencing four patient su***des very early on in her career. She discusses the complexity of patient su***de, the impact on clinicians and need for reflection in the aftermath of such an event

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

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27/08/2025

Can exercise be bad for your health?

Last week for Locked Up Living we published a conversation with Chris Matthews, social scientist on what can go wrong with sport.

Look out for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts or follow the links in the comments.

And if you're interested in the dark side of sport, this sits alongside other episodes :

Deborah Jump discussing boxing in the criminal justice system.

Emma Webb discussing abuse in British Gymnastics and other sports.

Jan Rosenthal discussing the impact of elite football on mental health

Dave Harris discussing boxing and early onset dementia

15/08/2025

David and Naomi had an inspiring conversation with Dr. Eileen Borris on the Locked Up Living Podcast about the power of political forgiveness—what it means, why it matters, and how it’s possible even after deep societal divides.

Her real-world stories from places like Rwanda and South Africa were a powerful reminder: forgiveness is a skill we can all develop, and it’s essential for healing ourselves and our communities.

Listen to the episode for practical insights on moving from anger to reconciliation – even when all seems lost

🔗 Links in comments or look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts

13/08/2025

Are you struggling to watch the news right now with its constant focus on the politics and consequences of hate? This week's conversation with Eileen Borris is a delightful counterweight

David and Naomi had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Eileen Borris—clinical and political psychologist, UN advisor, and international leader in political forgiveness—on the latest episode of the Locked Up Living Podcast.

In this deeply insightful conversation, Eileen broke down the concept of political forgiveness: a process that merges truth, forbearance, empathy, and a commitment to repairing relationships after deep divisions or harm. Drawing on her decades of experience from conflict zones such as Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Ethiopia, and the Middle East, Eileen shared powerful narratives of communal healing, restorative justice, and the practical (and often misunderstood) steps it takes to truly forgive.

Key takeaways:
- Forgiveness isn’t about excusing wrongdoing or forgetting the past—it’s about processing emotions, seeking justice, facilitating repair, and ultimately, fostering peace within ourselves and our communities.
- Self-forgiveness is sometimes the hardest step, yet it’s essential for moving forward.
- Powerful examples, from the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission to healing circles in Sierra Leone, show how communities can come together and transform after even the most traumatic events.

Eileen’s message is more vital than ever: Anyone can learn the skills of forgiveness—and by doing so, contribute to healing divides in society.

If you’re interested in the intersections of psychology, justice, and societal change, I highly recommend giving this episode a listen.

🔗 Links in comments or look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts

10/08/2025

🗣️ This week Naomi and David’s guests shine a spotlight on silenced survivors.

We heard from Susan McCrae and Sherri Thompson, founders of The Restitution Project—an initiative advocating for adult survivors of childhood abuse who are silenced by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Both women’s personal stories reveal not only the emotional and psychological toll of NDAs, but also how these legal tools are still being used—shockingly even against victims of serious crime.

Key takeaways:
• NDAs originated for trade secrets, but have become standard in cases of child abuse, silencing survivors and protecting perpetrators.
• Breaking an NDA comes with tangible risks: financial penalties, legal battles, and further trauma.
• Both Susan and Sherry’s fight has been as much about their own healing as it is about reform—so no one else has to sit in silence.
• The conversation needs to include and centre child and youth victims—not just workplace survivors or adults.

These stories aren’t easy to hear, but it’s absolutely vital that we listen. If we want true justice and prevention, we must reckon with the systems that protect abusers and marginalise survivors.

🙌 Thank you, Susan and Sherri, for your honesty, resilience, and the invaluable work you’re doing to support survivors.
If you work in law, social care, education, or any field intersecting with safeguarding and justice—this episode is essential listening.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

Links to watch, listen and read are in the comments or look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts

06/08/2025

🛑 Shining a Light on NDAs and Childhood Abuse 🛑

In this week’s episode of the Locked Up Living podcast, Naomi and David had the privilege of hearing from Susan McCrae and Sherri Thompson, co-founders of The Restitution Project. Both women are courageous survivors of childhood abuse and have spent decades bound by Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) that silenced their voices and experiences.

Their stories were not only heartbreaking but also a powerful call to action. We learned how NDAs—originally intended for corporate confidentiality—have been weaponised to cover up abuse, shield perpetrators, and perpetuate cycles of trauma.

Susan and Sherri spoke candidly about the personal cost of being silenced and the obstacles they faced in seeking justice, even decades later.

A few takeaways that stuck with us:
✨ Whilst NDAs to conceal criminal conduct have been outlawed in the UK, NDAs are still being used worldwide to cover up abuse, including as recently as 2023 in sports organisations.
✨ Survivors are often retraumatised by the legal system, not just their abusers.
✨ The fight for visibility and justice is ongoing, but coming together and breaking the silence is empowering and necessary.

Thank you, Susan and Sherri, for your honesty, resilience, and the invaluable work you’re doing to support survivors.

If you work in law, social care, education, or any field intersecting with safeguarding and justice—this episode is essential listening.
Let’s keep the conversation going.



Links to watch, listen and read are in the comments or look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts

04/08/2025

Last week, David and Naomi published a conversation with Dr. Warren Larkin, diving into the impact of childhood adversity, trauma-informed care, and the importance of creating safe environments in education and mental health services.
Warren shares his inspiring journey from struggling at school to becoming a leading clinical psychologist, the development of the REACH model, and why routine inquiry about trauma should be standard practice. Lots of lessons here for practitioners, policymakers, and anyone passionate about prevention and wellbeing.

Highly recommend to anyone interested in mental health, education, and meaningful system change!

Look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts or find a link to the transcript and conversation in the comments

23/07/2025

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🎙️
This week on the Locked Up Living podcast, hosts Dr. Naomi Murphy and David Jones sit down with Jennifer Gibson, co-founder of the non-profit Psst! to discuss the harsh realities and high stakes of whistleblowing—especially inside the tech industry.
Jennifer brings deep insights from her extensive background in strategic litigation and advocacy for whistleblowers, including those exposing troubling practices in national security and Silicon Valley giants. From the challenges of speaking up against powerful tech corporations to the urgent need for collective action and systemic change, this episode explores:
• How whistleblowers face trauma both from what they experience and from the act of speaking out itself
• Why tech industry workers encounter unique risks—financial, reputational, and even physical—when they raise concerns
• The power of collectivizing whistleblowers for greater protection and impact
• The importance of comprehensive support, from legal counsel to mental health resources
Jennifer also shares the story behind founding psst, and what needs to change so that speaking up doesn’t require sacrificing your career, wellbeing, or safety.
If you’re passionate about ethics, tech, or social change—or just want to hear straight talk about holding powerful institutions to account—you won’t want to miss this conversation.
👉 Listen now and join us every Wednesday at 6am UK time for new episodes. Look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts or follow links in the comments