The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast

About The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast

🎙️ Psychology, Actually with Dr Marianne Trent is a podcast about what’s really going on beneath the surface of our lives. Through conversations with psychologists, professionals, and inspiring guests, we explore the psychology shaping our work, our relationships, and our inner worlds bringing together clinical insight with genuine human understanding. This show was previously known as The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, and while it continues to support aspiring and qualified psychologists, it has grown into something broader. Because psychology doesn’t just shape our careers, it influences how we parent, how we grieve, how we connect, and how we cope when life doesn’t go to plan. Alongside expert interviews, Dr Marianne Trent shares reflective solo episodes - making sense of complex human experiences with compassion, curiosity, and clarity. Featuring conversations with leading voices in psychology including Professor Paul Gilbert, Dr Lucy Johnstone, and Dr Martha Deiros Collado - the podcast brings together a range of perspectives on what it means to live, work, and think psychologically. New episodes are released every Monday at 6am (UK time). Whether you’re an aspiring psychologist, a qualified practitioner, or simply someone interested in understanding yourself and others more deeply, this podcast offers thoughtful conversations that stay with you. If you value the show please rate and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Publisher

Dr Marianne Trent

Category

education · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Dec 2021

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 274 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Gender Disappointment Isn't What You Think | The Truth About Grief & Hope

   Can you deeply love the child you have and still grieve the child you imagined? That shame-filled question is far more common than you think. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Dr Nina Francis to explore why gender disappointment might be the wrong term and how RIFIs, Rupture of an Imagined Future due to infant sex, better explain the grief, identity, dark hope, and limerence many parents experience. Dr Nina shares her personal story, her PhD research, the 7-stage model towards acceptance, and what a truly helpful response from a GP, midwife or psychologist sounds like. Learn more about Dr Nina and her work here: https://www.gender-disappointment.com/ Free Guide & Webinar Dr Nina mentioned is here: https://www.gender-disappointment.com/free-webinar #GenderDisappointment #ParentalMentalHealth #Grief #griefsupport 🎧 Listen to the What is EMDR episode mentioned in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z31WJPk8jjk&t=1s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z31WJPk8jjk&t=1s) or listen here: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5354da94-8907-4654-b17b-000862a790e5/ (https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5354da94-8907-4654-b17b-000862a790e5/ ) Highlights 00:00 Introduction: Loving your child while grieving the child you imagined 00:34 Quick-fire questions about gender disappointment 02:08 What not to say to someone experiencing it 02:56 Stigma, misunderstanding and shame 03:09 Why “gender disappointment” may be the wrong term 05:00 The rupture of an imagined future 07:12 Why imagined futures can be so powerful 08:27 Grief, longing and bargaining 09:54 Nina’s personal experience 14:39 Why gender disappointment can create shame 16:44 Cultural expectations around boys and girls 18:22 Grief, hope, dark hope and limerence 19:00 Understanding grief 20:00 When hope becomes dark 21:30 What is limerence? 22:57 The imagined future and identity 24:32 How healthcare professionals can respond 27:49 A compassionate question to ask 28:53 Nina’s model and moving towards acceptance 32:01 What parents experiencing this need to hear 33:40 About Nina’s book, Gender Disappointment 35:19 Final thoughts Links: 📲 Connect with Dr Nina Francis: https://www.drninafrancis.co.uk (https://www.drninafrancis.co.uk) 🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and support the show head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support (https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support) or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278) 📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0 (https://amzn.to/3jOplx0) 📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 Mentioned in this episode: The Race to Recurring Revenue Challenge 2026 Could you earn money in ways that aren't directly tied to your time? Whether you're a psychologist, another professional, a business owner or simply someone curious about creating an additional income stream, this FREE four-day challenge could be a brilliant place to start! Race to Recurring Revenue, hosted by Sophie Foote, runs from 2–5 November 2026 and explores how you could develop ideas for passive and recurring income. Across four days, you'll explore: - Different ways to create income beyond one-to-one work. - How to develop an idea that could become a product, service or recurring income stream. - Ways to attract the right people and build trust. - How to start thinking about marketing and launching your ideas. It's completely FREE, with short daily training sessions and practical activities to help you get started. I completed the One to Many programme back in 2022, and it helped transform the way I think about my own business and career. I've since developed books, courses, memberships and other ways to share my knowledge beyond individual appointments. I'd love you to come along and explore what's possible for you too! Sign up for FREE using my link:* https://sophiefoote.com/landing-page?am_id=marianne4238 *This is my affiliate link. If you subsequently choose to purchase a paid programme through my referral, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. The challenge itself is completely free. The Race to Recurring Revenue Challenge 2026 Could you earn money in ways that aren't directly tied to your time? Whether you're a psychologist, another professional, a business owner or simply someone curious about creating an additional income stream, this FREE four-day challenge could be a brilliant place to start! Race to Recurring Revenue, hosted by Sophie Foote, runs from 2–5 November 2026 and explores how you could develop ideas for passive and recurring income. Across four days, you'll explore: - Different ways to create income beyond one-to-one work. - How to develop an idea that could become a product, service or recurring income stream. - Ways to attract the right people and build trust. - How to start thinking about marketing and launching your ideas. It's completely FREE, with short daily training sessions and practical activities to help you get started. I completed the One to Many programme back in 2022, and it helped transform the way I think about my own business and career. I've since developed books, courses, memberships and other ways to share my knowledge beyond individual appointments. I'd love you to come along and explore what's possible for you too! Sign up for FREE using my link:* https://sophiefoote.com/landing-page?am_id=marianne4238 *This is my affiliate link. If you subsequently choose to purchase a paid programme through my referral, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. The challenge itself is completely free.

2. 

   9 Oct 2026

   What Does Your IQ Score Actually Tell You? | WAIS-5 Explained

   What does an IQ score actually tell us about a person and what can it miss? The answer is far more complicated than a single number, especially when we consider strengths, weaknesses, culture, education and real-world ability. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent joins Dr Keith Jenkins to explore the history and evolution of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), what IQ scores really measure, and how the WAIS-5 can provide a more detailed picture of cognitive abilities. They discuss cognitive assessment, working memory, processing speed, reasoning, dyslexia, traumatic brain injury, dementia and the impact of factors such as anxiety, fatigue, sleep and language. They also explore why two people can have the same IQ but very different cognitive profiles, and why IQ alone cannot determine how successful someone will be. The conversation looks at WAIS-5 UK, cultural and linguistic considerations, practice effects, and the future of intelligence testing. Thanks to Pearson for sponsoring this video. To check out the WAIS-V head to: https://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/featured-topics/from-podcast-insight-to-clinical-practice.htm (https://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/featured-topics/from-podcast-insight-to-clinical-practice.htm)l #IQTest #WAIS5 #psychology Highlights 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Quickfire: What is the WAIS? 02:16 Who gets referred for WAIS assessment? 04:22 Is the WAIS just an IQ test? 05:12 Can results inform care or treatment? 08:43 How long will it take to become skilled at administering it? 11:16 Clinical oversight and supervision 13:24 Strengths, weaknesses and dyslexia 16:16 Same IQ, different profiles 17:53 How anxiety, fatigue and substances affect scores 20:03 Paper testing vs Q-interactive tablets 22:53 History of intelligence testing (Galton to Wechsler) 27:44 First experiences administering the WAIS 32:26 What's new in the WAIS-5 model 34:23 Sternberg's Triarchic theory of intelligence 38:28 When strengths mask hidden difficulties 39:50 Case study: Jazz and traumatic brain injury 44:56 Cultural norms and testing across backgrounds 47:51 Using interpreters during assessment 51:08 New WAIS-5 subtests 53:19 The practice effect and preparing for tests 56:12 Biggest misconceptions about IQ 58:10 Does high IQ mean you'll thrive? 59:21 The future of intelligence testing 1:00:34 How AI may be affecting our IQ (Flynn effect) 1:02:43 Final thoughts Links: 🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and support the show head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support (https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support) or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278) 📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0 (https://amzn.to/3jOplx0) 📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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

3. 

   2 Oct 2026

   When a Career Step Back Is Actually a Step Forward

   Would you take a pay cut for a job that looks worse on paper? Sometimes the move that feels like a step backwards is exactly what your career needs next. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent explores when a sideways or seemingly backwards career move, like dropping from a Band 5 to a Band 4 assistant psychologist role, could actually help you grow. Drawing on a real Reddit case study and her own career journey, including nearly two years spent away from psychology altogether, Marianne unpacks how to weigh pay, experience, wellbeing and life circumstances when deciding your next move. She shares a practical framework for working out what you're really optimising for, whether that's money, learning, time or relationships, plus reflective questions to help you decide with confidence. #CareerAdvice #AssistantPsychologist #ClinicalPsychology Highlights 00:00 Introduction - When a step back moves you forward 01:15 Why I made this episode - The Reddit post that inspired it 02:28 The Band 5 to Band 4 AP dilemma explained 04:05 Have you reached a plateau in your current role? 07:12 Energy, grief and life circumstances - when you can't do more 09:30 Money, cost of living crisis and travel expenses 11:55 My 2 years away from psychology - home care to office temping 15:40 Banding isn't everything - Band 4 vs Band 5 AP roles 18:42 What are you optimising for? Money, learning, time, wellbeing 21:10 How to manage your six career priorities 22:45 Breadth versus depth of experience for DClinPsy 24:50 Pay, overtime, shift allowances and pensions 26:30 6 Decision-making questions to ask yourself before you move 30:15 Final thoughts - Your life gets a vote too 🎧 Listen to the Pensions episode mentioned in this episode here: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63990610-9942-4287-bcb6-cef9be814b2d/ (https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63990610-9942-4287-bcb6-cef9be814b2d/) Or Watch on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lv5QFsNVCQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lv5QFsNVCQ) Links: 🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and support the show head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support (https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support) or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278) 📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0 (https://amzn.to/3jOplx0) 📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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

Inside a recent episode

How Psychologists Can Build Passive Income (And Why You Should)

Published 10 Feb 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Let's get started by talking about burnout. So many of us, regardless of the stage of our career, are juggling direct client work, paperwork, supervision, CPD, and also trying to have a personal life too. The emotional toll of therapy can of course be high, so I think without alternative income streams. Many psychologists and mental health professionals might well find themselves on a direct route to feeling exhausted, overworked, and underpaid. passive income really helps by reducing reliance on one -to -one sessions, by providing financial security to help transition tricky phases like parenting, maternity, paternity leave, adoptive leave, illness, career transitions, or even helping to care for your parents. […]

Who has been a guest on The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Kara Davey
• Dr Carly Pointon
• Nicholas Stöckling
• Dr Beth Godwin
• Jake

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

69 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

88

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

85

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Questions about The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast