Unstuck

About Unstuck

Ever said yes when every part of you meant no? Had the same argument for the fourth time this month and thought, how on earth are we here again? That's what we talk about on Unstuck. We're Dr Tanya Petersen and Dr Lisa Corbett, two psychologists who met at 18, lived next door to each other in halls, and have been in each other's lives ever since. Twenty-odd years and two doctorates later we're still talking late into the night. There's just a microphone now. Each week we take one of the things that quietly wears people down — going grey, feeling invisible in midlife, friendships that have run out of road, saying yes when you mean no — and unpick the psychology underneath it. Our lens is schema therapy: the idea that we all build emotional blueprints early in life, then spend decades living by them without ever noticing. Expect real conversation rather than clinical distance. We disagree with each other. We share things we probably shouldn't. And somewhere in every episode there's something you can actually take away and use. Think of it as a glimpse behind the therapy door, without the waiting list or the fee. Dr Tanya Petersen, DClinPsy, is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and ISST Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist and Supervisor. Dr Lisa Corbett, PsychD, is a Counselling Psychologist. Both are HCPC registered. Unstuck is the podcast from 2 Together. New episodes weekly.

Publisher

2 Together

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Jun 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   10. Burnout: When Is Enough, Enough?

   ABOUT UNSTUCK Unstuck is the free weekly podcast from 2 Together, hosted by Dr Tanya Petersen and Dr Lisa Corbett, two psychologists and friends of nearly thirty years. We make schema psychology accessible, so you can understand the patterns that keep you stuck and do something about them. Dr Tanya Petersen, DClinPsy — Consultant Clinical Psychologist, HCPC registered, ISST Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist and Supervisor. Dr Lisa Corbett, PsychD — HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologist. MORE FROM 2 TOGETHER Website: https://www.2-together.com Podcast: https://www.2-together.com/unstuck-podcast One-to-one online therapy: https://www.2-together.com/therapy-online-uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2together.podcast

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   9. The Burnout Loop: Am I The Problem

   ABOUT UNSTUCK Unstuck is the free weekly podcast from 2 Together, hosted by Dr Tanya Petersen and Dr Lisa Corbett, two psychologists and friends of nearly thirty years. We make schema psychology accessible, so you can understand the patterns that keep you stuck and do something about them. Dr Tanya Petersen, DClinPsy — Consultant Clinical Psychologist, HCPC registered, ISST Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist and Supervisor. Dr Lisa Corbett, PsychD — HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologist. MORE FROM 2 TOGETHER Website: https://www.2-together.com Podcast: https://www.2-together.com/unstuck-podcast One-to-one online therapy: https://www.2-together.com/therapy-online-uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2together.podcast

3. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Episode 8 — Burnout: The "I'll Do It" Trap

   Burnout: The “I’ll Do It” Trap - The Self-Sacrifice Pattern and How to Break It Lisa and Tanya, two psychologist friends, continue their burnout series by exploring the “self-sacrifice lens” from schema therapy: prioritising others’ needs over your own due to childhood patterns (being the responsible child, the “good” undemanding child, or modelling a self-sacrificing parent). They describe how unmet core emotional needs at work or home (secure attachment, expressing needs, boundaries, play, autonomy/competence) can activate this lens, triggering guilt, anxiety, and resentment, and leading to burnout through coping styles “SOS”: submit (over-accommodate), opt out (detach/scroll/substances/avoid), or storm in (become demanding/controlling). They suggest practical interventions via noticing and RESET: pausing before agreeing, tolerating guilt, doing a resentment audit, practising saying no and accepting help, and recognising when toxic systems may require escalation or leaving. Next episodes cover the defectiveness and unrelenting standards lenses. Website: 2-together.com Email: info@2-together.com

4. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Episode 7 — Burnout: Are We Burnt Out, or Are We Being Told We Are?

   Burnout, Work Stress, and Core Emotional Needs: Starting a New Unstuck Miniseries Lisa and Tanya, psychologist best friends behind Unstuck, introduce a new burnout miniseries after losing the audio of their first recording. They discuss burnout as defined by the WHO as an occupational syndrome from unmanaged chronic workplace stress, marked by exhaustion, cynicism or mental distance, and reduced effectiveness, while noting the term is now used more broadly and overlaps with chronic stress, tiredness, and depression. They consider Natalie Dawson’s argument that hard work alone doesn’t cause burnout if purpose and reward are present, but caution this can invalidate lived experience and shift structural workplace issues into individual “resilience” judgments. They outline the Job Demands–Resources model and Maslach’s six mismatch areas (workload, control, reward, community, fairness, values), linking these to schema therapy’s core emotional needs and how unmet needs activate “lenses” and SOS coping (submit, opt out, storm in). The series will cover self-sacrifice, defectiveness/shame, and unrelenting standards, framing burnout as also driven by life demands and resources.

5. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Episode 6 — I'm Happy For You. So Why Am I Jealous?

   Storming In: The Coping Style That Can Hijack Relationships (Schema Therapy SOS) Psychologists and friends Lisa and Tanya explore “storming in,” a coping style in their SOS series (after “submit” and “opt out”), and how it shows up across friendships, family, and intimate relationships. They describe storming in as fighting against vulnerability—often rooted in shame, inadequacy, envy, jealousy, or fear of abandonment—by becoming controlling, demanding, or socially aggressive, ranging from competence and taking charge to boundary violations, hot-and-cold behaviour, gossiping, and, at extremes, violence and exploitation. They discuss how storming in can seem helpful by restoring power, driving action, and supporting assertiveness, but can also destroy relationships through contempt, resentment, and subjugating others. Using the “lifeguard/healthy adult” and the RESET steps, they emphasise recognising urges, slowing down, identifying underlying feelings, owning one’s “stuff,” and communicating needs directly rather than acting impulsively or punitively.

6. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Episode 5 — The Friendship Fade Out

   Opting Out in Friendships: When Withdrawal Protects You (and When It Keeps You Stuck) Lisa and Tanya continue their SOS coping-styles series (submit, opt out, storm in), focusing on “opting out” in friendships as a form of avoidance that provides short-term relief but can worsen problems long-term; they note it applies to any relationship. They discuss recent weeks: Tanya’s recovery from hysterectomy and oophorectomy with exhaustion and forgetfulness, and Lisa’s difficult health week with Meibomian gland issues and increased worry. Tanya describes noticing Lisa “opting out” at dinner by mentally withdrawing into rumination, and they outline physical and emotional opting out (cancelling, letting friendships drift, being superficially present, withholding, or internally dismissing). They link opting out to unmet needs like safety, autonomy, and competence, discuss triggers such as social media comparison, social anxiety vs introversion, and burnout, weigh protective benefits versus costs (unrepaired ruptures, unasserted needs), and introduce using the “lifeguard”/healthy adult and RESET (Recognise, Exhale, Slow, Explore, Take one step) to respond intentionally.

7. 

   23 Aug 2026

   Episode 4 — The Good Friend

   Unstuck Podcast: People-Pleasing in Friendships (Schema Therapy SOS + Lifeguard Reset) In this live episode of Unstuck, Lisa and Tanya discuss the discomfort of watching themselves on camera, including Lisa’s eye issues (blepharitis/Meibomian gland dysfunction) and a story about how Tanya’s name was chosen. They then continue last week’s conversation on friendship using schema therapy (Jeff Young) and their adapted “SOS” coping styles: Submit, Opt Out, and Storm In. Focusing on “Submit,” they share examples of people-pleasing—moulding to be likeable, agreeing to plans they don’t want, fearing others are cross, and overcommitting (including Lisa’s stressful getting-lost-in-the-car story and Tanya’s difficulty saying no). They link submitting to unmet core emotional needs like connection, belonging, and acceptance, note cultural expectations on women, and introduce the “lifeguard” (healthy adult) reset: Recognise, Exhale, Slow down, Explore, and Take a step.

8. 

   14 Aug 2026

   Episode 3 — Midlife Friendships

   Friendship, Loneliness, and Letting Go: Navigating Changing Social Worlds Two friends reflect on a recent conversation about visibility that highlighted their ability to disagree, then discuss how friendships change with age, limited time, and shifting priorities. They revisit a past fallout when one abruptly announced plans to move to Gibraltar due to loneliness, exploring how shrinking social circles, life demands, and unmet needs shape reactions. They contrast quantity versus quality of friendships, connect early social patterns to childhood experiences of being alone, and describe coping styles such as “storming” (taking charge) and “submitting” (tolerating poor treatment). They talk about setting boundaries, intentionally choosing friendships, and the pain of friendship “culls,” emphasising self-awareness: identifying needs, recognising unhelpful patterns, and asking what maintains loneliness or keeps someone stuck in unsatisfying relationships.

9. 

   13 Aug 2026

   Episode 2 — The Invisible Woman

   We disagree properly in this one. Lisa reckons older women are more visible now than they've ever been. Tanya, having left a senior NHS role to start something from scratch, feels distinctly less so. Somewhere between those positions we get into middle-ageism, perimenopause, Erikson's idea of generativity versus stagnation, and the shift from being valued for how you look to finding meaning in what you contribute. We also introduce our SOS model — submit, opt out, or storm in — and what it looks like to respond as a lifeguard instead.

10. 

    2 Jul 2026

    Episode 1 — Grey Matters

    What does it really mean when a woman starts going grey? In our first episode, Tanya shares her decision to stop colouring her hair and embrace her natural grey, a choice that sparked unexpected reactions, emotions and conversations. Together, we explore why something as ordinary as hair can become so closely tied to identity, confidence and the messages we’ve absorbed about ageing and what it means to be a woman. Drawing on our own experiences, we discuss the unspoken rules many of us grow up with that women should stay youthful, look polished and avoid appearing “old”, and how these expectations can leave us feeling stuck. Rather than focusing on beauty or appearance, we explore the psychology behind these beliefs and how understanding them can help us make choices that feel authentic rather than driven by fear or pressure. A warm, humorous and thought-provoking conversation about ageing, identity, self-acceptance and the invisible rules that shape how we see ourselves.

11. 

    29 Jun 2026

    Episode 0 — Introduction

    Not sure where to begin? Start right here. In our very first episode, we introduce ourselves, explain a little bit about what schema therapy actually is, and discuss why we decided to turn our years of friendship and professional partnership into this podcast.

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.