- 7
- Episodes
- 7
- Ratings
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About Why I Became a Therapist
Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory podcast sharing real stories from the people behind the profession. In each episode, therapists speak openly about the life experiences that shaped them, including mental health struggles, addiction, trauma, recovery, neurodiversity and self-understanding. Honest, compassionate conversations about what it means to struggle, rebuild and support others.
- Publisher
- Priory
- Category
- health & fitness
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 8 Sept 2026
- Latest episode
- 20 Oct 2026
Latest episodes
7 episodes in the feed.
20 Oct 2026
My First Drink Was a Blackout | WIBAT Ep6
In our final episode of Why I Became a Therapist, Priory therapist Colin McKee shares his story of addiction, trauma, grief and long-term recovery. Colin reflects on his early experiences with alcohol, how addiction became a way to escape pain, and the point at which he reached out for help. He also talks about recovery, compassion, humour, connection and the importance of supporting others from a place of lived understanding. In this conversation, Colin explores how his own experience now shapes the way he works as a therapist, helping others who may feel trapped, ashamed or unsure how to move forward. Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory series sharing real stories from the people behind the profession.Stream Colin’s story now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.#WhyIBecameATherapist #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthRecovery Follow Priory on social media: Instagram ttps://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you. If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support__Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities. Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible. For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:https://www.priorygroup.com/0330 056 6023
13 Oct 2026
How Exercise Became My Obsession | WIBAT Ep5
In episode 5 of Why I Became a Therapist, Priory therapist Charlie Carroll shares his experience of an eating disorder during early adulthood. Charlie reflects on how food and fitness became tied to control, isolation and disconnection from his body, his emotions and other people. He talks about the transition into university, how coping strategies can become rigid and difficult to step away from, and the moments of human connection that helped him begin to see things differently.In this conversation, Charlie also explores how therapy, self-understanding and rebuilding connection helped him move forward, and how those experiences have shaped the way he supports others today .Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory series sharing real stories from the people behind the profession.Stream Charlie’s story now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. #WhyIBecameATherapist #EatingDisorderRecovery #MentalHealthRecovery Follow Priory on social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you. If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities. Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible. For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:https://www.priorygroup.com/0330 056 6023
6 Oct 2026
When Menopause Makes ADHD Harder to Manage | WIBAT Ep4
In episode 4 of Why I Became a Therapist, Priory therapist Jodie Smethem shares her experience of ADHD, perimenopause and learning to understand herself more fully. Jodie reflects on growing up feeling anxious, masking how she felt, and assuming that everyone else found things difficult but was simply coping better than she was. She also talks about how perimenopause changed the coping mechanisms she had always relied on, bringing anxiety, overwhelm and emotional intensity to the surface. In this conversation, Jodie explores the connection between ADHD and menopause, the importance of self-compassion, and how understanding what is happening can help people feel less alone and more able to access support. Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory series sharing real stories from the people behind the profession. Stream Jodie’s story now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. #WhyIBecameATherapist #ADHDAndMenopause #MentalHealthRecoveryFollow Follow Priory on social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you. If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support__Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities. Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible. For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:https://www.priorygroup.com/0330 056 6023
29 Sept 2026
How Normalised Drinking Led to Addiction | WIBAT Ep3
In episode 3 of Why I Became a Therapist, Priory therapist Alex shares his personal story of alcohol addiction, recovery and finding his way back to Priory, this time as a therapist. Alex reflects on growing up in South Africa, where drinking culture became part of everyday life from a young age. From family life and sport, to hospitality and working environments where alcohol was normalised, Alex explores how addiction gradually took hold and how grief, family history and repeated exposure to alcohol shaped his relationship with drinking. After reaching a crisis point, Alex eventually entered treatment, including later coming to Priory as a patient. In this conversation, he talks about recovery, relapse, rebuilding his life and how lived experience now helps him support others who are taking their first steps towards treatment .Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory series sharing real stories from the people behind the profession. Stream Alex’s story now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. #WhyIBecameATherapist #AddictionRecovery #AlcoholAddictionFollow Follow Priory on social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you. If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities. Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible. For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:https://www.priorygroup.com/0330 056 6023
22 Sept 2026
How I Rebuilt My Life After PTSD | WIBAT Ep2
In episode two of Why I Became a Therapist, Priory therapist Hannah Stebbings shares her experience of trauma, PTSD and rebuilding her life after a frightening event changed the direction of her future. After university, Hannah moved to London to begin what felt like her dream career in TV and film. But after experiencing a traumatic robbery, she began to struggle with panic, fear and feeling unsafe. In this conversation, Hannah reflects on delayed trauma responses, leaving London, receiving therapy, and how that support changed her life. She also talks about how her lived experience now shapes the way she supports others as a therapist. Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory series sharing real stories from the people behind the profession. Stream Hannah’s story now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. #WhyIBecameATherapist #PTSDRecovery #MentalHealthRecovery Follow Priory on social media: Instagram ttps://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you. If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities. Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible. For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:https://www.priorygroup.com/0330 056 6023
15 Sept 2026
ADHD, Love Addiction and Becoming a Therapist | WIBAT Ep1
In the first episode of Why I Became a Therapist, Priory therapist Tess Ridgeway shares her personal story of anxiety, addiction, love addiction, ADHD and recovery. Tess reflects on feeling anxious and disconnected from a young age, how alcohol, drugs and relationships became ways to escape difficult emotions, and why she now understands addiction as more than the substance or behaviour itself. She also talks about receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, and how this helped her make sense of overwhelm, shame, burnout, perfectionism and the search for quick relief. Through her story, Tess explores what recovery has taught her about self-understanding, compassion and the power of being met without judgement. She also shares how her lived experience now shapes the way she supports others as a therapist. Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory series sharing real stories from the people behind the profession.Watch Why I Became a Therapist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLezyhQu8CjJE __Follow Priory on social media: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/priorygroup/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrioryGroup TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@priorygroup LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/priory Looking after your mental health should be high on everyone's priority list. At Priory, we strive to help everyone take control of their mental health, building a brighter future for themselves and those around them. For more insight, explainers and, advice on managing your mental health, head to the Priory blog: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog_ This video is designed to be informational, but its content is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, please contact a medical professional or a licensed mental health provider for tailored advice for you. If you or a loved one are in crisis and need immediate support, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department. For information on relevant crisis support lines, visit https://www.priorygroup.com/crisis-support_ Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK. We have two divisions, which together support the needs of over 35,000 people every year. We currently treat more than 70 different conditions through a nationwide network of over 300 facilities. Our purpose is to empower each person in our care to take steps towards a healthy future and live their lives as positively and independently as possible. For more information on how Priory can help you, head to our website or call us:https://www.priorygroup.com/0330 056 6023
8 Sept 2026
Real Stories From the People Behind the Profession (WIBAT Trailer)
Why I Became a Therapist is a Priory podcast sharing real stories from the people behind the profession. In each episode, therapists speak openly about the life experiences that shaped them, including mental health struggles, addiction, trauma, recovery, neurodiversity and self-understanding. Honest, compassionate conversations about what it means to struggle, rebuild and support others.
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- 5.0 / 5
- 7 ratings
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