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The Richard Nicholls Mental Health Podcast

The Richard Nicholls Mental Health Podcast

Richard Nicholls

Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Health & Fitness, Wellbeing, Education, Anxiety, Happiness, Self-improvement, Depression, Self Help, Psychology, Alternative Health, Counseling, Counselling

4.8 • 690 Ratings

Overview

To inspire, educate and motivate you to be the best you can be. Learn about tackling mental health problems like Anxiety and Depression as well as simple tips to understand the world better, in a down to earth and genuine way with the Best Selling Author and Psychotherapist Richard Nicholls.

127 Episodes

Avoidance & Anxiety

Send us a text People often think that avoidance is all about procrastination, avoiding the pain of being thought of as having done a bad job by not doing the job in the first place. And although that is avoidance it can also extend into many areas of your life. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls....

Published: 4 July 2025

Motivation

Send us a text What's the difference between someone who has all the motivation and enthusiasm you could wish for and someone who, even though they don't have depression, still can't feel motivated? Well, in order to answer that I think it's worth looking at what motivation actually is. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profi...

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2025

Foundations of Mental Health

Send us a text We often look at mental health as being a brain thing rather than a body thing but of course our brain is part of our body, it's an organ that needs looking after like every other organ does. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Ins...

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2025

Social Capital

Send us a text This week I'm looking at how everyday moments with others help us feel more connected. From quick chats to shared experiences, we explore what fills our social meter and what happens when it runs low. It’s a gentle reminder to reach out, notice those around us, and stay open, even when it feels easier to hide. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Medi...

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2025

Superstition

Send us a text It's Friday 13th, so today I've got a bonus episode for you about the psychology of superstition. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnichollsreal Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Richar...

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

Fake It Till You Make It

Send us a text Fake it till you make it sounds a little problematic and it can be, but when done properly learning to model confidence isn’t about being fraudulent, it’s about becoming a fuller, braver version of yourself. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardn...

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

Brain Training & Anxiety

Send us a text Your brain has a remarkable ability to filter and remember important experiences while discarding the less significant ones. It does so by comparing new experiences with past ones and using emotional reactions to determine their importance. Let's look at how we can train it! Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/pr...

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2025

Emotional vs Rational Thinking

Send us a text Striking a balance between too much logic and too much emotion isn't easy. But with a bit of practise you can create what therapists sometimes refer to as the Wise Mind. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.ins...

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

Rumination

Send us a text Outside of psychology, "Rumination" is the word used for the way certain animals chew their food. Animals with multiple stomachs are able to move food from one stomach back up to their mouth to chew it some more before swallowing it back down again ready to chew it again a bit later. That's why we use it in psychology to mean to chew over your thoughts. Even if you swallow your thoughts down they keep coming back up for you to chew over again. That's rumination. Support t...

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2025

Why Do We Get Anxiety?

Send us a text Going back to basics today with a refresher about anxiety. If you're new to my content this is a great place to start to learn how to deal with it. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnich...

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

Triggers

Send us a text Sometimes our brains take us back in time, whether we like it or not. A smell, a sound, a certain day on the calendar can pull us into the past like we’ve put on a pair of VR goggles. In today’s episode I'm talking about getting triggered, what that really means, and how we can gently take those goggles off and come back to the here and now. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.co...

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

HALT

Send us a text Self care and self awareness go hand in hand. By taking care of ourselves and recognising some of the reasons behind our urges and behaviours we can overcome so many obstacles. Today's episode is all about using the acronym H.A.L.T to help us remember that there may be other things going on with us. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bl...

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

Obsessive Compulsive Personality

Send us a text Today is all about Obsessive Compulsive Personality. OCD is talked about a lot because it's such a life destroying disorder, and so is quite obvious if someone has it. But when it's a personality trait people can often just get labelled as "difficult" and they don't seek help. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/...

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

Mindset

Send us a text Personal growth can really only happen by having gone through some sort of pain, some bad experience. Living inside our comfort zones gets us nowhere unfortunately. What we need though, is the right mindset so that those bad experiences push us forward, not hold us back. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profil...

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

The Tyranny Of The Should

Send us a text This week I'm looking at the constant battle between our real self and our ideal self, and how those nagging “shoulds” (“I should be more productive,” “I should have my life figured out”) create unnecessary pressure and self-criticism. Dove Real Beauty Sketches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrHoDJinMQI Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Lin...

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

Commitment To Goals

Send us a text Today's episode is all about Commitment and why it's so important when it comes to personal development. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnichollsreal Facebook https://www.facebook.com...

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

Regulating Emotions

Send us a text Today's is a follow up from the personality disorders episode and is about how we can regulate our emotions when we're overwhelmed. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnichollsreal Facebo...

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

The 100mph Life

Send us a text Being behind on your goals doesn't mean rushing to get everything finished, it doesn't mean disrespecting yourself and not looking after yourself. One of the most important factors in getting through a busy life with a healthy and happy mindset is the quality time that you put to one side just for you. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links ...

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

Self-Care

Send us a text Not everyone benefits from traditional forms of self-care. Some people actually find it quite distressing. If you’ve had difficult experiences in your past—especially in childhood—you might struggle with the idea of sitting in silence with yourself. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net ...

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

Addiction

Send us a text Is there really such a thing as an addictive personality? Or do people who are addicted to something just need to prove to themselves that they DO have control? Let's explore the nature of addiction, debunk some common myths, and discuss practical strategies. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnic...

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

Personality Disorders

Send us a text Not everyone likes labels when it comes to mental health issues, but for some people it can be quite reassuring to be told that their reactions to the world are so common that we even have a name for it. So today I'm giving you a very brief introduction to what we call Personality Disorders. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky ht...

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

Emotions Are Not Instructions

Send us a text Feeling anxious doesn't mean that we need to run and hide. Sometimes our emotions make mistakes and very often their instructions come from our beliefs. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richar...

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

Highly Sensitive People

Send us a text Ever heard of Sensory Processing Sensitivity? It's a neurological trait that means that one in 6 people have super duper processing abilities of all of their experiences. Sounds like a superpower doesn't it? Some with it don't always think so though. Take the test https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/ Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social...

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2025

Love Yourself

Send us a text It may be Valentine's Day this month, a day to remind someone that you love them, but I think we very often need to bring it closer to home. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnichollsrea...

Transcribed - Published: 1 February 2025

Cognitive Distortions

Send us a text Cognitive Distortions are the thinking traps where our mind convinces us of something that isn't actually true. Once habitual and almost a part of our personality, they can very often start the ball rolling for depression and anxiety. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https:...

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2025

Rejection Sensitivity

Send us a text For many, anxiety is all about being vulnerable to the possibility of rejection. It's normal for our brain to seek out what we fear and notice dangerous possibilities. But those with bad experiences may have been primed from an early age to expect rejection by default. Because of this, their brain is going to start perceiving rejection everywhere. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://ww...

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2024

Kindness

Send us a text Kindness is often linked with better mental health. It helps us to feel connected to others, creates a sense of belonging and reduces isolation. But I say there's a time and a place for it, and it might not be now and it might start closer to home. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net ...

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2024

The Power Of Awe

Send us a text "Awe" tends to be defined as the emotion we experience when encountering something with such perceived vastness that our brain might find it hard to comprehend how it can exist. Being "awed" by an experience can have some surprisingly powerful, positive effects on us. Awesome Links Watch All The Apple TV Aerial Video Screensavers https://bzamayo.com/watch-all-the-apple-tv-aerial-video-screensavers Elbow One Day Like This with the BBC Concert Orchestra and choir Chantage https:/...

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2024

Disappointment

Send us a text In his letter from Birmingham Jail in 1963, after being arrested on the rather trumped up charge of marching without a permit, Martin luther king wrote, amongst other things, this quote. he said "There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love" in other words, if you feel disappointed it's only because you care about something. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https:/...

Transcribed - Published: 1 September 2024

Getting To Know Yourself

Send us a text Often people will talk about the need to disappear away for a bit to "find themselves" when actually they already knew where they were they just didn't "know" themselves. Well, maybe we don't need to climb a mountain or hide in a retreat for a week to do this. Maybe we can get to really know ourselves a little bit more every day until we're fully clued up. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https...

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2024

Hope

Send us a text Research has shown that hope can significantly improve mental health outcomes. It boosts resilience, helps you to cope better with stress and setbacks and means that you're more likely to engage in positive behaviours that support your well-being. But hope isn't something that just happens; it's something you might need to cultivate and it could even save your life. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon communi...

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2024

Values vs Goals

Send us a text Are you living your life based on your values or your goals? What's the difference anyway? Let's find out. Link to values list https://richardnicholls.net/?post=episode-238 Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www....

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2024

Gaslighting

Send us a text Gaslighting is a phrase we use to mean being manipulated and to have your reality questioned. Cults have been doing it for decades, maybe even for thousands of years. Today I'm going to scratch the surface a bit. Come and have a listen. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads http...

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2024

Taking Things Personally

Send us a text One thing we can all guarantee is that we'll all receive some sort of criticism at some point. The trick is to not let it get under our skin. Easier said than done though, but don't let that stop you. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnicholls...

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2024

Self Discipline

Send us a text When "future you" doesn't even exist, it can be really hard to stick to your plan in the "now" to ensure that future you gets their needs met. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnicholl...

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2024

It's Good To Talk

Send us a text Back in 1995 when britpop ruled the charts and the UN designated it The United Nations Year for Tolerance, British Telecom started a friends and family service to make it cheaper to call a handful of your favourite people with the slogan It's Good To Talk. Everyone agreed. Hopefully we do still think that, don't we? Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Socia...

Transcribed - Published: 1 February 2024

Self Sabotage

Send us a text If you've ever set a goal for yourself and then found yourself deliberately sticking a spanner in the works knowing full well it'll cause you to fail then welcome to the human race. Because everyone does it. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richar...

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2024

Ageing

Send us a text I might not the young man I once was, but there is a certain childishness to me that I'm hoping can keep me young. Looking at the studies into attitude and ageing the odds are in my favour! Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Ins...

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2023

Difficult Decisions

Send us a text Having free will is generally thought of as a good thing but it also comes with responsibility. That's why decisions cause anxiety, whether it's about the little things or the big things. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Insta...

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2023

People Pleasing

Send us a text Most people live their life based around making other people happy to some degree. It's just how far we take it that determines whether or not it becomes a problem. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagra...

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2023

PTSD

Send us a text Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and its counterpart Complex PTSD, are life-altering conditions. And although the symptoms may often resemble Anxiety and Depression, they need to be worked on in slightly different ways. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.ne...

Transcribed - Published: 1 September 2023

Insecure Attachment

Send us a text Prompted by a few emails over the years. Today is all about dealing with having an insecure attachment style and how to best cope in a relationship despite it. 36 questions that lead to love. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnicholl...

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2023

You Can't Always Trust Your Gut

Send us a text Today is all about biases. In particular the in-group and out-group bias that drives our emotions way more than it should in the modern world. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnicholl...

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2023

Perfectionism

Send us a text It's often said that there are 3 types of perfectionism. Self-Oriented Perfectionism, Other-Oriented Perfectionism and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism. Let's take a peek into them shall we? Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Ins...

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2023

Empathy

Send us a text I have a couple of catchphrases, or if you ask my wife I repeat myself a lot and can be boring and predictable, either way you'll often hear me say one particular phrase. "The brain can't separate fact from fiction." If you've got this far through my Podcast series and not heard me say that then I must boring after all because you clearly fell asleep, because I say it a lot. And for good reason. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters...

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2023

What COULD You Be Grateful For?

Send us a text Gratitude, even about the simpler things in life, helps to dilute down the frustrations about the annoying things. But it's not always easy to find reasons to be grateful is it? Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram http...

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2023

Hoarding

Send us a text Seeing as it's Spring, not that you'd know it *shakes fist at the clouds* a time for having a good old clear out. I thought I'd revisit an old topic and talk about the psychology of stuff this week. In particular the way our brain can get very confused. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholl...

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2023

Mindful Moments

Send us a text Someone asked me recently what the difference is between meditation, mindfulness and hypnosis. So I thought I'd go into it a little today and encourage you to take some mindful moments to train your brain. Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardn...

Transcribed - Published: 1 February 2023

Dealing With Entitled People

Send us a text Are we ALL entitled to an opinion? Am I really worth L'Oreal's products? All these questions and more on this weeks exciting instalment! Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls Social Media Links Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/richardnicholls.net Threads https://www.threads.net/@richardnichollsreal Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richardnichollsreal ...

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2023

Anniversary Reactions

Send us a text An increase in distress around the anniversary of a traumatic event is often called an anniversary reaction. It can range from feeling mildly upset for a day or two to more extreme reactions where someone experiences significant psychiatric or even medical symptoms. The good news is that we know when it's coming! Support the show Join our Evolve to Thrive 6 month programme https://therapynatters.com Join the Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/richardnicholls So...

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2022

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