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The Locked up Living Podcast: Surviving and thriving in prisons and other challenging environmentsAuthor: Podcasters David Jones & Dr Naomi Murphy
Can institutional culture challenge your mental health? What if your job makes you feel shame, sadness, grief, disgust and fear? What if you are expected not to feel? Or you are expected to be relentlessly competitive? What its like to live or work in a prison? Does working with people who commit murder, child abuse and rape affect people who work in prisons and the wider criminal justice system? How do people survive and thrive when facing significant challenges to our emotional health over a lengthy period? How do we protect ourselves and stay compassionate, loving and trusting? Importantly, how do we find and preserve hope? Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote that The degree of civilisation in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. In this weekly podcast ,your hosts, David Jones (Forensic psychotherapist) and Dr Naomi Murphy (Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist) hope that exploring less visible aspects of prisons will help listeners see that prisons are a window into society and let us see people not only at their worst but also at their best. We feature a rich range of guests sharing snap shots of life in prisons and take a look at hospitals, schools, sport and the police in order to learn from other institutions. We learn about challenges to human integrity and hear important lessons and heart-warming stories about survival and growth when facing adversity in harsh places. We hope that sharing our conversations can help you make changes to your own relationship with institutions that might challenge your emotional health and well-being. Follow and connect with us and give us feedback. Let us know what you think works, and also what doesnt. We want you to look forward to the podcast each week. Well also be extremely grateful for any reviews that you give us. A simple star or two or a thumbs up will do. Email: lockedupliving@gmail.com or connect with us on: Substack: https://lockedupliving.substack.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/LockedUpLiving Linkedin: h Language: en Genres: Society & Culture, True Crime Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Dr Warren Larkin (Audio); The Power of Environment in Education
Episode 351
Tuesday, 29 July, 2025
Keywords clinical psychology, trauma, resilience, education, mental health, policy development, children and families, trauma-informed care, REACH model, well-being Summary In this conversation, Dr. Naomi Murphy and David Jones talk with Dr. Warren Larkin who describes his journey from a challenging educational background to becoming a clinical psychologist. He discusses the significant impact of environment on learning, particularly in relation to trauma and resilience. Dr. Larkin emphasizes the importance of working with children and families, advocating for trauma-informed approaches in education and mental health. He reflects on his experiences in policy development and the challenges of implementing trauma-informed care in various settings. The conversation also covers the REACH model, which focuses on routine inquiry about childhood adversity, and highlights the importance of safety and relationships in fostering well-being. https://warrenlarkinassociates.co.uk/portfolio-items/routine-enquiry-about-adversity-in-childhood-reach-programme/ He is now managing director of Warren Larkin Associates which, among other things WLA help organisations recognise and respond more effectively to the needs of staff and clients affected by trauma. https://warrenlarkinassociates.co.uk/ Takeaways Warren Larkin's educational journey highlights the impact of supportive environments. Trauma and resilience are crucial in educational settings. Early intervention is important, but prevention is even better. Policy changes often do not translate to practice changes. The REACH model emphasizes routine inquiry about childhood adversity. Creating safe environments is essential for effective trauma-informed care. Relationships are key to resilience and well-being. Social support is the most powerful factor in coping with stress. Trauma-informed care is still not well understood in many settings. There is a need for more robust evaluations of trauma-informed interventions. Sound bites "I left school with one O level and one CSE." "I've never looked back since leaving the NHS." "Relationships are the best medicine." Chapters 00:00 Warren Larkin's Journey to Clinical Psychology 03:58 The Impact of Environment on Learning 05:39 Working with Children and Families 08:46 Trauma and Psychosis: A New Perspective 10:41 Policy Development and Challenges 16:25 Success Stories in Mental Health Policy 17:43 Transitioning to Private Practice 20:38 Navigating the NHS and Independent Work 24:53 The REACH Model: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences 32:44 Barriers to Routine Inquiry in Healthcare 38:18 Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding and Application 43:50 Personal Well-Being: Balancing Work and Life
