We're all screwed up (and that's OK)

(please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast) Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist are joined by Angela Jeen who is a practitioner of zoopharmacognosy - the science of animal self-medication derived from the roots zoo (“animal”), pharma (“drug”), and gnosy (“knowing”). We explore how animals seem to know what nutrients they need, and how we need to give them choices rather than choose for them. We also talk about how humans don't seem to know what nutrients they need (unless they are pregnant!). Lots of chat around horses and dogs, and a little bit around humans.

🎉 With this episode we celebrate 1 year since our first Therapy Tails podcast Episode 🎉 (please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast) Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist reminisce about a year of working together and the achievement of completing nearly 1 podcast a week! Woop Woop!  We go on to discuss our current topic of interest - Instinctive (Fixed Action patterns) versus learned behaviour and how that actually works in the brain. Dawn has been listening to Robert Sapolsky, author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, as he delivers lectures to Stanford University students so we have lots of new ideas to discuss. 

(please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast) Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist discuss the difference between changing behaviour in a dog (constant repetition of the more desirable behaviour) and changing behaviour in a person (rewiring the brain through conversation). I think we answer the cliffhanger from the last podcast where we talk about the concept of changing behaviour with no backsies! We talk about feeling hopeless when you want to help everyone, and how to outwit your circumstances so that you can deal with feeling overwhelmed more effectively

(please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast) Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist discuss pathways and brain rewiring again - it's a favourite subject of ours. We talk about the different approaches to dog trainining - positive only, force free, balanced, and if one size can fit all.  We talk about pattern interrupts and how the same process works in dogs and humans. First interrupt the pathway (existing behaviour) and then create a different pathway (new behaviour). We can use tapping for this in humans and Dawn explains how. We can use haptics like and ecollar to do this with dogs.  This leads to the inevitable conversation about punishment vs praise.  Finally we talk about "one session" interventions for dogs and humans. Can they really work?  Warning - we leave you with a cliffhanger at the end and you'll have to listn to the next episode to learn more. 

(please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast) Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist discus lots of dog stuff. In fact if you don't have a dog and are not interested in dogs, you may want to skip this one! Jess has a good old whinge about German Shepherds We discuss Dawn's theory on why you need to be a shiny thing, and how to go about it Why can it be a problem for dogs to be on lead, when they are fine off it? And finally... How to choose a trainer ( also applies to therapist!!

(please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast)  Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist discuss empathy and language. This is really good one for anyone who has to communicate with another human (who doesn't?)!   We talk about the power of language and and how it can be used for good (to help people change) or badly (manipulation) What is empathy? Where does it come from and what is its purpose? Do dogs have empathy? Should they? 

(please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast) Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist discuss relationships.  We talk about online dating again but this time we ask what it takes to find someone attractive. We discuss love and what makes a relationship work and share tips for going on a first date. At the end Jess shares a mind blowing realisation she has had and we end it there before she disappears down a rabbit hole!

(please note these episodes are recorded chats in Starbucks so may have more background noise than a usual podcast) Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist are joined by returning guest Professor Trevor Harley (and his dog Beau). We start off talking about what makes use human and Trevor shares his theory that our brains are just perception machines. From there we explore the brain works, often comparing to dog brains (as is usual!). Everything comes down to connection, whether connections in the white matter in our brains, or social connections that have been shown to slow aging.  We end up talking about meta-awareness. 

*These podcasts are a recorded conversation in Starbucks so the sound quality may not be as good as you are used to in a podcast" In this episode Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist are joined by Derek Mawhinney, who works in property development. But he's not with us to talk about property! We talk about the mind, spirituality, overcoming your past trauma and the use of psychedelics to reach higher consciousness.  We love a good conversation about consciousness and purpose and Derek brings a new way of looking at things to our discussion.  Not that I think you would listen to these podcasts with kids, but if you do, please be aware that this podcast contains swearing. 

In this episode, Dawn Walton, a human therapist, and Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist are joined by Michelle Getty, a dog trainer.  We talk about the discussions that happen around ecollars (contact collars) and the different ways people react. Jess gets herself thrown out of an ecollar group - and explains why. We talk about kids versus dogs and how praise works way better than fear,  but this time in the context of what we viable options we have instead.  Jess is very tired, and Jess and Michelle have both been bitten by dogs this week so apologies if it's a little more fluffy and random than your usual podcasts!

In this episode Dawn Walton, a human therapist, Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist, and Gemma Kirk, who is used to working with young people in care, talk about hypervigilance in dogs and humans. We discuss the difference between hypervigilance and other states such as anxiety and anger. As we talk we end up comparing care homes and young offender institutes to kennels - there are disturbing similarites! We discuss the physiology of stress. And we talk about what resilience really is - it might not be what you think. 

The internet has made information so readily available that few people look beyond the information presented. They think more about the What and less about the Why.  So you could look up how to lead train your dog and find a bunch of steps to follow. All good if it works. But if it doesn't, you need to look at WHY you took those steps so you can adapt. You need to understand about motivating your dog to look at you and follow your instructions; how to use treats and praise to encourage behaviour. The What tells you what to do with the lead and how to respond when your dog pulls. The Why tells you that you first need motivation for your dog to listen to you.  Did you realise that a growl, unchecked, may often lead to a bite? We discuss why, particularly focussing on Christmas - a tricky time of year for dog trainers as dog bites increase significantly This leads on to a bigger problem. Do we know how to discuss and debate information any more? Can we question and be curious? Are we all looking for a quick fix / magic wand? Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist, and Dawn Walton, a human therapist, also talk about the difference between academic knowledge vs online qualifications vs practical experience and look into the sinister side of shiny marketing.

Do dogs have situations where they have a choice? Should they? In this conversation between Dawn Walton (human therapist) and Jess Probst (Dog behaviourist) we once more find ourselves comparing dogs to young children, particularly when it comes to choices and the consequences of having no choice. We talk about how risky Christmas can be to dogs and what you can do to mitigate the risks.  We also have a foray into the world of willpower and Dawn explains how willpower works in your brain.  Oh and Jess has a new toy - an Apple watch - and she keeps on getting distracted by it!

It's the environment, stupid! In this episode we talk about sense of self and how much that is formed by our environment and the people in our lives, especially as we grow up. If we aren't our thoughts, our behaviours, or our appearance, then how do we know who we are? This is the link to the Dove Sketch artist experiment that Jess mentioned Check out the poll if you are listening on spotify, to tell us if you are happy with yourself.  Also, as this a conversation between a human therapist (Dawn Walton) and a dog behaviourist (Jess Probst), we talk about dog behaviours and how many people are just deciding to give up on their dog and talking about putting them down. We talk about teenagers who slam their doors in frutstation, and ask what a teenage dog is expected to do when they have the same frustration. Jess realises that dogs are NPCs (non player characters) who are those characters in games that only have one dimension and one function. They are characters that we can't control or change. 

Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist, and Dawn Walton, a human therapist, discuss the use of ecollars in training dogs. We explain how praise is more effective than punishment in dogs and children, and how to use an ecollar as a postive reinforcement. We also discuss the difference they can make to lives of people with deaf dogs, disabled people who can't hold a lead, and people with anxiety who can't walk their dog in public for fear of its behaviour. How do we use them as a tool to improve the welfare of the dog and the mental state of the human owner. 

In this episode Jess a dog behaviourist and human therapist in training, and Dawn a human therapist and dog trainer in training, meander through a range of topics in Starbucks.  We start off with schema therapy and talk about how hard it is for people to remember where they started - with dogs or themselves! We talk about tripwires / measures of success and discuss how much our past really should inform what is going on in the present. 

In this episode Dawn and Jess explore the subconscious, the cognitive conscious brain, and the possibility of something in between the two - the autopilot brain. Dawn delves into fears and where they come from, and how the brain can be reprogrammed to free us up. We also discuss the idea of an ever observant part of the brain that Dawn calls the Observer or Narrator. Lots of therapy stuff and a little bit of dog stuff!

Is it possible to talk about Serial Killers and dating in a podcast and find common ground? Listen and you will find out! Who has more emotional detachment - Dawn or Jess? Jess Probst and Dawn Walton still comparing dog and human psychology. 

What makes a good escape room experience Best ways to organise early dates   Imposter syndrome  Is dog ownership a skill Thinkfulness   - a tools for not believing your inner voice   Are our dogs a projection of us?

Expectation v reality    Do we think all our dogs are Hollywood dogs? Importance of sleep for dogs and humans We can’t see change Is being part of a pack more important than being top of the pack?

Fear Respect Anxiety Consequences Describing a therapy session with Dawn

Punishment  Predicting the future  Experience based learning  Memory reference  Caveman survival  Innate learning  Function for survival  Pyjama day  Aversives interactions  consistency in training  Addiction,  Ocd behaviour,  boredom v purpose  Loneliness  Communication needs, creating rapport Interview skills

We're in a new venue! Owners and dogs   Instant gratification (present)  Bowling pin analogy  Prison regime  Warning lights   “It’s good enough”   Residential training and environmental factors  Respect for human   Dog choice   Ecollar explained by Dawn   Command and control /pet dog    The psychology of Dogs and muzzles   Refused vet visits    Ideas for new owners - how to crate  Dogs v cats and zombies

In this episode Dawn Walton and Jess Probst are out to lunch, so not in the usual Starbucks! A fire alarm goes off in the middle of the podcast and disrupts it, and Jess thinks that I need the microphone closer so now I'm too loud!  Anyway we talk about the challenges of being self employed, being in a caring profession and the emotional toll it takes.  We discuss the psychology of people around their dogs and explore strategies for how we can be better at helping

As well as labelling a dogs aggressive behaviour as being pain driven, people are now even calling their dogs Autistic. Jess and I discuss why we need to find a reason for behaviour rather than just taking ownership of the role we play. Why can't someone see their dog as an animal until it does something very primitive like biting or chasing and lunging? We also discuss the role of genetics in aggression after Jess ended up with two dogs who did the same extreme aggressive behaviour, only to later discover they had the same father. 

Jess has a theory that trust is an important factor in our relationship with our dogs. So in this episode we explore what trust really means to both humans and dogs. 

Jess the Impaler   If you have a dog you may want to rethink listening to this we delve into the military SuperDog Biosensor program and learn about how to create resilience and longevity and of course compare dogs to humans and some other stuff including a Romanian curse that turned out to be passed down in the blood (or did it?)

In this episode Jess and Dawn talk about trauma in dogs and humans after Jess has been somewhat challenged by an online course on dogs in trauma (read that as it's being doing her head in!) We talked about humans projecting their emotions onto dogs and question whether it is possible for people like you and I (but not Jess) to see dogs as animals rather than little people. 

In this episode we have a very special guest speaker - Michael Shikashio. Michael Shikashio, CDBC, is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals from around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and is a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). He also hosts the popular podcast show “The Bitey End of the Dog” where he chats with the foremost experts on dog aggression. Dawn tries to let Jess and Michael do most of the talking as this episode is very much for dog owners and those interested in dogs. 

What is behind the mask we wear? Who are we really/sense of self Therapist needs therapy (Jess said this) Lobsters and how it is making Jess and Dawn question the link between serotonin (happy drugs) and aggression. Is there more to serotonin than we thought? How does pain affect the way a dog behaves And just for a bit of annoyance at the end, Jess gives some sample questions from a questionnaire to find out if your dog is reslient Here is the link to the lobster serotonin study

Socialising what does it really mean and how should you do it effectively (obviously this bit is about dogs)  We discuss what people get from having a dog and how the need for connection can be the very thing that can lead to serious behaviour issues in dogs.   We talk about communication and how Jess can deal with something being so obvious to her, but not to the dog guardians and how she can counter her need to be brutally blunt! There is a general discussion about memory and how it works

Random interesting chat: Narcissism Yum Yums Stockholm syndrome Cultural differences Women being weaker Heriarchy v equality Quantum Entanglement What is love ?

After another attack this week by an XL Bully, Jess and Dawn discuss dog breeds and what can be done about more and more people being killed and savaged by ‘family pets’

Guest Rob Lowe joins Jess Probst and Dawn Walton to talk about dog training. Are fear and aggression the same thing? Is there such a thing as fear-aggression?

Do we learn when we are stressed? All about learning through failing, emotional states, society masks, how our physiological state affects our dog The one to listen to if you are thinking about joining our walks but aren’t sure how your dog will be or if you are experiencing anxiety about doing a new thing

In this episode Dawn Walton (Human Therapist) and Jess Probst (Dog behaviourist) are joined by special guest Gemma Kirk who is a support worker who works with kids in the care system.  In this podcast we have a discussion about taking in rescues - similarities between foster dogs and foster children and modern ideas for parenting v old ideas of punishment Mixed signals and understanding a different perspective. All parents of humans and dogs have an opportunity to learn this new information and we will have an in person talk coming soon! 🧠🤓 Grab a coffee, settle down, and listen while they chat in Starbucks. 

Jess was triggered so Dawn had to do a Rapid therapy session Some details of Dawns therapy journey

With guest star Professor Trevor Harley, emeritus professor of psychology at Dundee uni and his dog; Beau discuss emotions, behaviour, anthropology and intelligence

Long one! Social media comments.

Dog Givens to go with Episode 8 on Human Givens!

Anxiety in people and dogs Genetic predisposition Teaching children - Punishment Types of aggression People questioning fear v aggression

Dawn Walton a human therapist and Jess Probst dog behaviourist have chats in Starbucks about human vs dog psychology. If you won £100 million on the lottery, what would you do? This episode is about Human Givens and our need for purpose. You can find the 'happy triggers' quick by searching for VIA Signature strengths Find Jess at @dundeedogtraining on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Dawn Walton a human therapist and Jess Probst dog behaviourist have chats in Starbucks about human vs dog psychology. This episode is about Altruism vs kindness in humans and dogs. Core attributes versus behaviour and how that relates to genetics.And Ginger ninjas! Find Jess at @dundeedogtraining on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Dawn Walton a human therapist and Jess Probst dog behaviourist have chats in Starbucks about human vs dog psychology. This episode is about breeds and the need to fit in for humans, vs the weakest in the pack for dogs.  Find Jess at @dundeedogtraining on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Dawn Walton a human therapist and Jess Probst dog behaviourist have chats in Starbucks about human vs dog psychology.  This episode is a bit different as it's a mini-therapy session for Jess as she was struggling with something. In the process of working through her stuff we cover failure and stress thresholds.   Find Jess at @dundeedogtrainer on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Dawn Walton a human therapist and Jess Probst dog behaviourist have chats in Starbucks about human vs dog psychology. In this episode they discuss what a therapy dog is vs having a pet to help with mental health, and what the difference is between training and coaching Find Jess at @dundeedogtrainer on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Dawn Walton a human therapist and Jess Probst dog behaviourist have chats in Starbucks about human vs dog psychology. In this episode they discuss punishment versus correction for dogs and children, and why people are resitant to getting help from a therapist or dog trainer.  Find Jess at @dundeedogtrainer on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Dawn Walton a human therapist and Jess Probst a dog behaviourist discuss how humans and dogs learn, and why we worry what people think. These are conversations recorded between Jess and Dawn in Starbucks so excuse the noise quality. Grab a coffee and sit and listen in while we chat Find Jess at @dundeedogtrainer on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Excuse the husky voice, I have a cold! Dawn a human therapist and Jess a dog behaviourist discuss nature versus nurture, depression and Will Smith in the Oscar’s! Find Jess at @dundeedogtrainer on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Coffee shop conversations between Jess Probst an animal behaviourist, and Dawn Walton a human therapist. Find Jess at @dundeedogtrainer on Instagram and find Dawn at @dawn_thinkitchangeit

Why does a rubbish childhood leave you with a lifetime of struggling with weight

Apologies for the delay in getting this episode out. Also apologies because this is a bit of a ranty post because I’ve had a couple of knockbacks and disappointments lately and I’m finding it very frustrating

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. What a load of twoddle. Of course words hurt. And they have a far longer impact than a broken bone.

In this episode I talk you through the steps you need to take to boost your motivation and willpower. Go to products.thinkitchangeit.com to do the full challenge

In this episode I discuss how the brain stores memories and how you can change them. There are some practical things to try if your memories are causing you a problem

I am a trauma informed practitioner. In this episode I talk about what that really means and in what ways trauma can affect your work with other therapists

In this episode I talk about identity. There are 3 levels. There is the core you, with the personal traits you are born with. There is the clay you, moulded by the adults and people that cared for you, and there is the fake you, which is actually the real you.

In this episode I talk about brain programming and the condition response effect. I will teach you how to combine two techniques - tapping and dropthrough - with a childlike approach of asking why about everything, to deal with emotional hijacking. This approach can make permanent changes.

In this episode I talk about how trauma affects your ability to do mindfulness practices and provide some practical alternatives for you to try

How does trauma in your past affect your New Year thoughts? More than you might expect

This is my own unique version of the night before Christmas poem. Originally written for the Quest Cognitive Hypnotherapy magazine and now adapted for this podcast

In this, my first video podcast, I talk about the effect of childhood trauma on the immune response

In this episode I talk through some personal stuff. This may be a bit triggering for you so if you’re not in a good enough place, maybe skip this episode. I mainly talk about how to choose a therapist

In this episode talk about the reason behind the flight, fight, freeze response. I also talk about inverse anxiety and what that is

In this episode I explore language, including how we talk to our kids, how to tell if someone is lying, and making promises

In this episode I talk about the different parts that run your life. All behaviour serves a purpose and all behaviour has a positive intent. Which part keeps getting in your way? At the end of the episode is an exercise to help you change your parts. **please don’t do the exercise for anything big and if you need help, email dawn@thinkitchangeit.com

In this episode I'm reading the intro to my book "We're all screwed (and that's OK)"

Do you know your kids snapchat / instagram / tik tok username? 1 in 10 kids under 10 have accessed porn. They probably seeing way more than you realise. So what can you do?

In this episode I talk about the different sorts of friendships and how to maintain and establish healthy boundaries in relationships

Have you ever thought about your purpose? How would you feel if your job was written on your gravestone?

In this episode I talk about the need for connection as one of the key human needs once the needs for food, shelter and safety have been met. And I reflect on why the 18 months of lockdown have made this so tricky

In this episode I talk about triggers being like wearing a virtual reality helmet, and how learning you can take it off is one of the key ways of dealing with them

I'm pondering change right now. But also thinking about how to help you when you get triggered.

This episode is probably only relevant if you are looking after kids. We look at the neuroscience behind child brain development and how that can lead to problems.

There are a finite number of emotions we experience, and yet there are an infinite number of ways that lead us to them. In this episode I include a great technique for dealing with anxiety

In this episode I talk about how to really listen and how to meet people where they are at.

In this episode I talk about how we all have our own narrative and what it means to forgive someone. There is a brief mention of abuse so be cautious if you might be triggered

In this episode I talk about what it's like to go through massive change and how you should consider therapists and your own process

In today's episode we dig into the word should and look at expectations vs reality and how they cause problems

In this episode I talk about limiting beliefs, my big limiting belief, and how you can work out what yours are

In this episode I talk about how you know something is wrong, and what steps you take to overcome those problems.

My mother died a week ago. In this episode I talk about how that's affecting me right now and where I expect to end up

Lots of people are struggling right now with all the lockdown and changes in life. In this episode I talk about strategies that might help you cope

This one is a bit different. In this episode I tell you all about me; my training and my childhood. This is my 'why I do what I do' episode

If you are on a journey of self-help many things have probably changed about you and how you respond to different situations. This can be scary. Not knowing who you are and how you will react can make you feel vulnerable. The questionnaire I mentioned is called "VIA signature strengths"

In this episode I talk again about how your brain is wired and, more importantly, how you can hack your brain to get dopamine for the things you choose

Our brains work on primitive programming. Diets are tapping into that in all the wrong ways. Listen to this episode to learn why diets don't work and what you can do about it. Go to products.thinkitchangeit.com and click on the announcement bar to get access to the free task

It's my job to help others. But many of us finding ourselves on a position where we are the one person people talk to when they are struggling. This can lead to all sorts of challenges for you. In this episode I give some guidance on how to help others when it's not your job

In this episode I explain the default way the brain is designed to work around sleep, how this can be disrupted and give you some tools to help with your sleep cycle

In this episode I describe my approach to self care. You might be surprised to hear that it has nothing to do with having a candle lit bath or relaxing. And I cover some strategies you can use to give yourself energy

In this episode I talk about the neuroscience around addictive behaviour and share a few ideas on steps you can take to overcome your own addictive behaviour

In this episode I discuss the difference between traumatic memories and horrible memories. I explain. The neuroscience behind trauma, and some of the ways it can affect your day to day life. And I share how everything can be changed.

In this podcast I talk about the challenges of dealing with children aged 8 to 16 and cover some of the science behind why it can be so challenging, and give you some tools and strategies for approaching it

In this episode I talk about why some people find emotions difficult, why we develop coping strategies, and I will teach you a couple of simple techniques to allow you to safely manage emotions

In this episode I talk about the different types of grief : losing someone through death, the end of a relationship, the loss of the person you once were. At the end I share a simple technique to help you process your grief

In this episode I talk about weight and metabolism, about healing injuries and general mind body connection stuff. Books I suggested : The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton, How your mind can heal your body by David Hamilton, Love, Medicine and Miracles by Bernie Siegel, The molecules of emotion by Candace Pert.

Imposter syndrome is one of the most common fears experienced across the globe, often factoring in the top 5 phobias in a country. It is the fear of being found out, of not being good enough. In this episode I'll explain where it comes from and give you 4 tips for overcoming it

If you think of the fight or flight response, it's a primitive response to allow us to survive an encounter with a sabre toothed tiger. And yet, there are no tigers or predators around these days. In this episode I explain how your brain is still operating on the caveman rules of how to survive. Read my book "The Caveman Rules of Survival" to learn more

In this episode I cover neuroplasticity, how the brain learns, and how you can manipulate your brain to reward you for those things you choose.

In this episode I introduce myself and talk about how present problems are caused by past experiences. Learn about how we learn, and how the brain works off very primitive caveman rules for survival. Read my book "We're all screwed up (and that's ok)" to learn more