Therapy, Thrillers & Teaching
with Dr Philippa East
About this episode
In episode six of Self Matters, host Charlie Wells interviews Dr. Philippa East, a clinical psychologist and award-winning author. Dr. East shares her unique journey from studying psychology, working in the NHS, and eventually transitioning to private practice and full-time writing.
About the guest
Dr Philippa East
Philippa East originally studied Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Oxford, before moving to London to train as a Clinical Psychologist at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. She subsequently worked in NHS mental health services for over ten years, specialising in eating disorders, psychosis and complex trauma. In 2020, she published her first psychological thriller with HQ/HarperCollins; "Little White Lies" was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association award for best debut of 2020, and Philippa has since published three further novels : "Safe and Sound", "I'll Never Tell" and "A Guilty Secret". Alongside her writing, Philippa continues to work as a clinical psychologist, now established in her own private practice in Lincolnshire. One of the ways she bridges her two professions is by providing consultancy about mental health topics to fellow fiction writers.
Episode transcript & chapters
Join host Charlie Wells as he interviews Dr. Philippa East, a clinical psychologist and award-winning author of psychological thrillers. Dr. East shares her unique journey from studying psychology, working in the NHS, and eventually transitioning to private practice and full-time writing. She discusses how her background in clinical psychology informs her writing and the importance of portraying mental health accurately in literature. Dr. East also talks about her consultancy service for authors and reflects on how society's understanding of mental health is evolving.
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Philippa East
00:37 Dr. Philippa's Journey into Psychology
03:39 Specializations and NHS Experience
05:08 Transition to Private Practice
08:03 Discovering The Writing Bug
11:11 Crafting Psychological Thrillers16:28 Balancing Psychology and Writing
19:52 Impact of COVID on Mental Health Awareness
22:51 Personal Mental Health and Self-Care
25:51 Advice for Aspiring Writers
27:56 Future of Mental Health Services
