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Miranda Arieh's journey from mental health patient to pioneering trauma specialist will forever change how you understand recovery and healing. After spending her teenage years in foster care and being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, Miranda became what she calls a "rebound patient" for 15 years—unable to find effective treatment within a system that often re-traumatized rather than healed.

The breakthrough came when Miranda decided to work within the very system she struggled against, eventually creating the Heroes Program—an innovative eight-week curriculum that's already helped thousands recover from trauma and mental health struggles. But her approach turns traditional treatment models upside down.

"We're not here to fix you or treat you," Miranda explains, challenging the medical model that treats emotions as illnesses. Instead, she sees trauma as "a living breathing wound that opens in the present moment when echoes of the past are triggered." This perspective shifts healing from revisiting painful memories to working with present-day triggers—providing tools to apply "ointment to the wound" each time it opens.

The program's philosophy extends to addiction, viewing it not as the primary problem but as "an attempt to solve a problem" when people lack capacity to hold difficult emotions. "We're almost like personal trainers for the mind and nervous system," Miranda says, teaching participants to build emotional strength rather than numbing out.

What makes Miranda's work truly revolutionary is her firm belief that healing is possible for everyone. "There is no order of difficulties in healing trauma," she insists—someone with severe abuse can heal just as completely as someone with milder trauma. The goal is what she calls a "return to self"—living authentically rather than in fear.

Ready to change your relationship with anxiety, trauma, or difficult emotions? Listen now to discover the transformative power of befriending rather than battling the wounded parts of yourself. As Miranda's story proves, sometimes our deepest pain becomes our greatest gift for helping others.

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The healing power of nature and human connection takes centre stage as Kelvyn James returns to White Fox Talking, sharing his transformative journey from profound darkness to founding a thriving mental health charity.

Kelvyn lays bare the brutal realities that shaped him - growing up in a violent household where his earliest memory is "an exceptional act of violence" and later facing the unimaginable trauma of his mother's murder. What followed was a five-year court battle where he repeatedly faced his mother's killer, a struggle he initially kept hidden from those closest to him.

The mountains became both sanctuary and danger zone as Kelvyn sought escape through increasingly risky climbs. "I was never suicidal," he explains, "but completely believing I deserved to get hurt." These high-risk behaviours provided momentary relief but failed to address his underlying trauma. The breakthrough came when he discovered that true healing happens through connection - with nature and with others.

This realization became the foundation for Wellness Walks, a charity offering free nature walks specifically designed for people struggling with mental health. Since becoming an official charity in September 2023, they've expanded rapidly, with nearly 100 volunteers running walks across the UK. What makes these walks uniquely effective is what Kelvyn calls "therapy in 3D" - the side-by-side walking creates natural opportunities for connection without the pressure of face-to-face therapy.

His newly released book "Walking Out of the Dark" chronicles this journey, with all proceeds supporting the charity's work. Though it begins in darkness, Kelvyn promises readers there's a happy ending - not because the pain disappears, but because he found a path through it. "If somebody carries a great weight for too long, one of two things is going to happen - either you're going to get stronger or you're going to break," he reflects. "For a long time I didn't know which it would be, and by the end of the book I understand it's both."

Ready to experience the healing power of nature? Join a Wellness Walk near you, or support their work by purchasing Kelvyn's book directly from wellnesswalks.org.uk.

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What happens when hate crime tears through a community? Behind the headlines and political noise, real people suffer lasting trauma that transforms into a "siege mentality," severely impacting mental health and wellbeing. Imran Shah, recently honored with an MBE for his 25 years of work in community cohesion, brings us to the front lines of this battle.

Drawing from his powerful personal journey that began with homelessness at age 15, Imran reveals how misinformation, exploitation, and division are strategically weaponized in today's digital landscape. His Digital Cohesion Unit works around the clock to identify potential flashpoints before violence erupts. "After the Southport murders," Imran explains, "we were contending with two types of social media posts—those from state actors planting misinformation to drive divisiveness, and those from extremist groups trying to get people 'frothing at the mouth.'"

The conversation shifts between deeply personal stories and broader societal observations. When communities lose youth centers, educational support, and economic opportunities, the vacuum is filled by those seeking to exploit vulnerable people. Yet Imran consistently highlights the counternarrative rarely covered in headlines—how everyday people from different faiths and backgrounds come together after tragedies to rebuild and support one another.

Perhaps most powerful is Imran's insight into breaking cycles of hate through education. "The social values are being set at a much younger age now," he notes when discussing programs that teach children about exploitation, radicalization, and community values before harmful influences can take root.

This episode offers a rare, nuanced look at community cohesion work that happens behind the scenes, revealing how personal trauma can transform into purpose when supported by compassion and connection. As Imran powerfully states, "If you're waiting for somebody to come in and help, you're going to be waiting a bloody long time."

Join our conversation that cuts through polarized debates to find common ground in our shared humanity. Don't forget to support White Fox Talking through our website where you can buy us a coffee to help keep these important conversations going.

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