The Pilamaya Podcast: Are you ready for therapy or to train as a therapist?
When something new arrives …
In our second episode of the new Pilamaya Podcast, co-hosts Shaura Hall and Susan Clark discuss the ‘call’ to either start your therapeutic journey or, perhaps, train as an Integration Psychotherapist yourself.
How does that call arrive and how do you know it is the right time for you?
When we are in the moment - the present, or if you prefer, the ‘NOW’ - then something new can arrive.
In this new episode of our monthly podcast talking about therapy, we explore the age-old idea that the time is 'NOW' and after a discussion about how difficult it can be for humans to stay in the present, rather than reflecting back or projecting forward - Susan and Shaura share a little of what brought both of them into the world of therapy, first as clients and later as psychotherapists.
If there is a short answer to this question, it would be something like for each of them, therapy became a way of making sense of how life had unfolded to that point, and following that 'excavation' the therapeutic work then also became instrumental in making the changes needed, internally and externally, to move closer to the life they wanted.
🎧 Listen on Spotify: The Pilamaya Podcast: A Small and Mighty Constellation
🎧 Listen on Apple: The Pilamaya Podcast: A Small and Mighty Constellation
🎧 Listen on Amazon Music: The Pilamaya Podcast: A Small and Mighty Constellation
How being a therapist can feel like being a psychological archaeologist … or even a quiet detective!
Therapy can be a slow and painstaking process but that’s because a life matters!
In this episode, Shaura talks about how it is the body that is the portal to the 'NOW' which is why Integration Psychotherapy recognises the importance of the wisdom the body holds and Susan talks about how, for her, being a therapist is like being a psychological archaeologist and how long term therapy helped make the values that were already implicit become explicit to shape the life she now has.
And they both share how Integration Psychotherapy really can make sense of what has happened before, allowing a client to move on with their lives instead of feeling burdened by painful experiences that may then colour new relationships, opportunities and the way someone feels about themselves.
Change your life: Come and train as an Integration Psychotherapist at The Pilamaya Centre, or find a therapist to start your own healing journey
If you feel called to either starting therapy or training as an Integration Psychotherapist then please make yourself known to us:
Train with us: The two year Level 5 Integration Psychotherapy diploma starts a new intake in March 2026. Reserve your place here.
Find a therapist with us: IPS (Integration Psychotherapy Services CIC) offers more affordable fee scales, working with a Pilamaya student or a Pilamaya graduate. More details including how to book an exploratory call with Shaura here, Integration Psychotherapy Services
The Man at No. 11
A poem by Dan Freeman
Was feeling so drained from work & was unsure if he could afford to pay the bills, as the bank that he has his savings in has withheld his money.
The Man at number 11 looked in the mirror & he looked old & this filled his heart with sorrow.
The man at number 11 knew that he had outgrown his old life & had been slow to the idea of starting a new life for himself & decides to lay down new roots.
The man at number 11 was so fast at changing his life that he missed his own arrival.
This is the piece of creative writing … all about timings … that we end our podcast with.
Butter wouldn’t melt…
As a Border Collie, Esmee is super sensitive to sound … good & bad
Meet Esmee, the Pilamaya pupster and book a place on Shaura’s first Sound Bath for Dogs, a collaboration with Heather Mason of the Minded Institute in London next month (March 2026).
Details here, Human-Dog Sound Bath
Artwork credit
The original artworks in this newsletter were created by multi media artist, Hilary Calverley during one of Susan’s Tending the Edge monthly gatherings for creatives. In that session we were working with Lichens.
Inner & Outer Landscapes (charcoal, acrylic paint and water soluble oil pastels on watercolour paper)
Contact [email protected]
Instagram: hilary_calverley_
Multi media artist & healer
Production Credit
Tom Fox at Moorcroft Studios