Smartphone activism as a psychologist in private practice with Dr Erin Carroll

Welcome to the Business of Psychology podcast. One of the biggest fears I hear from psychologists and therapists leaving the NHS for independent practice is that they'll lose their connection to the bigger picture, to public health, and that they'll spend all their time working in a silo, working one-to-one, and lose their impact on wider society. But today's guest is proof that being in private practice can actually be the perfect springboard for grassroots activism and community leadership. I'm joined by Dr Erin Carroll, a clinical psychologist who has taken her expertise in emotional development out of the consulting room and into the heart of her community. Erin's been a driving force in the Smartphone Free Childhood movement in our combined hometown of Tunbridge Wells, and she's helped to achieve something really remarkable; getting all of the local secondary head teachers to sign a joint letter supporting brick only phone policies for younger students, something that Erin really believes in. So today we're talking about how we as psychologists can use our training to lead cultural change, and why finding a cause that really lights a fire in your belly is the best antidote to that isolation that we can often feel in private practice.

Full show notes and a transcript of this episode are available at The Business of Psychology

Links:

Erin: www.erincarrollpsychologist.co.uk

Smartphone Free Childhood

Health Professionals for Safer Screens

The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price, illustrated by Cynthia Yuan Cheng

Links for Rosie:

Substack: substack.com/@drrosie

Rosie on Instagram:

@rosiegilderthorp

@drrosiegilderthorp

The highlights

Erin tells us about her professional life up to the point that she became involved in Smartphone Free Childhood, and what led you down that path 01:45
Erin talks about the role of screens and emotional regulation 11:56
We discuss online harms and safeguarding concerns 18:49
We look at the addictive aspect of smartphones 27:05
Erin talks about the Smartphone Free Childhood parent Pact, and schools taking action 32:44
I ask Erin about her plans going forward, in her activist role 48:56
Erin tells us how to get in touch with her and connect with the Smartphone Free Childhood community 54:14

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