Exploring Psychotherapy for People with Dementia
Dementia Researcher Vodcast
11/07/25
•43m
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In this episode, host Dr Anna Volkmer is joined by Dr Alys Griffiths, Sophie Jeffery, and Esther Whittlesea Reed to explore a two-year Alzheimer’s Society project testing #psychotherapy for people with dementia.
Together, they discuss the importance of therapy in #dementia care, the barriers to access, the development of new therapist competencies, and the lived experience of psychotherapy from both clinical and personal perspectives.
Takeaways
- Psychotherapy can provide meaningful outcomes for people with dementia.
- Barriers to accessing therapy include stigma and lack of understanding.
- Core competencies for therapists are essential for effective care.
- Family therapy is crucial for supporting families affected by dementia.
- Training for therapists should include specific skills for working with dementia patients.
- Research findings highlight the need for better communication about therapy options.
- The importance of lived experience in shaping research and therapy.
- Future research should focus on improving access to therapy for families.
- There is a need for a cultural shift in how dementia is perceived in therapy.
Essential links / resources mentioned in the show:Core competences frameworkUK Council for PsychotherapyBritish Association for Counselling and PsychotherapyRecent papers on the topic
Sponsored by Famileo. Helping families living with dementia stay close with a personalised printed magazine, delivered monthly. Over a quarter of a million families already use Famileo to stay connected. First month free with code DR26. Visit the Famileo Website
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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Associati...
Previous Episode
Supporting Young Carers in Dementia
October 24, 2025
•42m
In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, host Dr Anna Volkmer, Associate Professor at UCL and Speech and Language Therapist explores the experiences of young carers in families affected by dementia, the challenges they face, the support they receive, and what more could and should be done.
Anna is joined by Dr Patricia Masterson Algar a Lecturer at Bangor University, leading new research funded by Health and Care Research Wales to develop a peer support programme for young carers. Hannah Gardner a Consultant Admiral Nurse for Children and Young People at Dementia UK, advocating nationally for better awareness and support and Gareth and Euan Heslop, father and son who share their lived experience of caring for a wife and mother with young-onset dementia.
Together they discuss the often overlooked impact of dementia on children and teenagers, the stigma and isolation young carers face, and how families, schools, and professionals can work together to provide better understanding and support.
In this episode:
- The hidden realities of growing up as a young carer.
- Stigma, awareness, and the importance of talking openly about dementia.
- How schools and communities can recognise and support young carers.
- Why services must consider the whole family, not just the person diagnosed.
- The role of peer support and what new research hopes to achieve.
- Voices from lived experience — what young carers really need.
Listen to hear how families, researchers, and practitioners are working together to ensure young carers are seen, heard, and supported.
For information on the study, or to be involved Find Hannah on LinkedIn or email (hannah.gardner@dementiauk.org) / Find Patricia on LinkedIn or email (p.m.algar@bangor.ac.uk)
Sponsored by Famileo. Helping families living with dementia stay close with a personalised printed magazine, delivered monthly. Over a quarter of a million families already use Famileo to stay connected. First month free with code DR26. Visit the Famileo Website
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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a ...
Next Episode
XXplored - The Midlife Transition: Menopause and the Brain
November 20, 2025
•43m
In this episode of the Dementia Researcher - Xxplored Women’s Brain Health podcast, host Dr Laura Stankeviciute speaks with Professor Claudia Barth from Charite University and Dr Gillian Coughlan from Harvard Medical School to examine the midlife transition, menopause and its significance for women’s brain health.
Together they outline what the menopause truly involves across the early, late, and post stages, and explain how hormonal change affects brain structure, energy use, mood, and cognition. They also explore why this period may coincide with greater vulnerability to later Alzheimer’s disease and discuss the role of early or surgical menopause, symptom severity, and gaps in existing research cohorts.
The episode highlights the need for richer reproductive data, real time biomarker studies, and closer collaboration with digital health tools to better capture women’s lived experiences. It reflects a growing wave of research and public interest aimed at improving understanding, support, and evidence based care during this important life stage.
Takeaways
- Menopause is a long transition shaped by fluctuating hormones.
- Cognitive and mood symptoms reflect changes in brain networks.
- Earlier menopause is linked with increased later Alzheimer’s risk.
- Major research cohorts lack detailed reproductive data.
- New real time studies are beginning to track symptoms and biomarkers.
- Digital tools will be key for future research.
- Better global representation is needed across studies.
- Momentum is building to close long standing gaps in women’s health.
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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.
Leave us a tip:
https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support
Follow us on social media:
- https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
- https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
- https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
- https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social
Download and Register with our Community App:
https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.
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