The Travel Psychologist

23/07/2026

Assistant Psychologist wanted for a short term opportunity

We're opening a project opportunity for an early career psychologist to help us to create evidence-based resources. If you're creative, proactive and interested in travel and well-being, we'd love you to consider applying.

Find out more here

Assistant Psychologist Temporary project-based opportunity to develop psychoeducational resources We are looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist to work with our Travel Psychologist team. This short-term opportunity is ideal for someone who is creative, proactive, and passionate about tra...

23/07/2026

Travel is still one of the most enriching things we can do, but 2026 brings conditions that make opportunistic behaviour more likely. Understanding the psychology behind it helps you stay grounded, confident, and prepared.

By Dr Charlotte Russell, Clinical Psychologist & Founder Travel opens us up — emotionally, cognitively, and socially. That openness is part of what makes travel transformative, but it also makes us vulnerable. Scams thrive in these moments, not just because travellers are geographically out of pla...

16/07/2026

Gaios is one of those places that slows you down in all the right ways — pastel harbour mornings, freddo espresso stops, family‑run sailboats, and dinners that taste even better after a day in the water. A small town with a big sense of calm.

This guide contains affiliate links. This means that if you book through the links provided this blog will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Situated on the tiny Ionian island of Paxos, Gaios is a harbour town with a quietly striking beauty. Its pastel Venetian buildings curve around the...

15/07/2026

Warmth is a strength and can be magnetic — but it’s often misinterpreted. Many women who lead with kindness find themselves liked, relied upon, even admired… yet not always respected. In my latest piece, I explore why warm women can attract toxic individuals, how gendered stereotypes shape others’ reactions, and how to protect your boundaries without dimming who you are.

Warm and friendly women are often misunderstood in ways that affect relationships, boundaries, and wellbeing. Learn why warmth is a strength, how gendered stereotypes shape others’ reactions, and how to protect your emotional safety without dimming who you are.

14/07/2026

So many people arrive on holiday exhausted and hopeful, only to find that their mind won’t settle. You lie by the pool thinking about work, you wake up wired, or you feel strangely untouched by the beautiful surroundings. It can feel like you’re “failing” at rest, even when you’ve done everything right.

Today’s new Dear Dr Charlotte column explores exactly this dilemma — why switching off can feel impossible when your nervous system is stuck in threat mode, and what it really means when rest doesn’t come easily.

"Dear Dr Charlotte, I’m struggling with something that’s starting to affect every trip I take. I’m completely burnt out, and yet even when I go on holiday I can’t seem to switch off. I arrive exhausted, desperate for rest, but the moment I get there I feel wired, restless, and unable to rela...

10/07/2026

Penang one of those rare places where history, food and culture meet in the most effortless way. In her new guide, Dr Nicola Cann explores Penang’s layered identity — from Peranakan flavours and quiet temples to jungle trails, clan jetties and the city’s wonderfully quirky museums.

If you’re planning a trip to Penang, or simply love destinations where heritage is still lived rather than preserved, this one’s for you.

By Dr Nicola Cann, Sleep Psychologist & Regular Contributor Few cities in Southeast Asia balance history and modern life as effortlessly as George Town. Chinese clan houses, British colonial buildings, Indian temples and sleek coffee shops sit side by side, creating a city that somehow feels both hi...

08/07/2026

Early July is when resorts fill with families — matching towels, matching routines, matching lives. And if you’re travelling as a single parent, it can stir something tender. Not inadequacy, but a quiet awareness of being the “different” family in a place built for the traditional script.

Our regular contributor Elise writes beautifully about that moment: the poolside comparisons, the invisible pressure and the surprising loneliness that can sit beneath a holiday meant to be joyful.

But she also shows how joy can be reclaimed.

You’re not half a family.
You’re not the “brave one”.
You’re a whole parent, creating a whole experience — even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s.

And sometimes the most meaningful holidays are the ones where you stop measuring your life against someone else’s and start noticing what’s already working in yours.

By Elise Dyer, Clinical Associate Psychologist and Regular Contributor There is a moment that almost every single parent knows, even if they have never spoken it out loud. You are sitting by the pool, your child is happily splashing in the shallow end, and the sun is warm on your face. On paper, eve...

26/06/2026

A few thoughts from me in this insightful piece for BBC Travel

From roadside convenience stores to lonely landscapes, travellers are discovering little-known slices of Americana away from the host cities.

26/06/2026

NEW: Living across different cultures can often bring up questions related to belonging and identity. In this piece, Mirna Plotkowski shares her experiences and insights on this topic, having lived across several countries and cultures.

This is a special article that could only be written by someone with such extensive personal experience on the topic, as well as a strong background in psychology. I really enjoyed reading it and I hope you will too.

By Mirna Plotkowski, MA Psychology Graduate and Guest Contributor I used to hate the question "Where are you from?". Not because I was ashamed of where I came from, but because the answer kept changing. I was born in Yugoslavia. By the time I was fourteen, Yugoslavia no longer existed. Then I was fr...

11/06/2026

I’m Dr Charlotte, a clinical psychologist and the founder of The Travel Psychologist. Travel and psychology are two of my great loves — though cats and yoga are close contenders. “Yogi‑cat‑lady‑travel‑psychologist” didn’t quite land, so I focus on two out of four.

I’ve always chased adventure, both in my travels and in my professional life. Soon after qualifying, I realised I wanted to use psychology in ways that felt fresh, curious and expansive. I love thoughtful questions, and if I don’t have the answer immediately, I’ll happily sit with it until something meaningful emerges.

One of my greatest joys is collaborating with other psychologists and sharing their perspectives on travel and wellbeing. Hosting their work is a privilege — a reminder of how rich this field becomes when many voices shape it.

To everyone reading, thank you. Every time you read, share or subscribe, you help bring a more thoughtful, psychologically informed perspective into the travel space.