Therapy Works

For this week's episode of Agony Aunties, we address a viewer's concern about her husband's consistent failure to acknowledge her birthday meaningfully, delving into the possible roots of his behavior stemming from his childhood. We'll explore the psychological implications of gift-giving, offer practical advice on how to communicate and understand these emotional blocks, and suggest alternative ways to ensure her birthday feels special. How does this resonate with you? What is your experience of giving and receiving gifts? Do you feel pressured by gift giving, or disappointed by it? We'd love to hear what your experience is like. Let us know in the comments. Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Therapy Works, we sit down with Michelle and Richard, who share their incredibly painful journey of losing their five year old son Rudy to a brain tumor. We’ll talk about our reflections on love, loss, and the balance between treatment and quality of life. They’re both very open about the impact this had on their family, including their daughter Elodie, and the crucial support of community and healthcare professionals. And, what’s very inspiring, is how much they were able to handle the loss and the aftermath with such grace. It’s truly impressive. For our Mother/Daughter segment, Emily, Sophie and I will all delve into the emotional and physical realities of grief, while also celebrating the enduring spirit of love that remains. If you like this episode, and want to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - https://www.instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my new website - https://www.juliasamuel.co.uk Wild Nutrition are offering an exclusive limited time offer to Therapy Works’ listeners: 50% off your first 3 months when you visit wildnutrition.com/therapy, that’s wildnutrition.com/therapy for 50% off your first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Therapy Works podcast! We're starting Season 7 with a very special guest, James Middleton, as he opens up about the challenges he faced with dyslexia, self-doubt, and depression. He discusses the impact of societal expectations, the feeling of being a 'square peg in a round hole', and the eventual breakdown that led him to contemplate suicide. James reflects on the pivotal role his dog Ella played in his recovery, providing him with unconditional love and a renewed sense of purpose. The conversation highlights the importance of speaking out, seeking help, and the transformative power of animal companionship in mental health recovery. Tune in to hear James's heartfelt story, the significant support from his family, and the insights he gained on his path to healing. Show Notes You can check out James’ Book here Or find him on Instagram (with many great pictures with his dogs) - Emily mentioned a couple of resources, which I’d like to share here: Team Square Peg / Not Fine in School Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips And for more info, check out my new website Wild Nutrition are offering an exclusive limited time offer to Therapy Works’ listeners: 50% off your first 3 months when you visit wildnutrition.com/therapy, that’s wildnutrition.com/therapy for 50% off your first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're almost ready to start with Season 7 of the Therapy Works podcast, and until then, I've been looking back at some of my favorite moments in the show's history. I can't help but remember this episode with Annabel Croft, where we discuss how one copes after losing a partner, focusing on finding joy, meaning, and connection through everyday activities and family support. We'll also touch on the importance of talking about the deceased, understanding different grieving processes, and the emotional challenges of handling a loved one's ashes while finding the right time to make decisions about them. See you next week for the start of Season 7! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While we're getting ready for Season 7 of the Therapy Works podcast, we're sharing some of our favorite moments throughout the years. Here's a small section from my talk with Helena Bonham Carter, as we discuss the risks and trust involved in their profession and how years of experience help in quickly recovering from setbacks. We'll talk about the joys of embodying different personas, the importance of playfulness, and the diverse roles they balance in life. We touch on coping mechanisms like laughter and not taking life too seriously, even amidst challenges like lockdown and self-criticism. The episode also highlights the significance of multi-faceted identities, dealing with internal critics, and maintaining core self-confidence in a demanding career. If you liked this part, you'll love the full episode. Watch it here. If you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips And for more info, check out my website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we're ramping up for Season 7 of Therapy Works, I wanted to share some of my favorite moments from our past episodes. In this episode with Trinny Woodall, we explore the emotional challenges of major life transitions, particularly when children leave home. Trinny reflects on the concept of a blended family and its deep personal significance. She shares her journey of coping with the impending departure of her daughter, Lyla, and the emotional aftermath of a car accident. We'll talk about themes of loss, responsibility, and the paradoxical theory of change, emphasizing the importance of acceptance and self-awareness. If you liked this episode, you can see the full episode here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKkbGfxubmQ Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/therapyworks and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we've just finished Season 6 of Therapy Works, we wanted to share some of our favorite parts from past episodes. Here's part of my talk with Charles Spencer, where he opens up about how he started to uncover parts of his past. Watch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/R7YZHcLhrF8 If you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of Therapy Works, we're joined by Dr. Sheila Redfern, a clinical psychologist with 30 years of experience working with young people and their families. Sheila discusses the challenges and intricacies of parenting adolescents, particularly focusing on understanding behaviors through the lens of mentalization. Sheila's new book, 'How Do You Hug a Cactus?' provides practical and insightful guidance on maintaining close relationships with teenagers. Explore how mentalizing can transform parent-teen relationships, the importance of self-reflection for parents, and how to navigate the complexities of a child's inner world. Show Notes: If you found this topic interesting, you’ll love Sheila’s book, “How Do You Huge a Cactus” If you’d like to get in contact with Sheila, you can find out more on her website - https://redfernpsychology.org On the topic of parenting, I’ve been writing some articles about parenting adult children over on my Substack. If this subject interests you, I think you might be interested in these as well - https://juliasamuel.substack.com/p/parenting-adult-children If you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this week's episode of the Therapy Works podcast, we sit down with Mimi Kwa, an Australian presenter, broadcaster, and author of 'House of Kwa'. Mimi opens up about her journey through familial challenges, including being sued by her own father in the Supreme Court, dealing with her mother's undiagnosed schizophrenia, and her path to mindfulness. We explore the impact of intergenerational trauma, the process of forgiveness, and her experiences across three different homes. Mimi's story is a testament to resilience and the power of inner healing. Don't miss this profound conversation, rich with insights on culture, family dynamics, and personal growth. Show Notes: You can find Mimi's book, "House of Kwa" here - https://amzn.eu/d/cRyOK3h And you can learn more about her on her website - https://www.mimitv.com.au/ Also, in the Mother/Daughter section, Emily mentions the Forgiveness Project. Check it out here - https://www.theforgivenessproject.com If you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Therapy Works, Martine Wright, MBE, shares her incredible journey of resilience and transformation, from surviving the 7/7 London bombings to becoming a Paralympian.  Martine recounts the day that changed her life, her struggles in the aftermath, and the unwavering support from her family and guardian angels. She opens up about how she found new life and meaning through sport, and emphasizes the importance of kindness, support, and a positive mindset in overcoming trauma.  It’s truly amazing how glass-half-full Martine’s experience has been.  Join us as we dive into her lessons of courage, hope, and the unexpected gifts that come from facing life's extreme challenges. Show Notes: You can find out more about Martine and her story over on her website - https://martinewright.co.uk And you can read her book, Unbroken, here - https://amzn.eu/d/bWD6R7W In the Mother/Daughter section, Emily mentioned the Moth Podcast.  You can find it here - https://themoth.org/podcast Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special edition of Therapy Works, we’re talking with Zoe Blaskey, a mother of two, coach, and founder of the MotherKind podcast, and we’re discussing her new book 'MotherKind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations.' She shares her motivations for writing the book, emphasizing the need for a consolidated resource for parents facing modern-day challenges. Zoe explores various topics such as the transition into motherhood, the concept of 'matrescence,' and the different pressures faced by mothers and fathers. She delves into the importance of self-compassion, managing the trio of guilt, shame, and perfectionism while offering practical tools to support parents. The episode also touches on the complexities of working motherhood, the significance of community support, and the evolving perspectives on parenting. Resources: You can find out more about Zoe on her website - https://www.motherkind.co/ And find her new book here - https://amzn.eu/d/7tAAhdy If you’re on Instagram, you can follow her here - https://www.instagram.com/zoeblaskey/ If you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Therapy Works, we sit down with Poorna Bell, esteemed freelance journalist, author, and broadcaster, as she shares her profoundly moving story. Poorna discusses the challenges of feeling worthy of romantic love, primarily as the result of her husband's suicide, and how she found strength through powerlifting and jiu-jitsu. We’ll also discuss her decision not to have children, as Poorna offers insights into navigating cultural expectations and personal fulfillment. Join us as we explore vulnerability, resilience, and the journey to self-acceptance. Resources: You can find out more about Poorna Bell from her website - https://www.poornabell.com/home And you can check out her latest book, “this is fine” here - https://amzn.eu/d/brni7ju Otherwise, we mentioned Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide. You can find them here - https://uksobs.com If you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Therapy Works, Uju Asika joins to discuss her inspiring journey as a writer and blogger, parent and daughter. Known for her impactful books, Uju opens up about the challenges of parenting in a complex world, facing racism as a child, and the profound grief of losing her parents. She explores how these experiences have shaped her mission to foster kindness and empathy in raising boys and addressing race. The conversation offers deep insights into navigating life's adversities and the importance of empathy, along with some new ways to think about how to connect with our inner child, and why there tends to be some resistance in doing so. Tune in for a powerful discussion on resilience, diversity, and creating a better world for future generations. Show Notes: Find out more about Uju on her website - https://ujuasika.com And check out her book “Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World” - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/bringing-up-race-how-to-raise-a-kind-child-in-a-prejudiced-world-uju-asika/4812827?ean=9781529368727 Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Therapy Works, we welcome actor, writer, and campaigner Greg Wise, as he delves into his varied roles and identities, his profound experiences with grief, and the transformative power of awe and creativity. He shares his personal journey of caring for his sister during her terminal illness, the impact of generational trauma, and the continuous work required for personal growth. The conversation also touches on Greg's new venture into writing about grief and the importance of therapy in processing pain and finding joy. In the Mother/Daughter segment, Emily and Sophie reflect on Greg's insights and explore themes of creativity, openness, and the cyclical patterns of trauma. Show Notes: Check out Greg's new book Not That Kind of Love - https://amzn.eu/d/0aMLPAmX And you can follow Greg Wise on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregwiseofficial/ Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Therapy Works, we are honored to have Christiana Figueres, an internationally recognized leader on climate change and former executive secretary of the UNFCCC. Christiana shares her insights on the importance of balancing awareness of climate challenges with a sense of agency and optimism. We discuss her personal journey, the impact of impermanence on her life, and how love and courage can drive effective climate action. In the Mother/Daughter section, we explore our own experiences and discuss practical steps and emotional strategies for engaging with climate issues in a meaningful way. Resources: For starters, find out more about Christiana Figueres over on her website - http://christianafigueres.com/ You can find her podcast, Outrage and Optimism here - https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/episodes And her book, The Future We Choose, is available here - https://www.globaloptimism.com/the-future-we-choose In the Mother/Daughter part of this episode, Sophie shares how she’s going to be writing a series of newsletters on Substack about how to talk about the Climate Crisis with your children.  It’s aimed to be released in September.  Until then, you can find our newsletter here - https://substack.com/@juliasamuel Christiana was very inspired by Plum Village and Thich Nhat Hanh.  You can find out more about their message here - https://plumvillage.uk Here’s the episode Sophie mentioned with Krista Tippett and Christiana Figueres - https://onbeing.org/programs/christiana-figueres-ecological-hope-and-spiritual-evolution/ And here’s the other episode she mentioned from Therapist Uncensored - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/therapist-uncensored-podcast/id1146941306?i=1000626570204 Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/therapyworks and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Therapy Works podcast, I speak to Kate Silverton, a renowned broadcaster turned child therapist. We delve into a deeply personal and intimate conversation about navigating public and personal lives, overcoming complex childhood traumas, and the transformative power of therapy. Kate shares her journey from experiencing severe trauma in childhood to finding peace and healing through therapy. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of her career, her significant relationships, and her mission to break the cycle of trauma for future generations through her work with children and her books. We also explore the importance of self-soothing, emotional regulation, and the impact of healthy relationships. Show Notes: Find out more about Kate Silverton and her work over on her website - https://www.katesilverton.com And find her on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/katesilverton Find her books: https://linktr.ee/theresnosuchthingasnaughtybook Here’s the podcast Em mentioned - https://drchatterjee.com/how-our-childhood-shapes-every-aspect-of-our-health-with-dr-gabor-mate/ And here’s the Therapy uncensored podcast Sophie talked about - https://open.spotify.com/show/2Cv0V85tssliSL8wz7gVWm Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this week’s episode of Therapy Works, we’re speaking with Becky Excell, a gluten free influencer, as she opens up about her eating disorder, how it impacted her friends and family, and what it took to finally get her to change.  We’ll discuss how some approaches of help actually caused more harm, how the expected norms of university life can lead to challenges, and how Becky has found a path forward that helps people who also have challenges with food, even though it’s coming at a new cost.   When we get to the Mother/Daughter section of the episode, we’ll talk about how we as a family experienced eating disorders as well, and what helped us tremendously during this time.  We mentioned that we’ll be sharing resources in the show notes, so if you’re at all interested, do check out: Beat Eating Disorders - https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk SWEDA - https://swedauk.org The Maudsley Model - https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/therapies/maudsley-method Young Minds - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/eating-disorders/ And here’s the book Emily talked about - https://amzn.eu/d/00gVlWXz Along with a list of other books you might find useful - https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/downloads-resources/helpful-books/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this week’s episode of Therapy Works, we’re speaking Esther Stamp, whose husband Darren was falsely accused of inappropriately touching a student, and who has been found not guilty in a court of law. Esther shares her story about the whole process, what happened to her and her family and children. She shares a story about the beautiful power of a caring community in such a touching way, and talks about the support of a community coming together for someone in need of help. She’ll also talk about the trial process for Darren, and what life is like now afterwards, and how - sadly - there’s still a lot to go before the dust settles. I fund Esther’s story very moving. How did you feel hearing it? What are your thoughts? Do let me know in the comments below. Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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We're starting off Season 6 of Therapy Works with a wonderful talk with Jake Humphrey. Join us as we explore Jake's varied career as a sports presenter, businessman, and podcaster. Through this enriching conversation, Jake shares insights on balancing success with personal life, family values, and his mental health journey. We dive into the beauty of ordinary life, the importance of vulnerability, and finding joy in simple moments. Discover how sharing our deepest fears can lead to healing and connection, and learn from Jake's experiences of resilience amidst life's pressures. Resources If you found this conversation interesting, you can find Jake Humphrey’s work in many places, including: Twitter/X - https://x.com/mrjakehumphrey High Performance Podcast - https://podfollow.com/highperformance Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jakehumphrey/ Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips - http://instagram.com/juliasamuelmbe/ And for more info, check out my website - https://juliasamuel.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices