This episode contains discussion around mental health in the family, bipolar disorder, coming out, and psychosexual therapy.

🎧 Join us for a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation with psychosexual and relationship counsellor Hilton da Silva as he shares his journey from Brazil to London, navigating family mental health challenges, and finding freedom to be his authentic self.

This honest and inclusive discussion explores how early experiences with mental health in the family shaped Hilton's path to becoming a specialist in psychosexual and relationship work, offering valuable insights for people in relationships of all kinds.

Hosted by:

Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast. Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach & Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).

In this compelling episode, Hilton openly shares:

• Growing up in Brazil and experiencing mental health problems in his family from a young age

• How his brother's bipolar disorder and erratic behaviour impacted the entire family

• Moving to live with a relative as a teenager due to family circumstances

• Finding his way as a queer person and the challenges of growing up LGBTQIA+

• His decision to move to London where he felt freer to be his true self

• Training to become a therapist and specialising in psychosexual and relationship work

• Supporting clients with sexual dysfunction, shame, intimacy, and communication issues

• Working as Team Leader for Wandsworth Talking Therapies

This essential conversation offers inclusive and sound advice for people in every sort of relationship, however they identify, and valuable insights into how personal experiences can inform therapeutic specialisation.

🔍 Key Topics Discussed:

• The impact of family mental health challenges on young people

• Navigating cultural and family expectations around sexuality and identity

• Finding freedom and authenticity through geographical change

• How psychosexual and relationship therapy works in practice

• Supporting clients with sexual dysfunction and intimacy issues

• Addressing shame and communication problems in relationships

• Conflict avoidance and its impact on relationships

• Creating inclusive therapeutic spaces for all relationship types

• The connection between personal healing and professional calling

Chapters:

00:00 Intro 

1:15 Why Hilton went to therapy & his brother's journey to being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder 

06:54 Hilton’s decision to move away as a teenager 

09:35 Hilton’s experience as a gay, cisgender man living in Brazil and hiding his sexuality as a teenager 

10:13 How Hilton’s mum discovered his sexuality 

11:35 The fear of being asked to leave your home because your sexuality isn’t accepted 

12:10 Hilton’s first experience of therapy at 33

13:00 Why Hilton came to London 

14:07 Hilton’s unexpected journey to becoming a therapist 

15:30 Hilton’s best therapist & the importance of finding the right therapist as being part of a marginalised community

16:17 How Hilton knew he was gay & dating girls 

17:29 Making LGBTQ+ friends & the freedom they feel to be open in London

18:52 Transphobic crime in Brazil 

20:00 Hilton’s journey to training to become a therapist 

21:32 Hilton’s marriage to a fellow therapist 

22:24 What is Psychosexual Therapy 

22:47 Vagnismus

24:26 Couple’s Therapy common challenges  

25:05 Relationship Problems

25:38 The benefit of going to therapy 

27:38 Avoidant-Conflict 

28:24 How Hilton works now 

30:15 Working with the LGBT community, keeping up with the younger generation & different identities

32:20 The most common issue that people bring into the therapy room with Hilton 

34:00 Hilton’s final message for listeners 

35:15 Outro 

🎬 Watch full episodes of A Bunch of Therapists on our YouTube channel

🎧 A Bunch of Therapists is available on all major podcast platforms

🗓️ New episodes every Thursday

Follow A Bunch of Therapists on Social Media:

YouTube: @ABunchofTherapistsTV

TikTok: @a.bunch.of.therapists

Instagram: @abunchoftherapists

Facebook: A Bunch of Therapists

LinkedIn: A Bunch of Therapists

#TherapyUK #PsychosexualTherapy #LGBTQTherapy #RelationshipTherapy #MentalHealthUK #SexTherapy #TherapyTraining #InclusiveTherapy