Therapy Works

In this expert-led episode, Emily Samuel is joined by Dr Henry Venter to explore the vital role resilience plays in a child’s development. Together, they delve into the tools, habits, and parenting strategies that help children adapt to challenges, manage emotions, and build inner strength in an ever-changing world.Whether your child is navigating friendship struggles, academic stress, or emotional setbacks, this conversation offers accessible insights to help them thrive. Find more on Dr Venter: https://www.nu.edu/degrees/social-sciences/faculty/dr-henry-venter/ Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, the Agony Aunties address a heart-wrenching question from a listener facing a terminal diagnosis. They offer invaluable advice on how to communicate this devastating news to teenage children without causing unnecessary fear or resorting to dishonesty. They emphasise the importance of honesty and ongoing dialogue, suggest starting the conversation by asking the children what they already understand about the illness, and provide strategies to help manage the emotional burden for both the parent and the children. They also discuss the benefits of using supportive resources from organisations like Child Bereavement UK and Macmillan, and the option of preparing messages and videos for future milestones in the child's life. The discussion concludes with advice on engaging schools and other family members for additional support. Support links:  Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ Child Bereavement UK: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/ Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special live-recorded episode of Therapy Works, we explore the often unspoken patterns that shape our families — and ourselves. Whether you're navigating sibling tensions, generational expectations, or a long-standing rupture with a parent, this conversation offers powerful insight into how family systems operate, why we fall into certain roles, and how healing truly begins. Note: As this was recorded live, the audio isn’t perfect — but the rawness adds to the realness! You’ll hear real-life therapy sessions unfold in real time — including a moving segment on estrangement — revealing just how much our early environments impact our adult relationships, self-worth, and sense of belonging. What we explore in this episode: Why understanding the family system matters more than focusing on one person’s behaviour How unresolved trauma can silently pass through generations What happens when a family faces unexpected change The difference between rupture and repair — and why both are inevitable Why communication breaks down, and how to rebuild it with clarity and compassion How to navigate the tension between love, resentment, and loyalty With stories, therapeutic insight, and deeply human moments, this episode is for anyone trying to make sense of where they come from — and how to break free from cycles that no longer serve them. Highlights: 01:57 – How families react to change 03:58 – Parenting under pressure 05:33 – Tools for breaking family patterns 21:31 – Live therapy: Joe’s estrangement story 36:17 – How revelations shape identity 43:15 – Compassion vs. resentment: finding the balance 48:32 – Q&A and closing reflections Find out more about Curious Minds Festival: https://www.batharts.co.uk/curious-minds This is a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/therapyworks and get on your way to being your best self. Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at ⁠@juliasamuelmbe⁠ for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, the Agony Aunties address a common concern among individuals in their mid-thirties who feel overwhelmed by life's big decisions, especially regarding having children. The discussion dismantles the false narrative of a linear path to success, emphasises the importance of self-awareness, and offers insights into managing societal pressures and personal expectations. The episode also touches on the significance of recognising real time boundaries for biological factors, broadening one's concept of family, cultivating curiosity about one's true desires, and the benefit of therapy in understanding personal choices.Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Therapy Works podcast, Amanda Wakeley, OBE, designer, creative director, and multiple award-winner, delves into the profound challenges she faced following the loss of her brother and the end of her eponymous fashion brand. Amanda shares the emotional impact of these significant losses, her process of grieving, and how a new chapter unfolded in her life. She talks about the therapeutic value of her new dog, the importance of nature, and the power of listening to one's gut instinct. Through introspection and resilience, Amanda navigated through her 'fertile void' and rediscovered her purpose, culminating in the launch of her own podcast and a forthcoming style DNA book. The conversation emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, courage, and the joy found in new beginnings. 00:38 Amanda's Career and Personal Losses 01:39 The Challenge of Sibling Loss 05:50 Fashion and Personal Identity 10:49 The Healing Power of Nature and Pets 22:48 The Emotional Toll of Business Closure 27:26 Cosy Work from Home and Meeting Luna 27:52 The Comfort of Cashmere 28:46 Defining Personal Style 30:15 Navigating Major Life Transitions 32:16 Starting a New Chapter with a Podcast 33:28 Dealing with Anxiety and Finding Control 34:01 The Healing Power of Nature and Movement 36:58 Hypnotherapy and Overcoming Fears 38:51 Grieving and Emotional Healing 46:07 Embracing New Beginnings and Wisdom 49:16 Final Reflections and Tribute to Charlie Find Amanda: Instagram: @amandawakeley Website: amandawakeley.com Podcast: Listen here Links referenced in episode: Eugene Gendlin on Focusing: https://focusing.org/sixsteps Sibling Support: https://www.siblingsupport.co.uk/ Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, the Agony Aunties address a listener's concern about feeling invisible in their mid-fifties due to ageism in both work and social spaces. Reflecting on their own experiences, the Agony Aunties discuss the psychological challenges and societal biases that come with aging, particularly for women. They emphasise the importance of valuing oneself, embracing inner strengths, and finding liberation in this new phase of life. They also touch upon the cultural obsession with anti-aging and all the benefits of reaching one's fifties. Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Therapy Works podcast, Olivia shares the harrowing experience of her husband being arrested in 2014 for downloading and sharing paedophilic images of children. She discusses the subsequent impact on her life and her four children, detailing the years of coercive control, emotional abuse, and manipulation she endured during her marriage. Olivia reflects on the therapy and support she received that helped her come to terms with the situation, reclaim her sense of self, and start to rebuild her life. Despite the trauma, Olivia speaks of her path to freedom, the crucial role of her support system, and how she managed to rebuild a life filled with joy and self-discovery. 00:12 The Day Everything Changed 01:22 Living Under Coercive Control 05:10 Realisations Through Therapy 10:19 The Arrest and Its Aftermath 14:14 Struggles with Shame and Guilt 31:30 Support Systems and Healing 37:46 Reflections and Moving Forward Support Links & Further Resources Understanding the Vagus Nerve – Learn more via the Polyvagal Institute Carolyn Spring – Resources on trauma and recovery: carolynspring.com Women’s Aid – Support for those affected by domestic abuse: womensaid.org.uk Support for Families & Friends of Perpetrators – Guidance via the Survivors’ Network: Read here Dr. Gwen Adshead: Reith Lecture – Listen on the BBC: Episode link Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, the Agony Aunties discuss the intense pressure and anxiety faced by a 16-year-old dealing with exam stress. They highlight the importance of timetables that include breaks and exercise, the benefits of studying with friends, and the significance of sleep, food, and exercise in reducing anxiety. Additionally, the conversation explores emotional coping mechanisms, the dangers of self-imposed pressure, the impact of comparing oneself to others, and the importance of recognising one's worth beyond academic performance. Real-life anecdotes and practical advice provide a comprehensive guide to managing stress and finding balance during exam periods.Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Julia reconnects with world-famous light artist Chris Levine - best known for his portraits of the Queen, Kate Moss, and Elton John - for the first time in over a decade. Chris opens up about his personal battles, from growing up with a father struggling with alcoholism to facing his own challenges with addiction. He shares how these experiences shaped not only his journey of recovery, but also his unique creative path. Together, they explore how meditation, energy, and a deep connection to a higher power have become central to both his healing and his art. Chris also talks about his fascination with sacred sites, cosmic energy, and the magic of light that continues to inspire his incredible work. This is an intimate and moving conversation about resilience, creativity, and finding peace through stillness.02:31 The Impact of Addiction06:04 Artistic Journey and Addiction08:21 Recovery and Self-Realisation11:24 Balancing Heart and Mind17:44 The Role of Higher Power in Recovery20:29 Expressing Through Art and Meditation21:35 A Life-Changing Journey to Kathmandu22:16 Discovering Vipassana Meditation23:16 The Power of Stillness and Meditation24:07 Creating Art Through Meditation27:21 Manifesting Dreams and Serendipity38:54 The Spiritual Significance of Sacred Sites42:19 Reflections on Meditation and CreativityFind out more about Chris Levine: https://chrislevine.com/Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. This is a paid advertisement 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

The Agony Aunties respond to a listener question about the difficulties of making, keeping, and spending time with friends, emphasising the importance of deep friendships in their life. They mention the challenges posed by frequent moves and busy schedules, particularly in the context of having children and seeking affordable, spacious homes. The speaker acknowledges that many people share this experience and struggle to maintain close connections with their supportive friends due to these factors.Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices