In this episode, the Agony Aunties respond to a parent’s question on supporting their child through the grief of not having friendships and dealing with the discrepancy between parental expectations and reality. They discuss the emotional difficulties parents face when their children struggle socially, the importance of acknowledging and validating both the parent's and child's feelings, and practical strategies to help the child find social connections. They emphasise the significance of resilience, finding alternative environments for belonging, and role modelling healthy relationships within the family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartwarming episode, Sophie Ellis-Bextor opens up about her diverse roles as a musician, songwriter, podcaster, and mother of five boys. She delves into how music has been a constant, deeply personal passion since childhood, likening its impact to a time portal connecting her with her past selves. The conversation explores her early career highs and lows, her pragmatic and resilient approach to life's challenges, and the importance she places on family and close relationships. Sophie also reflects on how motherhood has influenced her work and vice versa, her structured approach to juggling professional and personal life, and her recent experiences rejuvenating her music career. Sophie also discusses the importance of surrounding oneself with good people, and the wisdom she's gained along the way. Don't miss this candid conversation filled with honesty, joy, and inspiration.00:35 The Power of Music03:52 Facing Challenges and Overcoming Adversity05:32 Early Career and Lessons Learned07:46 Family Life and Parenting12:04 Balancing Fame and Core Values15:18 Navigating Work and Motherhood21:19 Unexpected Success and Future Plans23:45 Unpredictable Work and Family Life24:27 School Closures and Bedroom Changes25:15 Managing Parental Expectations25:39 A Call from Elton John26:45 Balancing Work and Family27:53 The Joy of Performing32:41 The Challenge of Engaging Crowds36:17 Maintaining Perspective and Humility39:46 The Importance of Friendships41:02 Wisdom and ReflectionsFind Sophie:Instagram: @sophieellisbextorPodcast: You can listen to her podcast, Spinning Plates, where she interviews inspiring women about balancing work and family on platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Music: Stream her music on Spotify and YouTube.If you’d like to connect, follow me on Instagram @juliasamuelmbe. And for more info, check out my new website: juliasamuel.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A listener inquires about reclaiming their sexual self after dedicated years as a single parent of adopted children. The Agony Aunties provide reassuring advice, emphasising that it is never too late. They recommend starting with self-exploration, grieving past losses, and giving oneself permission to pursue sexual pleasure. Several resources are suggested, including the Savage Love cast and books like 'Come As You Are' by Dr. Emily Nogoski and 'Naked at Our Age' by Joan Price. They also suggest engaging in activities that stimulate erotic energy and emphasise self-worth.Link to Maya Angelou's poem 'Phenomenal Woman’: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48985/phenomenal-woman If you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips. Follow me on @juliasamuelmbe.And for more info, check out my new website: juliasamuel.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartfelt episode, psychotherapist Jenny Gibbs shares her deeply personal story of a life-changing accident just months before her wedding. She recounts her experiences with pain, both physical and psychological, and describes the long journey towards accepting her new reality. Jenny talks about the support systems that helped her, including her work as a therapist, her family, and a significant therapeutic somatic experience. She also reflects on the impact of her accident on her personal relationships and career, ultimately finding meaning and acceptance in her changed circumstances.01:19 The Life-Changing Accident03:13 Coping with Disfigurement and Isolation06:25 The Journey to Acceptance08:36 The Role of Therapy and Support10:13 Reflections on Relationships and Identity13:34 The Healing Process and Moving Forward20:24 Lessons Learned and Future Outlook32:42 Embracing Imperfections and Finding Beauty33:28 The Power of Connection and Loneliness35:12 Navigating Trauma and Personal Growth42:16 The Role of Therapy and Emotional Release45:03 The Impact of Compliments and Praise48:56 Coping with Public Spaces and Vulnerability58:32 Reflections on Personal Change and Relationships01:06:33 The Importance of Acceptance and Moving ForwardIf you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips. Follow me on @juliasamuelmbe.And for more info, check out my new website: juliasamuel.co.uk.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try atbetterhelp.com/therapyworks and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A mother seeks advice from the Agony Aunties on whether to tell her 11-year-old daughter about the father's infidelity, which led to their separation. The Agony Aunties recommend that all children should know the same truth to avoid feelings of exclusion and stress. They suggest that the father might take responsibility for explaining his actions, which can be a healing opportunity. The response emphasises the importance of family transparency, co-parenting, and creating a unified, age-appropriate narrative to maintain healthy relationships and trust within the family.Additional Resources:"Parents Who Cheat: How Children and Adults are Affected When Their Parents Are Unfaithful" by Ana Nogales: https://amzn.eu/d/aUbg90h This work extensively explores the impact of parental infidelity on children, including their future relationship dynamics. "The Impact of Infidelity on Children's Psychological Development": https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373345867_The_Impact_of_Infidelity_on_Children's_Psychological_DevelopmentListen to Where Shall We Begin? with Esther Perel: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/where-should-we-begin-with-esther-perel/id1237931798Follow me on @juliasamuelmbe.And for more info, check out my new website: 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

In this episode of Hurt to Healing, Julia welcomes author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera for an insightful discussion on mental health, cultural identity, and navigating personal success. Together, they confront the stigma surrounding severe mental illness, highlighting the importance of open conversation and emotional resilience. Sathnam shares his experience balancing the complexities of his cultural heritage with personal identity, offering a candid look at the psychological challenges of reconciling different parts of oneself, especially in high-achieving environments like Cambridge University.They explore the intricate dance between cultural expectations, family dynamics, and the pressures of shifting social classes. With reflections on parental love, protection, and cultural loyalty, Sathnam and Julia delve into the nuanced journey of identity, belonging, and self-discovery. This compelling episode tackles the intersections of mental health, heritage, and the ever-evolving quest for a sense of home and purpose.Find Sathnam:Website: https://www.sathnam.com/Instagram: @sathnamsangheraOtherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips. Follow me on @juliasamuelmbe.And for more info, check out my new website: 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

A concerned parent expresses guilt and regret over their parenting impact on their teenagers and seeks advice on repairing damaged relationships. The discussion covers the importance of acknowledging past mistakes, seeking forgiveness, and making meaningful changes. It emphasises the significance of personal therapy for self-awareness, validating children's experiences, and maintaining ongoing, honest conversations. A key point is distinguishing between seeking forgiveness from children and forgiving oneself to heal. The conversation highlights the potential for positive transformation and the importance of supportive frameworks like therapy.Follow me on @juliasamuelmbe.And for more info, check out my new website: 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

In this moving episode of the Therapy Works podcast, Lotte Bowser shares her heart-wrenching journey of losing her partner Ben to cancer and COVID-19 complications. She discusses the profound challenges of grief, the impact of his illness and death on her life, and the arduous process of rebuilding her life anew. Lottie reflects on various therapeutic practices, including writing and journalling, which helped her process pain and find a semblance of resolution. The conversation delves into the physical nature of grief, radical self-compassion, and the complexities of starting a new relationship while mourning. Lottie opens up about societal pressures surrounding grief, the duality of life balancing grief and joy, and reentering the dating world. She emphasises the importance of community support, the interplay of sex and death, and the need for sensitivity and understanding from others. This episode offers listeners insights into the enduring nature of grief and the resilience required to embrace new beginnings.00:35 Facing the Greatest Challenge: Loss of a Partner03:39 Coping with Grief and Finding Joy06:22 Rebuilding Life After Loss11:16 Navigating New Relationships21:44 Seeking Support and Connection23:10 Finding Strength in Numbers24:32 Choosing Life Amidst Grief24:59 Radical Compassion and Self-Permission25:30 The Unfixable Nature of Death27:02 Holding Grief and Joy Simultaneously27:40 The Taboo of Sex and Grief31:12 Writing as a Therapeutic Outlet33:42 Physical Manifestations of Grief34:46 The Universal Experience of Grief36:41 The Duality of Bittersweet38:19 Living Fully After Loss48:32 The Creative Endeavour of Relationships50:21 Complexity in Different Types of BereavementFind Lotte Bowser: Instagram: @lottebowserRead her book, Bittersweet: https://amzn.eu/d/4TMzEmVListen to her podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VffRbs0rN3U2BC3qJ8wW1?si=b04773d8c32a4622Otherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips. Follow me on @juliasamuelmbe.And for more info, check out my new website: 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

The Agony Aunties offer advice to a mother concerned about her six-year-old daughter's intense emotions and anger. They recommend techniques such as calm discussions, using books, and physical methods like hitting a pillow to help children manage their feelings. They stress the importance of parents modelling emotional regulation and self-compassion. Additionally, they introduce a daily practice called 'rose, bud, and thorn' to enhance emotional intelligence and gratitude.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

In this interview, Jane Garvey discusses her expansive career in radio broadcasting, from being the first voice on BBC Radio 5 Live to her long tenure at Woman's Hour, and her current role at Times Radio. Jane shares insights into her personal life, particularly her experiences as a single parent and the unique challenges it brought. She highlights the emotional and psychological load of single parenting, emphasising the advantage of having resources and support. The conversation also navigates her career trajectory, public recognition, and work-life balance, particularly through transitions and public interactions. Moreover, Jane reflects on mentoring in media, feminism, and her personal growth, including her significant role during a live broadcast on September 11, 2001. Additionally, she dives into her close professional relationship with Fi Glover and the impact and reception of their successful podcast, Off Air with Jane and Fi.01:24 Challenges of Single Parenting03:52 Reflections on Parenting and Family18:04 Career Beginnings and Aspirations28:44 Navigating Public and Private Life as a Single Mum29:12 The Role of Radio in Personal and Public Life31:41 The Psyche of Broadcasters38:14 The Impact of Major Events on Broadcasting41:34 The Evolution of Female Broadcasters45:44 Reflections on Career and Personal Dreams48:50 Parenting Challenges and Societal Expectations50:34 The Importance of Honest Conversations59:45 The Good Enough ParentListen to Off Air with Jane and Fi: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fIthFOvAaPBVf5NWyz8SlFollow Jane and Fi on Instagram: @janeandfiOtherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top Tips. Follow me on @juliasamuelmbe.And for more info, check out my new website: 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