Therapy Works

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.ukWild 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

For this week’s episode of Agony Aunties, we have a very interesting question from a viewer who is struggling with a sexless marriage. The discussion explores the complexities of emotional and physical intimacy, communication challenges with a partner, and potential solutions such as open relationships, which were once unspeakable, but now are gaining more common ground. The conversation delves into societal norms surrounding sex, the stigma of higher female libido, and alternative ways to maintain connection. We also emphasize the importance of exploring underlying issues with professional guidance. Altogether, we - as always - encourages open, honest conversation where we can acknowledge various perspectives on maintaining fulfilling relationships.Also, these are just our thoughts on the matter. We'd really love to hear yours, especially because this is a difficult topic to bring up. I've been very open in talking about grief and loss, which are very difficult to discuss, and I also know that discussing sexuality is a very difficult topic as well. For some, it's too difficult to discuss. If you're open to it, I'd be very interested in hearing how this episode resonated with you. What are your thoughts here?Show Notes:If this topic interests you, a great book on Attachment Styles in Open Relationships is “Polysecure” by Jessica Fern - https://amzn.eu/2hHCCaK Emily mentioned Dan Savage’s podcast. You can find it here - https://savage.love/lovecast/And I mentioned Esther Perel’s podcast too - https://www.estherperel.com/podcastOtherwise, if you’d like 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.ukWild 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 NotesYou can check out James’ Book hereOr 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 SchoolOtherwise, if you’d like to connect, I post regularly on Instagram, with more thoughts and some Monday Top TipsAnd for more info, check out my new websiteWild 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=wKkbGfxubmQOtherwise, 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.ukThis 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

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/R7YZHcLhrF8If 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.orgOn 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-childrenIf 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/cRyOK3hAnd 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.comIf 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

It seems like the world is falling apart, and we’re destroying the climate. Is it responsible for us to still have children? For this week’s Agony Aunties,, we take on this question from a listener inspired by our podcast with Christiana Figueiras. We’ll dive into this existential dilemma, exploring the balance between the responsibilities and joys of parenthood versus the potential environmental impact and uncertain future. We’ll discuss the importance of acknowledging the real fear and anxiety the younger generation feels, the need for a mindset shift towards abundance and creativity, and the significance of making decisions from a place of security rather than fear. The conversation also touches on broadening the concept of family and considering various ways of being a parent. At least, these are our thoughts. How does this resonate with you? How do you feel about bringing children into this world? This seems to be a question that people regularly ask, and were asked after the great wars as well. And so, if now’s not the time to have children, then when?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