Therapy Works

Latest Episodes:

Sathnam Sanghera on Bridging Conflicting Cultures Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

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: @sathnamsanghera

Otherwise, 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.

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Agony Aunties on Healing Parent-Child Relationships Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Lotte Bowser on the Challenges of Loving Again After Loss Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

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 Partner

03:39 Coping with Grief and Finding Joy

06:22 Rebuilding Life After Loss

11:16 Navigating New Relationships

21:44 Seeking Support and Connection

23:10 Finding Strength in Numbers

24:32 Choosing Life Amidst Grief

24:59 Radical Compassion and Self-Permission

25:30 The Unfixable Nature of Death

27:02 Holding Grief and Joy Simultaneously

27:40 The Taboo of Sex and Grief

31:12 Writing as a Therapeutic Outlet

33:42 Physical Manifestations of Grief

34:46 The Universal Experience of Grief

36:41 The Duality of Bittersweet

38:19 Living Fully After Loss

48:32 The Creative Endeavour of Relationships

50:21 Complexity in Different Types of Bereavement

Find Lotte Bowser:

Instagram: @lottebowser

Read her book, Bittersweet: https://amzn.eu/d/4TMzEmV

Listen to her podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VffRbs0rN3U2BC3qJ8wW1?si=b04773d8c32a4622

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Agony Aunties on Helping Your Child Express Their Emotions Effectively Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Jane Garvey on the joys and juggle of single parenthood Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

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 Parenting

03:52 Reflections on Parenting and Family

18:04 Career Beginnings and Aspirations

28:44 Navigating Public and Private Life as a Single Mum

29:12 The Role of Radio in Personal and Public Life

31:41 The Psyche of Broadcasters

38:14 The Impact of Major Events on Broadcasting

41:34 The Evolution of Female Broadcasters

45:44 Reflections on Career and Personal Dreams

48:50 Parenting Challenges and Societal Expectations

50:34 The Importance of Honest Conversations

59:45 The Good Enough Parent

Listen to Off Air with Jane and Fi: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fIthFOvAaPBVf5NWyz8Sl

Follow Jane and Fi on Instagram: @janeandfi

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Michelle and Richard on Life, Love, and Loss After Their Son's Battle with a Brain Tumour Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Agony Aunties on Intimacy Challenges in a Marriage Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

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/podcast

Otherwise, 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.uk

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Middleton on His Unbreakable Bond With A Dog That Saved Him Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MINI: Annabel Croft on Keeping the Memory Alive Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

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!

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MINI: Helena Bonham Carter on Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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