Therapy Works

Julia Samuel

Bestselling author and psychotherapist, Julia Samuel, invites us into her therapy room as she talks to both known and unknown voices about some of life’s biggest challenges.

Therapy Works is full of therapeutic conversations which may contain difficult emotions but those that can paradoxically bring light, in all its form.

Listeners will hear what the guests have learnt, failed to learn and how they have grown through their experience. At the end of each episode, Julia reflects on her session with her two psychotherapist daughters who will share their thoughts on the conversation. You’ll quickly discover that not all therapists agree on everything!

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271 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes271

Newest first

April 22 · 1 hr 9 min
Liz Earle on Why Midlife Could Be Your Best Chapter Yet
In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Liz Earle, entrepreneur, author and passionate advocate for women’s wellbeing, to talk about her powerful new book, How To Age. Together we explore what it really means to age well, and how midlife can become a time not of decline, but of renewal. Liz shares her own experience of turning 60, navigating divorce, loneliness and hormonal change, and how she found her way to feeling stronger, fitter and happier than she did in her forties and fifties. We also talk about the science behind ageing in a way that feels accessible and hopeful, from hormones and mitochondria to sunlight, movement, purpose and connection. At the heart of this conversation is Liz’s rallying cry that it is never too late to make meaningful changes, and my own belief that we need to give ourselves far more permission to prioritise our health, our joy and our sense of self. It is a conversation full of wisdom, encouragement and practical hope. Buy Liz’s book (out 23rd April): https://amzn.eu/d/0h4HNpXT More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Download the Grief Works app here: https://www.griefworks.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit: The Samuel Therapy Practice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 17 · 11 min
Agony Aunties: Is This Grief or ADHD?
In this episode, the Agony Aunties respond to a listener facing multiple bereavements, a late ADHD diagnosis, and ongoing anxiety, leaving her unsure how to understand what she’s feeling or what support she needs. They explore how grief, trauma, and ADHD symptoms often overlap, suggesting it’s more helpful to focus on regulating the nervous system than trying to separate causes. They discuss the importance of connection, updating coping strategies when they stop working, and creating gentle daily structure to ease overwhelm. Above all, they encourage allowing the messiness of grief and embracing this uncertain “in-between” space with compassion and patience. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Download the Grief Works app here: https://www.griefworks.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit: The Samuel Therapy Practice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 15 · 1 hr 6 min
Michael Morpurgo on Secrets, Loss, and the Stories That Save Us
In this episode, I sit down with Michael Morpurgo to talk about loss, memory and the quiet, often unspoken truths that shape a life. He speaks so movingly about growing older and the particular pain of outliving those you love, and how grief doesn’t disappear but changes form over time. We explore the hidden fractures of his childhood, the silence around family secrets, and the lasting imprint of war, alongside the threads of loneliness, love and belonging that run through both his life and his writing. What stayed with me most is Michael’s profound belief in the power of story to help us make sense of ourselves and the generations that came before us. We talk about the enduring strength of his marriage to Clare, the emotional roots of his work, and his deep connection to people, animals and the natural world. It’s a gentle, wise and very human conversation about resilience, repair and what it really means to be remembered well. Buy his book ‘Funny Thing About Getting Older’: https://amzn.eu/d/00DwvcXB More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Download the Grief Works app here: https://www.griefworks.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit: The Samuel Therapy Practice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 10 · 11 min
Agony Aunties: How Do You Handle the "Death Admin" While You’re Still Grieving?
In this week’s Agony Aunties episode, we’re diving into a heartbreakingly relatable question: how do you manage the mountain of "Death Admin" - wills, probate, and paperwork - when you’re still in the fog of bereavement? Julia and Sophie explore the "two-track" reality of loss. They share why we need to stop rushing, how to "scaffold" your brain with the right support, and how to silence the "shitty committee" that tells you you’re failing at a time when you have the least capacity. It’s a gentle reminder that while grief is a slow work, you don't have to navigate the practical demands of it alone. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Download the Grief Works app here: https://www.griefworks.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit: The Samuel Therapy Practice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 8 · 58 min
Joanna King on Caring for a Parent with Alzheimer’s
In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist Joanna King for a moving conversation about what it means to care for a parent with young onset Alzheimer’s while also raising young children of your own. Joanna speaks with extraordinary honesty about the death of her father, the slow and painful loss of the mother she knew, and the emotional complexity of being caught in that in-between space of loving, grieving, resenting, protecting and carrying on. We talk about anticipatory grief, sibling dynamics, guilt, anger, boundaries, and the particular loneliness of feeling that life has split into before and after. What stayed with me most was Joanna’s openness about the reality of “sandwich caring” and how disorientating it can be when the person who once anchored you no longer knows who you are. This is a conversation about dementia, but it is also about love, identity, duty, and the cost of holding too much for too long. Joanna also shares the thinking behind her forthcoming podcast, Do I Know You?, which aims to help people feel less alone in the experience of dementia, and to offer more understanding, information and support. Helpful UK resources: If you are going through something similar, these may be useful places to start: Dementia UK offers specialist dementia support through its Admiral Nurses, including a free helpline on 0800 888 6678 and young onset dementia information and support services. Alzheimer’s Society has a Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456, information on young onset dementia, and a directory to find local support near you. Alzheimer’s Research UK also has information and support for carers and a Dementia Research Infoline on 0300 111 5111. Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Download the Grief Works app here: https://www.griefworks.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit: The Samuel Therapy Practice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 1 · 53 min
Julia Bradbury on Life After Cancer and Why Busyness Isn’t Healing
In this moving conversation, I talk to Julia Bradbury about the emotional aftermath of cancer, the pressure to keep going, and the hidden ways busyness can stop us feeling. We explore her new book Hack Yourself Healthy, the difference between reacting and responding, and why true wellness has to include our emotional lives as much as our physical health. Julia Bradbury also reflects on childhood bullying, family trauma, motherhood, and the resilience she has discovered through both illness and adventure. It’s a thoughtful, honest episode about slowing down, looking inward, and finding healthier ways to live, cope and heal. Find Julia Bradbury: Book: ⁠Hack Yourself Healthy Instagram: ⁠@juliabradbury⁠ Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Download the Grief Works app here: https://www.griefworks.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit: The Samuel Therapy Practice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 27 · 39 min
EXPERT EPISODE: Returning to Work After Motherhood with Dolly Jones
In this episode, Emily Samuel is joined by author, journalist and digital strategist Dolly Jones to talk about her brilliant new book Leaving the Ladder Down and the messy, moving, often unspoken reality of motherhood and work. We talk about what happens when you return to work after having children and feel as though you’re expected to carry on as if nothing has changed, the silence and awkwardness that can surround parenting in professional spaces, and the guilt, identity shifts and impossible standards so many women carry. It’s a conversation about ambition, care, friendship, asking for help, and why we need to make the workplace a more human place for parents. Find Dolly: Instagram: @dolly_jones Buy her book: https://amzn.eu/d/0fCSUaR0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 25 · 55 min
Jon Fox on Grieving the Future and the Injustice of Loss
This week, I am joined by Jon Fox for a deeply moving conversation about a love that was "robbed" of its time. After both surviving cancer, Jon and Katie found a profound connection online, only for Katie to tragically pass away at just 28 years old, mere months into their relationship. Jon opens up about the unique "injustice" of grieving a future that had barely begun and the complexity of navigating his own chronic health struggles alongside this heartbreak. We explore the practical and psychological tools Jon uses to process his "acute" grief—from his private nightly rituals of talking to Katie to his intellectual approach as a "learner" of his own sorrow. It is a powerful testament to the idea that the depth of our pain is a direct reflection of the depth of our love, and that a bond does not end at death, but becomes a vital, internalised part of who we are. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit The Samuel Therapy Practice: https://www.thesamueltherapypractice.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 20 · 12 min
Agony Aunties: What to Say When Your Child Asks About War
The Agony Aunties respond to a listener grappling with how to talk to their children about the deeply unsettling news of the current war involving Iran - something many families are hearing about daily, often in fragments through headlines, playground conversations, or social media. With reports of airstrikes, civilian casualties, and even children affected by the conflict, they explore how to strike that delicate balance between honesty and reassurance, helping children feel safe without shutting down their curiosity or empathy. The conversation unpacks how children’s questions about war are often really questions about their own safety, and offers practical, compassionate ways to respond - tailored to different ages and anxiety levels. They also reflect on how both children and adults can become overwhelmed by frightening news, sharing grounding tools, language, and resources to help families regulate together. Ultimately, it’s a thoughtful and timely guide to navigating big, scary global events in a way that keeps connection, safety, and empathy at the heart of family life. Helpful Resources:  The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - https://www.nctsn.org/ Unicef - https://www.unicef.org/iran/en Books: What is War? For younger children: https://amzn.eu/d/08A0FoL7 Help! I've Got an Alarm Bell Going Off in My Head!: How Panic, Anxiety and Stress Affect Your Body - https://amzn.eu/d/02Y5rEBL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 18 · 1 hr 1 min
Thomasina Miers on Cooking, ADHD and Coming Home to Yourself
In this episode of Therapy Works, I’m joined by chef, writer, restaurateur and MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers for a rich and honest conversation about mental health, food, family and finding your way back to yourself. Thomasina speaks openly about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her twenties, later exploring ADHD, and the long journey of moving from shame and feeling “broken” towards self-acceptance. We talk about how cooking became a lifeline for her, not just as a career but as a deeply grounding, creative and restorative practice that helped her feel more connected to herself and the world around her. We also explore the profound link between food and wellbeing, from the gut-brain connection to the emotional power of cooking, feeding and gathering around a table. Thomasina shares why her charity Chefs in Schools matters so much to her, how food can transform children’s health and happiness, and why agency, friendship, movement and nature all play such an important role in staying mentally well. It’s a warm, wise and energising conversation about embracing imperfection, following instinct, and learning to build a life that genuinely nourishes you. Find Thomasina: Website: https://www.thomasinamiers.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomasinamiers/ Visit Wahaca: https://www.wahaca.co.uk/ Chefs in Schools: https://chefsinschools.org.uk/ Supplement she recommended: Lithium Orate More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: https://juliasamuel.substack.com/ Follow Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing - it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations. If you need help finding a therapist, visit: The Samuel Therapy Practice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 13 · 13 min
Agony Aunties: When Grief Is Triggered by Other People’s Children
In this Agony Aunties episode, Julia and Emily respond to a deeply moving question from a mother whose son died suddenly at 12. Together, they explore the painful jealousy and grief that can arise when seeing other families, especially teenage boys, living out the future her son should have had. They talk about why these reactions are not something to be ashamed of, but an expression of love, loss and the life that should still be here. They also reflect on the fear of a child disappearing from the shared family story, the loneliness of child loss, and the importance of memory, ritual and connection. This is a tender, thoughtful episode about grief in one of its most heartbreaking forms, and a reminder that even the feelings we struggle most to name can be met with understanding. Support Links: Grief Works App: https://www.griefworks.com/ Cruse Bereavement Support: https://www.cruse.org.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 11 · 1 hr 6 min
How Families Are Made in More Ways Than One with Rebecca Coxon
In this episode of Therapy Works, I’m joined by Rebecca Coxon — writer, journalist and documentary director, and author of the book Inconceivable. Rebecca speaks with extraordinary honesty about living with endometriosis, fertility struggles, and the many different forms abandonment can take. We talk about the shock of discovering in adulthood that the man who raised her is not her biological father, the burden of carrying a family secret, and the emotional fallout of trying to make sense of identity, shame and belonging. Together, we explore what really makes a family, how secrecy can isolate us, and what repair can look like when difficult truths finally come into the light. Rebecca also shares the devastating experience of being left by a partner during IVF, the hope that sustained her through rock bottom, and the unexpected path that eventually led her to motherhood. It’s a rich, moving conversation about survival, love, and the many different ways families are made. Find Rebecca: Website: https://www.rebeccacoxon.com/ Instagram: @rebeccacoxon Pre-order her book: https://amzn.eu/d/0an4yGSs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 6 · 37 min
EXPERT EPISODE: Pelvic Floor, Pleasure & Power - The “LibDdo” Conversation with Lucy Kohli
In this expert episode, Sophie is joined by Lucy Kohli - a LiBDO-trained practitioner and yoga teacher - for a refreshingly honest chat about pelvic health, libido, and what it really means to feel alive in your body again. We talk about why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies after childbirth, illness, ageing (or just… life), and how pelvic floor strength isn’t only about “leaking” - it can impact confidence, core stability, pleasure, and the way you move through the world. Lucy explains what LiBDO actually is (think: pelvis mobility, tailbone movement, deep core engagement, and a whole lot of joy), why doing it in community can be so powerful, and how rebuilding strength can sometimes unlock much more than just physical change. If you’ve ever assumed pelvic dysfunction is “just normal now,” this episode is a hopeful, practical starting point. Lucy’s Instagram: @libdolondon Lucy’s website: www.libdolondon.com The global LiBDO organisation (Instagram): @libdo.Eurasia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
March 4 · 1 hr
Sarah Perry on What Death Can Teach Us About Living
Today I am joined by Sarah Perry, award-winning author of The Essex Serpent, Melmoth and, most recently, The Death of an Ordinary Man. Sarah speaks with lyrical honesty about the aftermath of prolonged, severe pain and how terror can become encoded in the body, narrowing life into hypervigilance. She describes how therapy helped her reframe the mind not as an enemy, but as a protector, learning to turn towards fear and shame rather than flee from them. We also talk about dying as a stage of living, not a full stop, and the ordinary, bewildering, sometimes even tender events of a natural death. Sarah reflects on why we need a shared language for death so families are not left alone with ignorance and dread. Threaded through our conversation is her sense of grace, those unearned gifts that soften us towards gratitude, goodness and love that persists, real as hunger, even when the person is no longer in the room. Find Sarah: Instagram: @sarah_grace_perry Website: https://www.sarahperry.net/ Buy Death of an Ordinary Man: https://amzn.eu/d/04C3xmYt More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://juliasamuel.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Julia on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliasamuelmbe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing — it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations.If you need help finding a therapist, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Samuel Therapy Practice⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 27 · 13 min
Agony Aunties: “I Regret Moving” - When a Fresh Start Doesn’t Feel Right
In this episode, Emily and Julia tackle a heartfelt dilemma from a listener who relocated to the North of England to be closer to family, only to find themselves deeply unhappy. Together, they explore the hidden emotional impact of moving, from loss of familiarity and identity to questions of control, grief, and expectation. Emily and Julia share compassionate, practical reflections on adjusting to new places, allowing space for resentment and sadness, lowering the pressure to “love it,” and gently seeking out small moments of comfort and connection. A thoughtful, reassuring conversation for anyone struggling with change, homesickness, or the slow journey toward acceptance. If Only If create beautifully made nightwear that feels thoughtful, timeless, and deeply comforting at the end of the day. Their pieces are designed to support women through every stage of life and are made from natural fabrics in small batches. If you’d like to explore their collection, you can visit ifonlyif.co.uk and use the code JULIA15 for 15% off. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://juliasamuel.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Julia on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliasamuelmbe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing — it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations.If you need help finding a therapist, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Samuel Therapy Practice⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 25 · 1 hr
Matthew Gulliford on When Pet Grief Blindsides You
In this episode of Therapy Works, I’m joined by Matthew Gulliford, who opens up about the loss of his beloved French bulldog, Mr. Carson. Matthew describes a kind of grief that completely blindsided him, visceral, physical, and all consuming, and we explore why pet loss can feel so intense when your animal is part of your daily rhythm, your home, and your sense of self. We talk about the parts people don’t always say out loud, like the guilt, the loneliness, and the heaviness of having to make end of life decisions, as well as what actually helped Matthew survive the worst moments. From personal rituals and writing “messages” to Carson, to planting a tree, carrying his ashes, and eventually expanding love again with new puppies, this is a conversation that gives real permission to grieve deeply and without comparison. If Only If create beautifully made nightwear that feels thoughtful, timeless, and deeply comforting at the end of the day. Their pieces are designed to support women through every stage of life and are made from natural fabrics in small batches. If you’d like to explore their collection, you can visit ifonlyif.co.uk and use the code JULIA15 for 15% off. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://juliasamuel.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Julia on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliasamuelmbe⁠⁠⁠⁠ for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing — it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations.If you need help finding a therapist, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Samuel Therapy Practice⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 20 · 11 min
Agony Aunties: How Do You Get Loved Ones to Exercise?
In this Agony Aunties episode, Julia, Emily and Sophie respond to a listener’s thoughtful question about how to gently introduce the idea that movement can “move the mind” to the people who may resist it most: teenagers and elderly family members. They explore why forcing exercise can backfire (especially with teens), and instead recommend modelling movement, keeping encouragement low-key, and making activity feel incidental and social rather than a “lesson.” For older relatives, they discuss practical, confidence-building entry points like finding the right trainer, starting small with habit-stacking (tiny movements built into everyday routines), and using approachable online classes to reduce the barrier to entry. The takeaway is compassionate and relationship-led: focus on connection, meet people where they are, and when needed, share your concerns as care rather than control. If Only If create beautifully made nightwear that feels thoughtful, timeless, and deeply comforting at the end of the day. Their pieces are designed to support women through every stage of life and are made from natural fabrics in small batches. If you’d like to explore their collection, you can visit ifonlyif.co.uk and use the code JULIA15 for 15% off. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://juliasamuel.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Julia on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliasamuelmbe⁠⁠⁠⁠ for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing — it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations.If you need help finding a therapist, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Samuel Therapy Practice⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 18 · 1 hr 2 min
Cressida Bonas on Grief That Doesn’t Go in a Straight Line
In this episode of Therapy Works, I sit down with Cressida Bonas for a conversation that feels unusually intimate and quietly brave. We talk about the loss of her older sister Pandora and how saying the word “died” still lands with a kind of shock and finality. Cressida shares what she didn’t expect about grief, the fear that lives in her body, the numb days that feel lonelier than tears, and the strange push pull of wanting to hold on while also wanting the suffering to end. We explore what it was like watching Pandora die in hospital, how her family tried to “be strong” and hide their tears until Pandora asked them not to, and why that shift towards honesty became a lesson in love and connection for all of them. We also talk about the way Cressida processes through creativity, writing a letter to Pandora in those final days and then finding herself unable to stop writing afterwards, not as memoir but through characters that could hold what felt unbearable. She reflects on motherhood, self doubt, and finding more confidence since having children, alongside the frustration of being put in a box by other people’s assumptions. We end with what Pandora’s death has clarified for her, the preciousness of ordinary moments, the desire to waste less time, and the meaning behind her podcast Lessons From Our Mothers, which grew out of recording her own mother’s story and the wish to understand the women who made us. Listen to Cressida’s Podcast, Lessons From Our Mothers: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lessons-from-our-mothers/id1803569581 If Only If create beautifully made nightwear that feels thoughtful, timeless, and deeply comforting at the end of the day. Their pieces are designed to support women through every stage of life and are made from natural fabrics in small batches. If you’d like to explore their collection, you can visit ifonlyif.co.uk and use the code JULIA15 for 15% off. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: ⁠⁠⁠https://juliasamuel.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ Follow Julia on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@juliasamuelmbe⁠⁠⁠ for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing — it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations.If you need help finding a therapist, visit: ⁠⁠⁠The Samuel Therapy Practice⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 13 · 16 min
Agony Aunties: When Parenting Doesn’t Match the Picture in Your Head
In this Agony Aunties episode, Emily and Sophie take the reins while Julia continues her recovery, diving into a thoughtful listener question about accepting children with SEN and learning difficulties as academic parents. Together they explore the often unspoken grief that can arise when parenting looks different from what we imagined, the importance of making space for complex emotions without guilt, and the delicate balance between acceptance and adjustment. The conversation gently unpacks parental expectations, fear of judgment, and how compassion for both yourself and your child can shift the experience, while highlighting the value of support networks, school partnerships, and recognising that a meaningful, fulfilling life is not defined by academic success alone. • Email your questions: jsamuelpod@gmail.com • DM Julia on Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe If Only If create beautifully made nightwear that feels thoughtful, timeless, and deeply comforting at the end of the day. Their pieces are designed to support women through every stage of life and are made from natural fabrics in small batches. If you’d like to explore their collection, you can visit ifonlyif.co.uk and use the code JULIA15 for 15% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 11 · 1 hr 2 min
Charlotte Bellamy on Grieving a Baby She Never Got to Know
In this week’s episode of Therapy Works, I’m joined by Charlotte Bellamy, who speaks with extraordinary openness about the death of her son Finn, who was stillborn at 28 weeks. Charlotte takes us through the shock of reduced movements, the devastating moment she was told “there’s no heartbeat”, and the surreal reality that even in loss, you still have to give birth. We talk about the grief of missing the baby you’d imagined, alongside the trauma of what happens medically and physically, and Charlotte shares how her sister, a midwife, supported her and her husband Milo through those first unbearable days and helped them create precious memories with Finn. We also explore how Charlotte and Milo grieved differently, why therapy and understanding the body’s response to grief helped, and how fear can shape everything that comes after. Charlotte describes the marathon of pregnancy after loss and the practical ways she protected herself, from having someone with her at scans to telling staff upfront what she needed. At the end, Sophie and Emily join me to reflect on the importance of support, naming, and speaking about the baby who has died, because using Finn’s name and remembering him isn’t “bringing it up”, it’s honouring a life that mattered. If Only If create beautifully made nightwear that feels thoughtful, timeless, and deeply comforting at the end of the day. Their pieces are designed to support women through every stage of life and are made from natural fabrics in small batches. If you’d like to explore their collection, you can visit ifonlyif.co.uk and use the code JULIA15 for 15% off. More from Therapy Works: Subscribe to the Therapy Works Substack for guidance on everyday struggles and access to Julia’s monthly live webinar: ⁠⁠https://juliasamuel.substack.com/⁠⁠ Follow Julia on Instagram: ⁠⁠@juliasamuelmbe⁠⁠ for tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges. If you enjoy this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and subscribing — it makes a big difference and helps others discover these conversations.If you need help finding a therapist, visit: ⁠⁠The Samuel Therapy Practice⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices