Podcasts · Health & Fitness · Society & Culture
Therapy Works
The Times
288 episodes
Conversations about life's biggest challenges.
More about the show
Bestselling author and psychotherapist Julia Samuel invites us into her therapy room as she talks to both known and unknown voices about events and experiences we will all face - and how we face them.
Therapy Works is full of therapeutic conversations which may contain difficult emotions but can also bring light. Hear what the guests have learnt, have failed to learn and how they’ve grown through the experience.
At the end of each episode, Julia reflects on her session with her two psychotherapist daughters who share their thoughts on the conversation.
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Episodes page 1 of 6
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My abusive father has died. Why am I grieving? | Agony Aunties
This week’s listener is struggling with the death of her father, who sexually abused her as a child and never acknowledged what he had done. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel and her daughters Sophie and Emily explore the…
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Ore Oduba on hiding his addiction: “I lived my entire life in fear”
How does childhood trauma fuel adult addiction? Broadcaster, actor and former Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba joins psychotherapist Julia Samuel to discuss his 30-year struggle with pornography addiction,…
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My adult sons are estranged. Should I intervene? | Agony Aunties
This week’s listener is heartbroken by sibling estrangement. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel and her daughters Sophie and Emily explore the pain it causes, why family conflicts can be so difficult to repair and the…
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The hidden grief of baby loss and TFMR
To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, author and former teacher Rosanna Brown joins Julia Samuel to share the story of her son William and her experience of termination for medical reasons (TFMR). Rosanna was approaching…
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My family doesn’t believe my ADHD diagnosis. What Do I Do? | Agony Aunties
This week’s listener has recently been diagnosed with ADHD after a lifetime of struggling with strong emotions and impulsivity. While the diagnosis has brought her and her husband a huge sense of relief, understanding…
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Elif Shafak: “All I wanted from my father was an apology”
What happens when a parent is absent from your childhood, and how does that shape the person you become? Bestselling author Elif Shafak joins Julia Samuel to explore her relationship with her father, the loneliness…
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Can I care for my elderly father without getting overwhelmed? | Agony Aunties
This week’s listener is struggling with the growing responsibility of caring for her elderly father. Although increasingly frail, he refuses offers of help and becomes angry when she tries to intervene, leaving her…
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Mark Foster on hiding his sexuality and learning to be himself
What happens when the person the world sees doesn’t quite match who you are behind closed doors? In this open conversation with five-time Olympian and former world champion swimmer Mark Foster, we explore the double…
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Off Air X Therapy Works
Welcome to this special Off Air X Therapy Works crossover episode, celebrating Therapy Works joining The Times podcast family. Julia joins Jane Garvey and Fi Glover from Off Air for a wide-ranging conversation about…
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Agony Aunties: How do you know when something in your life needs to change?
After some time away from her usual routine, this week’s listener found herself questioning parts of her work and relationships, only to feel those doubts fade once normal life resumed. Julia, Sophie and Emily explore…
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Dame Mary Berry: "I never asked why after my son died"
How do you move forward after the loss of a child? In this personal conversation with cooking legend Dame Mary Berry, we explore raw grief, building resilience and the most meaningful lessons she’s learnt in 91 years…
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Agony Aunties: How Do I Know If I Actually Need Help?
Social media has made it easier than ever to recognise ourselves in conversations about ADHD, trauma, anxiety and burnout. But what happens when every diagnosis feels familiar and you leave feeling more confused than…
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Agony Aunties: My Cancer Has Gone… So Why Am I Still Struggling?
A listener shares the hidden reality of life after cancer. Three years after successful treatment for anal cancer, she is cancer-free but continues to live with chronic pain, changes to her body and the lasting…
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Agony Aunties: We've Stopped Having Sex. What Do We Do Now?
A listener shares a dilemma that will resonate with so many couples: after almost 20 years together and two young children, she and her husband have drifted into a relationship that works beautifully as a partnership…
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Agony Aunties: How Do I Say Goodbye to Someone I Love?
A listener asks one of the hardest questions imaginable: how do you visit a close friend who is nearing the end of their life? Julia, Emily and Sophie explore how to show up with love when there are no perfect words,…
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BONUS: Yasmine Naghdi on Why Confidence Isn't About Being Perfect
In this special episode of Therapy Works, in partnership with Code8's Confidence Comes From Within campaign, Julia is joined by Royal Ballet Principal Yasmine Naghdi for a fascinating conversation about confidence,…
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Agony Aunties: How Do I Deal With a Difficult Mother-in-Law?
Family holidays are meant to be relaxing, so why do they so often leave us feeling exhausted? This week, Julia, Emily and Sophie answer a listener's question about navigating a passive-aggressive mother-in-law and the…
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Agony Aunties: Why Do I Keep Sabotaging Myself?
This week, the Agony Aunties answer a question that so many of us will recognise: why is it so hard to make the changes we desperately want to make? From skipping the exercise class you've already paid for to using…
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Agony Aunties: Why Do I Feel So Lonely?
In this week's Agony Aunties episode, Julia, Emily and Sophie answer a heartfelt question from a listener who feels deeply lonely despite appearing successful on the outside. Together, they explore why being truly…
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BONUS: Manon Lagrève on The Confidence to Be Yourself
This week, Julia is joined by cook, bestselling author and content creator Manon Lagrève for a heartfelt conversation about confidence, family and the values that truly sustain us. Together they explore imposter…
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Agony Aunties: Relationship Anxiety - Am I Overthinking or Is Something Wrong?
This week on Agony Aunties, they answer a listener's heartfelt question about what happens when a relationship begins to feel different. After two and a half years together, her boyfriend seems less affectionate,…
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Agony Aunties: Why Do I Feel So Lonely After Having a Baby?
In this episode of Agony Aunties, Julia, Emily and Sophie answer a heartfelt question from a listener who feels isolated after moving away from the city to start a family. Together they explore the unexpected…
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Agony Aunties: Caring for a Difficult Parent
This episode of Agony Aunties tackles the emotional complexity of caring for an ageing parent when the relationship has always been difficult. Emily and Sophie respond to a listener whose 89-year-old mother’s declining…
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Agony Aunties: How to Survive the Summer Holidays
The Agony Aunties are back, answering a listener's question about the pressures of parenting through the long summer holidays. Together, Sophie and Emily explore the guilt so many parents feel when they can't provide…
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Agony Aunties: Why Am I Never Good Enough?
This week on Agony Aunties, Julia, Emily and Sophie respond to a listener who has recently graduated but is struggling to feel proud of their achievement. Despite earning a good degree, comparisons with a…
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Agony Aunties: I Bottle Everything Up Until I Explode
This week on Agony Aunties, they respond to a listener who avoids difficult conversations until their feelings spill out in anger or tears. Together, they explore why conflict can feel so threatening, how our childhood…
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Agony Aunties: My Husband Is Always On His Phone. How Do We Reconnect?
This week on Agony Aunties, the girls tackle a listener dilemma that will feel familiar to many couples: what happens when you're sharing a sofa but no longer feeling emotionally connected? As one listener opens up…
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Agony Aunties: Feeling Overwhelmed by the World?
In this week’s Agony Aunties episode, Julia and her daughters respond to a listener struggling with the overwhelming anxiety of living in a world shaped by climate crisis, political unrest, social media overload, and…
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Celebration Day: Megan Jones on Grief, Loss and the Parents Who Shaped Her
In this episode, I speak with England rugby captain Megan Jones about grief, pressure, identity and what it means to keep going when life changes completely. Megan shares the experience of losing both of her parents…
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How to Make Life Happier with Mark Williamson (BONUS EP)
In this episode of Therapy Works, Julia is joined by Mark Williamson, co-founder and director of Action for Happiness and author of the number one bestselling book Make Life Happier. Together, they explore what…
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Agony Aunties: When Your Adult Child Won’t Move Out
This week, our Agony Aunties tackle a dilemma that is becoming the "new normal" for many: the 30-something child who simply won’t fly the nest. When a listener writes in feeling a mix of deep love and growing…
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Arit Anderson On Parkinson’s, Chelsea Flower Show And The Healing Power Of Gardens
In this episode of Therapy Works, I’m joined by garden designer, writer and Gardeners’ World presenter Arit Anderson to talk about the deeply personal story behind her Chelsea Flower Show garden for Parkinson’s UK.…
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Agony Aunties: Why Do I Feel So Alone in My Grief?
In this Agony Aunties episode, Emily, Sophie and Julia respond to a moving question from a listener navigating grief after the loss of her husband, and the added pain of feeling let down by her siblings. Together, they…
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Helen Fielding on Grief, Bridget Jones and Being Loved As You Are (LIVE)
In this special bonus episode of Therapy Works, recorded live, I’m joined by the wonderful Helen Fielding - journalist, novelist, and creator of the iconic Bridget Jones. Together we explore the challenge of writing…
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Agony Aunties: How to Help Your Teen With Exam Stress and Anxiety
In this episode, the Agony Aunties respond to a parent struggling to support their son through GCSE exam stress, offering a compassionate reminder that while exams can feel overwhelming, the most powerful thing a…
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EXPERT EPISODE: Amir Levine on How to Build Secure Love
In this episode, I speak with psychiatrist, neuroscientist and author Amir Levine about his new book Secure, and how we can move towards more secure attachment in our relationships. Amir explains why attachment is not…
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Agony Aunties: Coping with Financial Anxiety in Uncertain Times
The Agony Aunties respond to a heartfelt question from a listener struggling with ongoing financial stress following COVID and the rising cost of living. They explore how money anxiety taps into deep feelings of…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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