Agony Aunties on Healing After an Ectopic Pregnancy
In this episode, the Agony Aunties respond to a listener question about coping with the emotional impact of an unplanned ectopic pregnancy. Drawing on empathy and experience, the Aunties offer heartfelt guidance on processing grief, managing anxiety, and navigating the complex mix of emotions that can follow such a loss. They share practical tips around self-care, the value of short-term planning, and the importance of seeking both medical advice and emotional support.
Helpful Resources:
Miscarriage Association – Support and information for anyone affected by miscarriage, ectopic or molar pregnancy.
Child Bereavement UK – Support for families and professionals when a child dies or is grieving.
Follow Julia on Instagram for more tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges: @juliasamuelmbe
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Agony Aunties on Confronting Hidden Trauma
In this episode, the Agony Aunties address a deeply sensitive and complex topic brought up by a listener who experienced childhood sexual abuse by her brother. They discuss the feelings of shame, confusion, and sadness that often accompany such trauma and emphasise the importance of seeking professional support, such as EMDR therapy. The hosts provide advice on discussing the event with trusted individuals, like a caring partner, and highlight the significance of understanding and processing the abuse before making any decisions about revealing it to family members. They also offer insights into preventing such situations and educating one's own children about consent and safe touch.
Resources for Support: If you or someone you know has experienced trauma and needs support, the following organisations offer help:
SurvivorsUKSpecialist support for men, boys, and non-binary people who have experienced sexual violence. www.survivorsuk.org
Helpline: 020 3598 3898 (Mon–Sun)
AMAZE.orgSupport and information for adolescents, families, and educators around sexual health and relationships.www.amaze.org
The Survivors Trust (UK)Umbrella charity for specialist rape and sexual abuse support services. www.thesurvivorstrust.org
Childline (UK)Confidential support for children and young people. www.childline.org.uk
Follow Julia on Instagram for more tips, tools, and conversations about navigating life’s challenges: @juliasamuelmbe
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Agony Aunties on Finding Clarity in Situationships
In this episode, the Agony Aunties respond to a listener's complex situation involving an on-and-off situationship marked by his avoidant detachment. They discuss the complex emotions of longing, grief, and fear of vulnerability that arise from such experiences. They offer insights into recognising and addressing historical patterns of attachment, the importance of self-reflection, and the necessity of open communication with partners. They explore the potential subconscious reasons for choosing an emotionally unavailable partner and suggest ways to untangle these emotional threads through self-awareness, therapy, and communication.
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/therapyworks and get on your way to being your best self.
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Live from Stratford Literary Festival: Kit de Waal on Friendship, Fear & Finding Freedom
In this live episode of Hurt to Healing, Julia Samuel is joined by acclaimed author and advocate Kit de Waal for a powerful conversation about friendship, fear, and the patterns we inherit from childhood. With her signature blend of candour and compassion, Kit opens up about the painful unravelling of a close friendship and how it stirred echoes of her early life — growing up with a strict Jamaican Jehovah’s Witness father and a fiery Irish Catholic mother. She reflects on the emotional survival tactics that shaped her, the fierce loyalty of her siblings, and the way fear and secrecy became part of her emotional DNA.
Together, Julia and Kit explore the complexities of trust, identity, and repair — what it means to rewrite the stories we were raised with, and how we begin to parent and connect differently. From Kit’s teenage rebellion and escape from a rigid religious upbringing to her work in social care and advocacy for marginalised voices, this is a conversation about resilience, rupture, and growth.
Find Kit:
Website: https://www.kitdewaal.com/
Instagram: @kitdewaal
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
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Expert Episode: How to Age Well with Dr. Lucy Pollock
In this expert episode, Julia sits down with Dr. Lucy Pollock, a geriatrician with nearly three decades of experience, to explore the truth about growing older. Together, they unpack the challenges, joys, and misconceptions of ageing — from navigating dementia and end-of-life decisions to improving communication between patients, families, and doctors.
Dr. Pollock shares practical advice for ageing well, discusses the emotional weight of caregiving, and highlights why listening is one of the most powerful tools in medicine. This thoughtful conversation is rich with wisdom, humour, and deeply moving personal stories that challenge how we think about aging, autonomy, and what truly matters as we grow older.
Buy Lucy's book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/448165/the-golden-rule-by-pollock-lucy/9781405953245
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
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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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