Therapy Works30 Apr 2025

Olivia on Finding Freedom After Abuse

In this episode of the Therapy Works podcast, Olivia shares the harrowing experience of her husband being arrested in 2014 for downloading and sharing paedophilic images of children. She discusses the subsequent impact on her life and her four children, detailing the years of coercive control, emotional abuse, and manipulation she endured during her marriage. Olivia reflects on the therapy and support she received that helped her come to terms with the situation, reclaim her sense of self, and start to rebuild her life. Despite the trauma, Olivia speaks of her path to freedom, the crucial role of her support system, and how she managed to rebuild a life filled with joy and self-discovery.

00:12 The Day Everything Changed

01:22 Living Under Coercive Control

05:10 Realisations Through Therapy

10:19 The Arrest and Its Aftermath

14:14 Struggles with Shame and Guilt

31:30 Support Systems and Healing

37:46 Reflections and Moving Forward

Support Links & Further Resources

Understanding the Vagus Nerve – Learn more via the Polyvagal Institute
Carolyn Spring – Resources on trauma and recovery: carolynspring.com
Women’s Aid – Support for those affected by domestic abuse: womensaid.org.uk
Support for Families & Friends of Perpetrators – Guidance via the Survivors’ Network: Read here
Dr. Gwen Adshead: Reith Lecture – Listen on the BBC: Episode link

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.

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

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

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(282)

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 interven...

2 Okt 11min

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 exp...

30 Sep 58min

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 conv...

28 Sep 25min

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 ...

25 Sep 10min

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 le...

23 Sep 54min

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 mo...

4 Sep 10min

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 t...

28 Aug 12min

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 ...

21 Aug 11min