Newmag Presents "Every Family Has a Story" by Renowned British Psychotherapist Julia Samuel (Trailer)
11/20/2024
“The Sunday Times” has hailed this bestseller as not only a professional guide but also a deeply personal narrative, rooted in the author’s own experiences and the stories of her patients.
Julia Samuel’s life is intertwined with the British royal family. In 1987, while living in Kensington, she became neighbors and close friends with Princess Diana. Their bond grew so strong that Diana became the godmother of Julia’s son. The two trained together, went to the movies, and shared a deep friendship.
Years later, following Diana’s tragic death, Samuel provided support to Princes Harry and William as they navigated the profound loss of their mother. Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s wife, also sought her professional guidance. Prince William later entrusted Samuel with the role of one of the seven godparents to his son, Prince George.
Julia Samuel, an honorary doctorate recipient from Middlesex University and Vice-President of the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy, has had a distinguished career. She was a consultant at the Department of Paediatrics at St. Mary’s Hospital and is the creator of the “Grief Works” mobile application.
In 2022, she authored “Every Family Has a Story”, a book that delves into the complexities of family dynamics. Rather than offering a guide to creating a perfect family—because, as Samuel asserts, no such thing exists—it provides insights into understanding and accepting one’s family history, recognizing its influence, and fostering healing.
The book tackles profound topics, including:
- The transformative power of grief
- Intergenerational patterns and the complexities of family relationships.
"Grief changes us," Samuel writes. "When we look in the mirror, we see the same person, but when we look inside, we find someone completely changed—sometimes shattered."
Samuel also explores how the digital age is reshaping family dynamics. She addresses:
- The growing isolation of families
- The decline of traditional family rituals
- The rise of intra-family conflicts
- Shifts in the traditional family structure.
“The Guardian” aptly summarizes Samuel’s message: the family is the one relationship we cannot sever, no matter how much we might wish to.
The book, translated into Armenian by Samvel Khachatryan, was published by Newmag with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
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Julia Samuel
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Why do some families thrive in adversity while others fragment? How can families weather difficult transitions together? Why do our families so often exasperate us? And how can even small changes greatly improve our relationships?
In Every Family Has a Story, bestselling psychotherapist Julia Samuel turns from her acclaimed work with individuals to draw on her sessions with a wide variety of families, across multiple generations. Through eight beautifully told and insightful case studies, she analyzes a range of common issues, from loss to leaving home, and from separation to step-relationships, and shows how much is, in fact, inherited—and how much can be healed when it is faced together. Exploring the relationships that both touch us most and hurt us most, including the often under-appreciated impact of grandparents and siblings, and incorporating the latest academic research, she offers wisdom that is applicable to us all. Her twelve touchstones for family well-being—from fighting productively to making time for rituals—provide us with the tools to improve our relationships, and to create the families we wish for. This is a moving and reassuring meditation that, amid trauma and hardship, tells unforgettable stories of forgiveness, hope and love.
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