Julia Samuel

Julia Samuel is a British psychotherapist, counsellor and author known for her work on grief, loss and trauma. She has practiced psychotherapy for over 30 years and was a founding patron of Child Bereavement UK, where she continues to serve as Vice President. Her books include "Grief Works" (2017), "This Too Shall Pass" (2020), and "Every Family Has a Story" (2022), which explore themes of loss, change, and family dynamics. She regularly contributes to media discussions on mental health and has appeared on numerous podcasts and television programs discussing grief and emotional wellbeing. Samuel served as a bereavement counsellor at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington for over 25 years and maintains a private practice in London. She was awarded an MBE in 2015 for her services to bereaved children and is a close friend of the British royal family, serving as godmother to Prince George. Through her writing and clinical work, Samuel has helped establish frameworks for understanding grief as a process rather than a state to be overcome. Her approach emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and working through difficult emotions while maintaining meaningful connections to those who have died.

Readers appreciate Samuel's accessible writing style on complex topics like grief and mental health. Her books garner positive responses from both mental health professionals and general audiences. Readers highlight her practical advice and real-world case studies. Many reviews mention the value of her therapeutic insights and concrete coping strategies. On Goodreads, readers frequently note how her work helped them process their own experiences with loss. Common criticisms include repetitive content between books and occasional overly-clinical language. Some readers find her case studies too lengthy or detailed. Goodreads ratings: - Every Family Has A Story: 4.2/5 (2,000+ ratings) - This Too Shall Pass: 4.1/5 (1,800+ ratings) - Grief Works: 4.3/5 (3,000+ ratings) Amazon ratings average 4.5/5 across her titles, with readers specifically praising her compassionate tone and actionable guidance. Professional reviewers in Psychology Today and The Guardian have highlighted her ability to balance clinical expertise with accessible writing.

Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving (2017) A collection of case studies and practical advice drawn from the author's experience as a grief psychotherapist, examining how different individuals process loss and bereavement.

This Too Shall Pass: Stories of Change, Crisis and Hopeful Beginnings (2020) An examination of how people navigate major life changes and transitions, featuring therapeutic case studies across eight categories of change.

Every Family Has A Story: How We Inherit Love and Loss (2022) An analysis of family dynamics and patterns across generations through eight case studies of families in therapy.

Living With Grief: Coming to Terms with Loss in a World That Doesn't Want to Talk About It (2024) A guide to understanding grief and loss in contemporary society, combining research with personal stories and therapeutic insights.