This too shall pass : stories of change, crisis and hopeful beginnings

If change is the natural order of things, why do so many people struggle with the milestones of life - from first jobs and first loves to children leaving home and retirement? We live in a culture of limitless choice - and life is now more complex than ever. In This Too Shall Pass , acclaimed psychotherapist Julia Samuel draws on hours of conversations with her patients to show how we can learn to adapt and thrive during our most difficult and transformative experiences. Illuminated by the latest social and psychological research, this book unflinchingly deals with the hard times in family, love, work, health and identity. From a woman deciding whether to leave her husband for a younger lover, to a father handling a serious medical diagnosis. And from a new mother struggling with the decision to return to work, to a young man dealing with the aftermath of coming out, and a woman starting over after losing her job. These powerful, unforgettable and deeply intimate stories about everyday people will inform our understanding of our own unique response to change and enlighten the way we approach challenges at every stage of life. Nearly all of us find change difficult. But what wisdom can we glean from 'having a wobble' or 'going through a rough patch'? Psychotherapist Julia Samuel guides us through how the most troublesome times of our lives can teach us to grow and transform ourselves. This too shall pass unflinchingly deals with major issues relating to family, love, work, health and identity. We follow the personal narratives of 20 or so everyday people in their twenties to eighties during their most vulnerable and transformative experiences. We follow Jackson's character-building story of first love; Rachel's difficult return from maternity leave; Maria's mid-life love crisis; Sara's hopeful new life as a refugee and Owen's well-received coming out. These are unforgettable and deeply intimate yet universal stories. They will resonate with each and every one of us and enlighten our own journeys in times of change - both good and bad