It's Never What They Came in With

Matt and Emma Willis bring together a team of leading therapists who’ve agreed to open the doors to their work. This series follows people across the UK as they confront the problems they face to see if therapy can help transform their lives. Full of tips on how to tackle everyday challenges, The series reveals the power of opening up.

With almost three-quarters of UK adults experiencing recent feelings of anxiety, the first episode shows that change is possible, and therapist Owen O’Kane tells us that we’re not stuck with the brain we have. First to see Owen is Nicole, who wants to tackle her fear of driving. Psychiatrist Steve Peters works with ex-athlete James, whose dreams were shattered by sudden illness. And psychologist Fatoumata Jatta helps Muna, who is scared of being left alone. Back at home in their everyday lives, they are visited between sessions by Matt and Emma to see how things are changing.

Nicole moved to London from Scotland with a single suitcase and big dreams but is now struggling with severe driving anxiety. Working with her is Owen O’Kane – a renowned psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience in mental health. Across their sessions together, Owen helps Nicole see that to tackle her fear of driving, she must first deal with what is beneath it.

Consultant psychiatrist Professor Steve Peters, best known for working with elite sports people, opens his therapy room to ex-athlete James, whose dreams were shattered by a sudden stroke. Despite having physically recovered, James is feeling so anxious, there are times when he is unable to leave the house to go to work. Steve and James explore where James’s anxiety comes from and the tactics he can use to overcome it.

Clinical psychologist Fatoumata Jatta is working with Muna, who has a fear of being alone that has worsened since her marriage broke down during Covid. Her daughter is preparing to leave home for university, and Muna doesn’t want to hold her back. Fatoumata believes that confronting the childhood bullying she experienced may hold the key to freeing her from her anxiety.