How to navigate modern life – mental health and wellbeing programme

Posted on 12 May 2025 • TV and radio, University news

Mental health and wellbeing are the subjects covered by The Open University/BBC co-production ‘Change Your Mind, Change Your Life’ which airs from Tuesday 13 May at 23:00 on BBC One and at 23:50 in Northern Ireland.  All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from Tues 13 May.

OU academics Professor Andreas Vossler and Professor Naomi Moller are psychologists who acted as consultants to the programme makers on this four-part series featuring TV presenters Emma Willis and her musician husband Matt Willis.

In the programme, which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week, the well-known duo team up with some of Britain’s leading therapists to explore how they can help us navigate the challenges that modern life throws at us.

As they follow a range of people across the UK experiencing therapy, many for the first time, they will uncover practical and accessible ways to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Commenting on the series, Professor Andreas Vossler and Professor Naomi Moller said:

“This ground-breaking series showcasing real therapy sessions gives viewers a rare, authentic look into how therapy works-offering practical tools, breaking down stigma, and showing how therapy can help people lead a healthier, more fulfilled life. It illustrates how our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life experiences shape our well-being and influence the way we cope with everyday challenges.

As academic consultants, we provided academic advice on the approach and content of the series at different stages, from the initial project briefing, to reviewing the fine episode edits.

We are both trained therapists with longstanding experience in couple, family, and long-term integrative therapy and we combine academic research, clinical expertise, and a strong commitment to public engagement through collaborations with leading counselling organisations and accessible educational resources.

To support the series we also developed a comprehensive online support resource, offering guidance for people thinking about starting therapy as a client, and those considering training to become a therapist.

We enjoyed contributing our expertise to such an innovative and ground-breaking series that brings the reality of therapy to a wider audience”

Supporting online content:

To accompany the programme the OU academic consultants have created a guide for people thinking about starting therapy as a client, and those considering training to become a therapist. Hosted on the B&P site OU Connect, this resource will feature exclusive bonus video content from one of the show’s therapists, as well as the show’s presenters.

This series was commissioned by Broadcast & Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with particular relevance to R86 BSc in Counselling, X09 Foundation Degree in Counselling and Q84 Psychology with Counselling

• Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast & Partnerships
• Academic Consultants: Professor Naomi Moller and Professor Andreas Vossler
• Media Fellow: Professor Zoe Walkington
• Broadcast Project Manager: Clair Robinson
• Supporting Online Content: Steff Easom