Sasha Bates

Sasha Bates is a psychotherapist, journalist and podcaster who has written Languages of Loss: A Psychotherapists Journey Through Grief and A Grief Companion. whose husband, the actor and playwright Bill Cashmore, died unexpectedly at the age of 56.

Sasha’s husband, the actor and playwright Bill Cashmore, died unexpectedly at the age of 56. Sasha then turned to writing and her first book, Languages of Loss (2021), is a moving, powerful and informative dual narrative account of how grief works, how it feels and how it can be managed. It’s a searingly honest account of losing a loved one, and a practical guide to help anyone who is grieving.

Before becoming a psychotherapist, Sasha spent 18 years in TV where she wrote, directed and produced series as varied as Omnibus, Grand Designs and How to Look Good Naked. Her fascination with people fuelled her career as a filmmaker. But when Sasha wanted a deeper understanding of the human mind, emotions and relationships, she left TV behind and re-trained as an integrative psychotherapist.

Since Bill’s death, Sasha has started teaching workshops about grief for other grievers and therapists. She has set up a theatrical bursary in Bill’s name – The Bill Cashmore Award – in conjunction with the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, aimed at helping young people gain experience in theatre and the opportunity to produce their own work.

Sasha’s book A Grief Companion (2021) is an interactive journal helping readers to manage and work through their own grief.

In 2023 Sasha started podcasting. Shrink the Box is ‘a light-hearted and hopefully entertaining way to discuss and demystify therapy via in depth explorations of the fictional TV characters we know and love.’

Image (c) Dolly Clew