#1 BEST-SELLER — The National Council for Behavioral Health estimates that seven out of every ten people you know will experience a trauma during their lifetimes – perhaps even you. When that happens, though, what do you do? For speaker and mental health advocate Jessi Beyer, it meant doing nothing and avoiding therapy like the plague.
What she did not know, though, is that there were alternatives to talk therapy. You could spend time with horses, go on a walk through the woods, or dance your way through healing. If you are moving through your trauma healing journey and are looking for an alternative to talk therapy, then you have landed in the right place. How To Heal details nine natural and integrative therapy methods that can be a powerful addition to your healing journey:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Dance-Movement Therapy
- Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
- Equine-Assisted Therapy
- Canine-Assisted Therapy
- Ecotherapy and Nature-Based Therapies
- Flower Essence Therapy
Written by a fellow trauma survivor, How To Heal includes information beyond the therapies to help you understand what trauma is, how it affects your life, and how you can help someone who struggles with a past traumatic experience.
By taking home How To Heal, you help more than just you and your loved ones. Fifty percent of the profits from all book sales will be donated to the Pararescue Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports and preserves the pararescue community during and after their time in uniform.
Praise for How To Heal
“Vindicating…Beyer’s sensitive prose will ease concerns of other trauma survivors. Those seeking additional help with their own trauma recovery will want to take a look.” – Publisher’s Weekly
“I read through your book and learned SO MUCH! You touched on therapies that I have been interested in and loved your approach to discussing them. I loved the way that you handled each and the multiple approaches to each and above all the respect for the person who was healing – beautifully done! Throughout you showed so much respect for people going through this process, both those healing from the trauma and those supporting them! Your book is beautiful and rich and full of helpful insight. THANK YOU! Your book has already made a difference in how I work with people with trauma and will continue to do so! THANK YOU!” – Heather Jeffrey, MA, LADC, CTC, EAGALA Model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Advanced Certified Practitioner, and COO of Acres for Life
“Right from the beginning, How To Heal introduces us to the authors trauma story in an authentic and vulnerable narrative. Her personal journey into the healing process informs the book throughout as she takes us to discover an array of exciting therapeutic interventions emerging over recent decades all of which share the backing of a growing body of empirical evidence and inquiry. She weaves a non-pharmacological web of integrative therapies deftly colored in by her matter-of-fact and practical testimony. The undersong of the book is clear: among the pain there is power; among the ordinary there is hope. The honesty of her experience is inspirational to all of us who have experienced (or know of someone who has experienced) trauma. I say ‘read it’. You’ll uncover a treasure chest filled with gems.” – Jean Larson, PhD, HTR, CTRS, Graduate Faculty and Nature-Based Therapeutics Faculty Lead at the University of Minnesota
“Jessi Beyer speaks directly to the trauma survivor in this terrific and encouraging review of avenues for healing that go beyond conventional talk therapy.” – Alex Jordan, Ph.D., McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School
“Wow Jessi this book is wonderful! It was really helpful to learn about the different therapies alongside your transparent experiences with trauma and the healing process. Thank you for being so open in your writing. I learned a lot through reading your book – you compiled your research and interviews into an accessible format for those who are working through the healing process.” – Trauma Survivor
“This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and one of incredible clinical value. In the counseling world, there are a variety of theories, techniques, and interventions that are used to treat trauma. Among other things, Jessi Beyer has provided a very human and relatable understanding of how we experience trauma, while also providing an expert view of some of the more modern treatments for trauma. More importantly, many of these interventions focus on our common humanity and how we can heal in a very natural way. The final chapter, What therapy might work for me, offers some essential guidance that could help many of our clients make more personalized treatment decisions. I recommend picking this one up.” – Patrick Powell Ed. D, NCC., LMHC. (FL), QS (FL). LPC (TN), CCSOTS
“How To Heal beautifully adds to the much-needed dialogue about mental health. Beyer provides practical approaches to an often untouched subject in a relatable manner. This book is a valuable resource for both trauma survivors and supporters of survivors. Thank you, Jessi, for sharing your story and using your experiences to help others.” – Savannah Wix, Miss Arizona USA 2019, Mental Health Advocate
“Just the first read through of your experience alone has given me chills and also helps me to entrust you as someone who can offer healing to those who deal with these struggles, both as a trauma survivor and a professional. I’m so proud to endorse this book. For those wishing to gain deeper understanding of how to handle one’s own struggles through therapy and how to be of help to another in a healthy way, this book is for you!” – Tianna Tuamoheloa, Miss Nevada USA 2019
“Beyer assumes the role of a forthcoming and genuinely caring therapist in her new novel aptly titled, ‘How To Heal.'” – Lianna Albrizio, Editor of Dining Out New Jersey and Reedsy Discovery Reviewer (full review)
“Jessi Beyer shares such a stunningly courageous and intimate view of what trauma looks and feels like for women. This book is so needed to help women young and old understand how trauma therapy works and how much more effective it is for healing us than traditional talk therapy. It is time for the rest of the world to understand what many of us have been training and doing for many decades –healing trauma through the body safely. This book is a wonderful contribution to getting that important healing news to more women now!” – Donna Roe Daniell, LCSW, RYT, Founder of Women In Transformation, and author of Handbook to Midlife Challenges for Women–My story
“Beyer takes the reader by the hand and personally shows them how to manage their painful story. In an extremely reader-friendly fashion, Jessi Beyer introduces you to her personal experience of trauma. Beyer shares her breakthroughs and lessons learned on her own journey, writing from one trauma survivor to another. How To Heal is an engaging, hands-on guide to understanding trauma-and stressor-related disorders. This practical and useful book is also valuable for family and friends of those who are traumatized. As a thanatologist, I have seen how suicide and other traumatic losses, impact the lives of clients. For that reason, I also highly recommend this book for clinicians who care about Trauma-Informed Care.” – Barbara Rubel, MA, BCETS, D.A.A.E.T.S., Author, Executive Director of Griefwork Center Inc., and Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress in collaboration with the National Center for Crisis Management
“Jessi Beyer has crafted the perfect resource for those looking for effective ways to release their trauma. It provides a wealth of practical information about therapies that target trauma and go beyond the traditional psychotherapy approach.” – Debra Burdick, LCSW, Author of Mindfulness Skills Workbook and Mindfulness for Kids Card Deck
“This book is AMAZING!!! I had so many moments where I found myself nodding or saying ‘yep’ as I read. Being in isolation right now has brought up a lot of memories for me. Trauma is definitely stored in the body, and my body is reliving it right now. I was doing just fine keeping all those memories and that trauma at arm’s length — until I wasn’t. This book is perfect timing in so many ways. Thank you for writing this. Thank you for being so open and raw. Thank you for all these wonderful therapy ideas. I know I’m going to explore a few of these after quarantine is lifted.” – Trauma Survivor during the COVID-19 Pandemic
“An excellent read for individuals who’ve both experienced trauma personally and loved ones who want to better understand them. For someone who had a limited understanding of trauma, How To Heal deepened my knowledge of it in a detailed but easy-to-understand way.” – Loved One of a Trauma Survivor
“Insightful, refreshingly honest and captivating. A must-read for anyone looking to expand their knowledge on trauma-related issues.” – Michael Casey, Mental Health Advocate and Author of Breaking Free
“How to Heal by Jessi Beyer is a book we ALL need no matter where you are in your healing journey. We all have trauma and a majority of us never get to the root of how our mind works and how it effects our daily lives, choices, and relationships. By sharing her experiences of her personal trauma, How to Heal feels like the comfort of a best friend guiding you with open arms. Let’s take time to heal so we can grow, together. Beyer will give you the tools to live with the peace of mind you’ve always longed for.” – Brooke Johnson, Miss Alaska USA 2018, National Alliance on Mental Illness National Ambassador, National Alliance on Mental Illness Westside Los Angeles Presenter
“As someone who works closely within the mental health field, I know how hard discussing the topic can be. I commend you for your honesty in sharing your experience. How To Heal has already expanded my mind a great deal and has helped my understanding even further from a survivor’s prospective, especially on my own journey as a survivor and advocate of domestic violence.” – Jonét Nichelle, Miss Rhode Island USA 2020