20 Ways to Break Free From Trauma: From Brain Hijacking to Post-Traumatic Growth by Philippa Smethurst

https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Break-Free-Trauma-Post-traumatic/dp/1805013106

Philippasmethurst.com

‘An important and insightful contribution to the mental health literary landscape.’ – Alastair Campbell

Trauma is a wound – one that we often hide from ourselves and others.

Philippa Smethurst – a psychotherapist with decades of experience – has written this compassionate and practical guide to help you to understand, process and move beyond trauma. The book explains twenty common ways that trauma can show itself – from dissociation and anger to brain hijacking and trust issues – but also how you can move on from them.

Drawing on the latest brain- and body-based research, this book uses stories, poetry and reflective exercises, to give you the guidance and tools you need.

About the author

Philippa Smethurst is a psychotherapist specialising in trauma. She has worked in the NHS and as an external supervisor for charities. She has written for many publications, including the BACP journal Therapy Today and The Psychologist, the journal of the British Psychological Society.

She trained at the Metanoia Institute, and is an advocate for Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Her aim is to make psychological information accessible and creative, particularly the more hidden and subtle aspects of trauma. “20 Ways to Break Free from Trauma”, which she describes as a Trauma Kit for a general audience, was published by Jessica Kingsley in November 2024.

The book has been endorsed by human rights advocate and trauma survivor Sir Terry Waite who has also written the foreword.

Philippa has worked in the field of homelessness and has an interest in promoting the ideas on trauma gleaned from her study and long psychotherapy practice for trauma mitigation. She travels widely to talk about her book in webinars and in person at various institutions in UK including Oxford University, Edgehill University, Banbury Therapy Group and St Martin-in-the Fields, London.