4.33 AVERAGE


a read that i had to pause a while between each therapy stories just to reel and feel the myriad of emotions from what the clients have been through. it amazes me how each individual fought their deep-seated psychological issues in their own courageous ways, which really resonated with me when dr gildner herself calls all 5 of them heroes, in their own lived experiences and battles. some of the recounts were so heavy due to the abuse involved.

literally so insightful! I enjoyed hearing about therapy from the therapist's pov. I feel like this is a book that I will make connections to and reference in everyday life. (ofc huge tw in many ways)
dark emotional sad slow-paced
challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

DNF @ 38%

I am choosing to DNF this book out of protection to my own mental health. Reading Danny's story and the horrors done to him and other indigenous children shattered my heart. I pray he did receive the help he needed.

4,5
challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

In my opinion, if you have been recommended The Body Keeps the Score, you would be better off picking this up instead. This description of “physiological heroes” by therapist Gildiner is digestible, comforting, and adds a voice in the chorus of anyone’s therapy journey. The author also got into her own growth as a therapist including her falters and mistakes along that journey with each patient which I appreciated. The material is, of course, quite sad and brutal at times, so trigger warnings required for all kinds of abuse. 

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

It is a great reminder of how lucky I am for growing up with parents who love me unconditionally. The people in this book are truly heroes. I cried at their stories and how strong they were for not letting the cruelty of life take them over.
emotional inspiring slow-paced