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It’s been over a decade since I completed my Masters in Counselling Psychology, and I have only in the last few years really been able to embrace reading for fun again! Not that reading for my master’s wasn’t “fun” per se, but there really is something to picking up a book for pleasure alone.
Memoirs have become a favourite category of reading, for the blend of both storytelling and often insightful reflection on a topic.
In Stephanie Foo’s memoir, “What I Know in My Bones,” we hear the story of her life, through an engaging reflection on family trauma, identity, and the path towards healing.
Foo’s candid exploration of trauma, both personal and intergenerational, is a central theme in the book. Her willingness to share her own struggles with mental health and her family’s history of trauma creates space for the reader to explore our own understanding of resilience, coping mechanisms, and the importance of self-awareness and reflection.
As a Psychotherapist I was captured by her deep dive into the recent research on Complex PTSD. C-PTSD, unlike PTSD which can be the result of a singular traumatic event, is the result of prolonged and repeated trauma. (Okay so yes, I picked this book up for “fun” but also love that it is a psychology theory and research deep dive.)
Foo tells the story of her family while also reflecting on her own healing process. She teaches the reader about both C-PTSD and well as many of the therapies that can be engaged with for healing.
Foo’s journey of self-discovery and healing is not only inspiring but also serves as a model for the therapeutic process. Recent research on trauma-informed therapy has highlighted the significance of self-awareness, empowerment, and the exploration of personal narratives in the healing journey. (This is why I love Narrative Therapy!)
Her willingness to confront her past and seek understanding can be seen as a metaphor for the transformative potential of therapy itself. It can be a reassuring and motivating read for anyone on their own healing journey.
