An internationally respected campaigner, Pooky Knightsmith has worked tirelessly to promote good child and adolescent mental health. Her knowledge, ideas and advice come not just from years of research and study, but from hard earned experience with PTSD, anorexia, self-harm and depression.

Part mental health guide, part memoir, this book contains 48 life lessons learned from everyday victories to life-changing events. Pooky shares tips on how to avoid burnout, how small acts of self-care can make a big difference, steps you can take to live with anxiety, and how to nurture key friendships and relationships, amongst many other things. Each lesson ends with space for the reader to reflect, and includes exercises to help take the first steps to incorporating these lessons into their own lives.

Unflinching and utterly authentic, Pooky shares the things she got wrong so that you don't have to.

Part mental health guide, part memoir from popular campaigner and educator Pooky Knightsmith

About the Author

Pooky Knightsmith has a PhD in child mental health from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. She is the author of several books, and is a former chair of the Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition and a managing director at Creative Education. Pooky is autistic; a late diagnosis has helped her to thrive following many years of anorexia, depression and anxiety. She has a YouTube channel which is a source of Continuing Professional Development for many educators in the UK and beyond.

Reviews
This book is a gift for anybody struggling with their mental health or self-esteem. It's full of lessons in learning and growing, and most importantly in forgiving ourselves for living imperfect lives. Pooky shares so much wisdom, and the exercises at the end of each chapter help to personalise the learning we can take from Pooky's wealth of experience, both personal and professional. A truly wonderful resource for anyone hoping to overcome their imposter syndrome and be kinder to themselves. -- Cara Lisette, mental health campaigner and writer, registered mental health nurse and children cognitive behavioural therapist
Such a valuable and practical guide to taking care of your most precious asset - your mental health. Filled with immediately relevant advice, based on a disarming and always honest reflection on life, this book will help huge numbers of people. -- Pete Wharmby, autistic author and advocate

This is a very accessible and practical book that anyone who has an interest in self-improvement and seeing what they may be able to do differently with their lives, would benefit from reading.

Looking at the following key topics: learning, self-care, self-acceptance, life online, death and dying, love and friendship, living with anxiety, Pooky draws from personal experiences to support the reader through a reflective process, whilst also providing practical things to try for each topic area covered.

The book oozes humility, honesty and authenticity; and in doing so allows the reader to reflect on the topics in relation to themselves throughout. This provides a powerful and accessible approach that I wholeheartedly recommend.

I don't think you could read this book, without being better after having done so....why not give it a try?

-- Gareth D Morewood, Educational Advisor, and former SENCo
Fantastic, honest account of true life. Humorous at times, hard hitting but good for the soul. Pooky is a well-respected professional within the mental health field and this book highlights her personal dilemmas connecting to her professional role. We can all relate to the lessons learnt, feelings shared and only become a better person after reading this book. Honest accounts of her personal and professional thoughts and experiences. Priceless! Helpful tools given to support self-refection. -- Ann Marie Christian, International Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer

This makes for essential reading, especially for those of us with a curiosity about the lives and experiences of others... I recommend this candid and courageous book to any adult, as Knightsmith helps to normalise emotional turmoil and distress, while encouraging communication, self-help and reaching out for support. I firmly believe
there are many valuable life lessons contained within it, which could help young people navigate adolescence
and emerge more mentally healthy as a result.

-- Jo Ames, counsellor MBACP (Accred), from University & College Counselling Journal



Book Information
ISBN 9781839972676
Author Pooky Knightsmith
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Weight(grams) 340g
Dimensions(mm) 214mm * 138mm * 24mm