In this pragmatic and inspirational book, experienced US-based life coach and former psychotherapist Eileen Lenson shows us tools to turn suffering into hope and develop resilience by combining scientific research with an understanding of our emotional and spiritual lives. She cuts through existing myths and provides readers with a look into what it takes to not just overcome adversity and survive, but to thrive.
Written to help anyone who finds themselves in a painful place, regardless of social background, culture, religion or education, each chapter describes from a scientific, psychological and spiritual perspective, why we do the things we do. Armed with this knowledge we can learn to manage our feelings and respond to devastating events with the skills to seek healthy coping options and change our lives for the better.
In this book you’ll learn how to:
• Use five core factors of your life — forgiveness, courage, perspective, perseverance, and hope — to reduce emotional suffering.
• Identify and replace unproductive coping skills with healthy thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
• Master new skills through practice exercises.
• Benefit from the stories of others, just like you, who have faced and overcome adversity.
Eileen Lenson, MSW, ACSW, Board Certified Coach, has committed her professional career to helping people who are struggling with adversity. She is based in California and holds a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work, and prior to becoming a Professional Life Coach, was a practicing psychotherapist for over 20 years.Her broad experiences range from working with clients in medical and psychiatric hospitals, to her outpatient private practice. She has also developed and led support groups for parents who suffered the loss of a child, for couples going through a divorce, and for teens with social adjustment problems. In addition to her clinical work, she has spoken internationally on grief and bereavement. Author of a business book on psychotherapy and a chapter in a three-part volume on psychological trauma, Eileen has also written for newspapers and monthly columns, and taught seminars on adversity-related topics.