The Daily Glow: An E-space for Healing and Growth
Book Review: Dr. Thema Bryant's Homecoming: Healing Trauma To Reclaim Your Authentic Self
"I invite your soul to tell your heart, mind, body, and spirit, "Welcome home." -Dr. Thema Bryant ‘Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self’ is a book that you read and then reread. The first time for your brain, the second for your heart. For many individuals that have experienced trauma (whether big T or little T) intellectualizing one’s traumatic experiences can feel helpful and necessary, but also emotionally limiting. Thinking ourselves out of feeling, whether intentionally or unintentionally is the norm. "I invite you to consider who benefits from your insecurities, your sense of inadequacy, and your deflated dreams." (Bryant, 2022, 209) Healing The Fragmented Self My internship supervisor asked me if I was in therapy and I told her that it doesn’t work for me. Ironic right, the girl in grad school to become a therapist is telling people that therapy doesn’t work for her. Well, I later explained to her that I need something with a little more kick. ”I genuinely think that I need trauma-informed therapy. I can talk you under the table and talk-therapy just isn’t a good fit for the type of work I think I need.” I have ghosted therapists because I struggled with communicating that journaling, solution-focused approaches, and short-term interventions are not going to push me to where I need to go. However, ‘Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self’ showed me that I’ve been emotionally stuck and I’m ready to move forward. I’m ready to return home. Many trauma survivors are desperately searching for that extra push. Not a push over the trauma, but a nudge through. A nudge letting them know that there’s hope on the other side. Dr. Bryant does a great job at utilizing anecdotes as a trauma survivor (without disclosing graphic or traumatic details) from her own personal experiences, and case vignettes of previous clients (minus their names or identifiable information) to provide examples and insight into how trauma impacted each individual. While no experience is identical to another, the case vignettes may offer a person healing trauma a sense of connection and belonging to cope with events that can feel isolating. "One way to reparent yourself is by creating opportunities and cultivating spaces for your joy to be unleashed, for your joy to come alive." (Bryant, 2022, 57) There were many key takeaways for me especially related to perfectionism, validation seeking, learning to ask for help, people-pleasing, resentment, and what a trauma survivor should look like. No spoilers, but Dr. Bryant writes about a conference that she attended. At this conference a woman approached Dr. Bryant and said loosely “you don’t look like a sexual assault victim.” Dr. Bryant did not respond immediately. Instead, she allowed space for silence and the woman broke down into tears. There is healing in the silence. This account also reminded me of the saying “thank God, I don’t look like what I’ve been through.” Dr. Bryant is a testament to that saying and exemplifies the idea that although an individual may have experienced heinous, cruel, frighting, isolating, and unjust acts, that doesn’t define who they are or what they can become. Dr. Bryant, while extremely knowledgeable and a trauma survivor herself, rarely uses psychological jargon to present information within Homecoming. The book is in “plain ol’ English”, meaning the language and tone offers an inclusive approach for readers of various ages and educational backgrounds. Homecoming preaches, but refrains from being preachy. "If your home was joyless, you may be uncomfortable with play and leisure." (Bryant, 2022, 57) Whether an individual is on a journey of healing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD, ‘Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self’ discusses how to identify disconnection from one’s self (mind, body, and spirit) due to trauma and different scenarios that can inflict trauma onto the individual, without being overtly graphic. Also, Dr.Bryant discusses toxic workplace trauma, oppression based trauma, losses, and breakup and divorce. ‘Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self’ is less about processing trauma immediately or reading about others oversharing trauma as seen in other books. Instead, Homecoming serves as the introduction to identifying (if applicable) your trauma and how your trauma may impact your mind, body, and spirit. As well as information to support the reader on their journey home to themselves amidst disconnection. During the Societal Trauma segment of my Trauma and the Contemporary Family course my prof. shared the video You Can Heal Intergenerational Trauma TedxTalk with the class. Inspired, at a loss for words, dignified, validated, and proud is how I felt after completing the video and finishing the novel. Within the video Dr.Bryant spoke with such conviction and strength that even the most insecure individual would feel born-anew with each word. My professor knew that I was reading Dr.Bryant's book prior to watching the video and during group supervision she asked for my thoughts on the video. "Thema Bryant lives what she teaches (and preaches) and it was nice to put a face to the information." This book will spark transformation and was validating in many ways. Homecoming put language to the feelings that I struggled to name for myself and ideas that I did not have the knowledge to identify personally. Bryant knows what to say and when to say it. I tend to speed read but at one point, to paraphrase, Bryant writes that it's not a race, slow down and feel what you are reading. This was in the section about perfectionism and I realized that even with an absence of competitors I am still competing. Within the course we are also currently reading In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness and Waking The Tiger Healing Trauma is also another renowned trauma related book by Peter A. Levine. Within the Unspoken Voice, Levine discusses how a client experienced a rather cathartic release of trauma, one where they imagined themselves as a tiger. When engaging in trauma work, Levine expresses that it's important to avoid a retraumatization in therapy of the the client. Dr.Bryant's novel is great for working through and identifying trauma, while Levine's book Unspoken Voice does well at addressing how to talk about trauma in therapy. While healing trauma from the client's perspective, its advised to avoid retraumatizing yourself. Retraumatizing yourself can look like engaging in uninformed trauma work. To avoid retraumatizing yourself avoid moving too fast too soon. Avoid tapping into memories and events without having the coping skills or grounding skills to recenter yourself before, during, and after. Also, establish a self care plan and consult with a trauma-informed professional while engaging in trauma related work and reliving past trauma. The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema I finished ‘Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self’ and wanted more of Dr. Thema Bryant. She mentioned her podcast in the beginning and end of the novel and I decided to take a listen. I intentionally sat in the sauna for the duration of an episode, which was about 40 minutes. I was willing to cook to heal my trauma. Dr. Bryant's voice is slow, melodic, serene, and centering. I listened to three episodes in one gym visit. As a therapist-in-training I admire the work and genius that is Dr. Thema Bryant. As an individual overcoming childhood trauma, in finding Dr.Bryant I found the nexus and missing component to heal trauma and invite my soul to tell my heart, mind, body, and spirit, "Welcome home. Disclaimer: The contents of Sincerely Sanguine's (SS) Site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the SS Site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the SS Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 or local emergency number immediately. SS does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by SS, SS employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of SS, or other visitors to the Site is solely at your own risk. The Site and the Content are provided on an “as is” basis.
Book Review: Dr. Thema Bryant's Homecoming: Healing Trauma To Reclaim Your Authentic Self
"I invite your soul to tell your heart, mind, body, and spirit, "Welcome home." -Dr. Thema Bryant ‘Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self’ is a book that you...
Books That Have Helped Me As A Graduate Student Therapist
The best books for therapists that I have found that are not about therapy. I recommend these books to anyone, but especially to new therapists and practicum students.
Books That Have Helped Me As A Graduate Student Therapist
The best books for therapists that I have found that are not about therapy. I recommend these books to anyone, but especially to new therapists and practicum students.
10 Things Every Free Woman Should Know From The Book 'What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day'
"I sat down at the kitchen table, picked up a pen, and wrote in the margins: to nurture free, independent, women who can take care of themselves, choose their lovers wisely, and raise their children right." (Cleage, 1992, p. 157) Have you ever wanted someone to tell you how to live your life as an adult? Have you longed for someone (anyone) to provide you with the cheat code to happiness? We're all attempting to figure out this thing called life, but what helps is having the resources and advice from those before us. Our reparenting and inner child healing workbook provides eleven tips to heal and reparent your inner child, and while reading 'What looks like crazy on an ordinary day (#1 Idlewoood)' for our book club we stumbled upon more Black women self care gold. The ten tips provided are comprehensive and necessary. While our workbook highlights Black healing, mother wound healing, understanding the mother wound, primarily the mother wound in daughters, here are ten tenets every free woman should know according to Ava Johnson. 'TEN THINGS EVERY FREE WOMAN SHOULD KNOW' From The Book 'What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day' 1. How to grow food and flowers 2.How to prepare food nutritiously 3.Self-Defense 4.Basic first aid/ sex education and midwifery "I leaned over to check the list again, then took it and wrote these five additional off the top of my head as subsets of the basic sex education component. Don't f*ck men you don't like. Bring your own birth control. Practice safe sex every time. If it's hurting you, it shouldn't be exciting him. Don't fake—demonstrate." (Cleage, 1992, p. 160) 5.Child care (prenatal/ early childhood development) 6.Basic literacy/ basic math / basic computer skills 7.Defensive driving/ map reading/basic auto and home repairs 8. Household budget/ money management 9.Spiritual Practice 10.Physical Fitness/health/hygiene (Cleage, 1992, p. 158) Disclaimer: The contents of Sincerely Sanguine's (SS) Site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the SS Site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the SS Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 or local emergency number immediately. SS does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by SS, SS employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of SS, or other visitors to the Site is solely at your own risk. The Site and the Content are provided on an “as is” basis.
10 Things Every Free Woman Should Know From The Book 'What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day'
"I sat down at the kitchen table, picked up a pen, and wrote in the margins: to nurture free, independent, women who can take care of themselves, choose their lovers...
3 Easy Steps To Start And Run A Book Club With Friends
Finding time to read can be a hassle and navigating adult friendships can be difficult, especially amidst such demanding schedules. How do you find time to spend time with friends, when time feels limited? A book club is a great start! If you're considering starting a book club with your friends or curious about how to find book clubs, here are three easy steps to get started. Don't worry the tips are introvert and busy schedule friendly. How to start a book club with friends? Step one: find friends who are willing to commit to the book club and who will be involved The Reese Witherspoon Book Club is most notable for bringing people together through their love for literature and reading. Find inspo. for book club ideas/activities on virtual platforms such as Pinterest, Goodreads, and Tik Tok. There’s something special about starting a book club, and building community through one's love for literature. Finding willing and able participants is a great start for those interested in learning how to start a book club at school or how to start a book club online. Step two: as a group select the book that you would like to read When engaging in a book club online and starting a book club with friends, deciding which book to select can be a challenge. Our favorite online book club platform is Goodreads. Here's your personal book club invite to our book club 'Pot Liquor For The Soul.' We typically add books to a list and peek at other user's reviews for inspiration in order to determine if a book selection is the right fit. We happened to stumble upon our most recent book selection, ‘The House of Eve’ simply by searching “books for black girls” on Tik Tok. Keep an open mind when selecting attempting to select a book. Step three: Start a group chat! As you transition through the book use emojis and texts to document your reactions by chapter and to signify which chapters you've completed to the members of your book club. This approach adds new meaning to online book clubs. Often times, having to recap full chapters and find the words for your reactions can be tiring and take away from the experience. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Let the emojis do the talking. Within ‘Not Another Think Piece’ episode two, we discuss how we managed to engage in our first summer book club, and offered a book review of the novel 'The House of Eve.' "38" signifies the chapter and the emojis are the person's reaction to the chapter. We found that utilizing text message reactions, gifs, and short responses worked best for our busy work and school schedules. This is by far the simplest book club guide and instruction to get started. Many people are now homebodies, simply because free third spaces are becoming obsolete, and most activities are expensive, involve drinking, or lack creativity. A book club via text is a great method to build and maintain community. Also, once we finished the book we hosted a book club picnic! We came together in person and debriefed about the novel overall. How to run a book club discussion? When attempting to engage in a book club discussion with your friends, KISS. Keep it simple silly. Less is more when engaging in a book club discussion, because most times the conversation will go in many directions. As you read note themes, reactions, and thoughts. What questions are coming up for you as you are reading the chapter? What are you thoughts on particular characters? As you begin to discuss the book, ask your friends open-ended questions. This will allow the conversation to expand. Also, make predictions, but no spoilers! Lavar Burton would be proud! Reading is amazing and it's important to find ways to build community. It's especially important to find affordable activities to engage friends and maintain healthy friendships. What friends are you willing to ask to join your book club? Which book would you want to read first and why? Happy reading!
3 Easy Steps To Start And Run A Book Club With Friends
Finding time to read can be a hassle and navigating adult friendships can be difficult, especially amidst such demanding schedules. How do you find time to spend time with friends, when...
Add 'Just as I am: A Memoir' to your booklist
Discover the secret to living past 90. Cicely Tyson's memoir 'Just As I am' gives insight into finding the will to follow your dreams and live freely. Read now!
Add 'Just as I am: A Memoir' to your booklist
Discover the secret to living past 90. Cicely Tyson's memoir 'Just As I am' gives insight into finding the will to follow your dreams and live freely. Read now!
Why Your 20s Matter, NOW!
Uncover the transformative insights of "The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter" in our latest blog post. Explore the power of this book in shaping your future.
Why Your 20s Matter, NOW!
Uncover the transformative insights of "The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter" in our latest blog post. Explore the power of this book in shaping your future.