Good pocket sized pieces of encouragement. I don’t think I’m the right target reader, but I could see several adults I know being interested in this book.

I've read quite a few "therapy"/anxiety self-help books over the past year or so, and all of them have promise but then end up falling flat.

However, Pocket Therapy was GREAT and I am highly considering buying myself a physical copy because it resonated with me so much. Finally, a book that doesn't repeat to you over and over "just follow the 5-4-3-2-1 rule while deep breathing and you'll be fine". Instead, Sarah talks to you like you're a real person before each chapter, and then gently breaks down different ideas to slowly but surely cope for every stage of anxiety/depression/panic you'll feel throughout your life.

I really liked this one.

I absolutely loved this book! I follow Sarah Crosby on Instagram and was so happy that this book was finally available here to read. It helped me through so much.

Pocket Therapy by Sarah Crosby was so approachable. This book was written in bite sized chunks that allowed me to really understand the material. I was reading the chapter about your inner child after an exhausting day at work and let myself take a short nap and felt so much better afterwards. I know I’ll be revisiting this book and recommending it for years to come!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Essentials for a copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

As someone in training right now to get a clinical degree in counseling, it was really nice to have a book that condensed so much of the stuff I am learning into a format that would be more accessible to my clients. Sarah Crosby is a psychotherapist in Dublin, Ireland, and all of the techniques/skills she presents in this book are things that I have either a) already used with clients, b) have intended to use with clients, c) had a therapist use with me (no shame in getting your own help! ESPECIALLY when you are going to be helping others!) or d) things I will now be integrating into my work. Each of the few chapters in this book (it truly is "pocket" sized), are broken up into easy to understand chunks, and have self-reflection/practice spots called "Take 5" where the reader can immediately put the skill to use and see if it fits for them. I think this is one of the kindest books of its kind I have read, as many books like this either are so childish in their presentation of the material, or they are so analytical that it makes it hard to understand for a layperson. I also really appreciated the focus on trauma and trauma work, as that is a huge part of my intended work with clients, and it was really nice to see how Sarah approached it. I fully plan on encouraging other people in my field to read this, and I will probably recommend this as reference to future clients as well.

For people who are new to the world of therapy, this book is a great start. Those who have been in therapy for a while may want something a bit more advanced. I’m sure this book will help a lot of people!

Such a quick and easy read. Highly recommend it for those who need a bit of encouragement with real-life solutions scattered throughout. Crosby uses words that are easy to understand and takes topics such as triggers and boundaries and helps apply practical tips to overcome what you may be going through.

Pocket Therapy is a wonderful book that provides insight in short snippets that are easy to read and implement. While this book is not a substitute for therapy, it fills a need for a). those individuals that are unable to access treatment or b). those individuals that are in treatment, but want a supplement. The book has chapters on the following topics: attachment, self talk, recognizing triggers, self regulation, boundaries, and friendship. A wide variety of topics are included. You don’t need to read the book from start to finish, but rather, find what topic/area you need the support and start there. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book has helped me realize that I am worth more than my family knows or cares to know. It taught me how to be kinder and more gentle with myself. Reading this has helped me realize that I cannot control it all.

I was curious about the concept of this book but I am coming away from it still convinced that talking one on one with a real live therapist is incredibly important, and readers should consider this a supplement rather than replacement. My favorite portions were the ones that gave examples rather than invited self-reflection, such as explaining the different attachment styles, offering examples of how to reassure yourself in tough moments, or giving examples of how to create an affirmation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read a copy of this book! I'm just a few months late.

I had picked this up hoping it would give some of the benefits of therapy without the cost (or having to talk to a stranger). I know, I know, it was a lofty goal. At the end of the day, this book felt really generic and I didn't really learn anything new like I had hoped to. I think it's going to be really good for those who are newer to the self-help/mental health world, though! I do plan to recommend it in the future as such, it just wasn't for me and where I'm at right now.

it's a collection of nice bite sized psychology tips. Though I would still recommend people in serious need of mental health go to a professional. It's a bit general in its advice (which is undertandable). it is a nice book that reminds to take a moment and breath in the now.

I loved how the author of this book broke down phrases that we hear everyday and repeat them to others, not really knowing what they mean. I wish I had come across books of this type earlier. I would have liked the book better if it were shorter and easier to read through.

There was some good take aways from this book and some things that didn't work. It is worth the read as it can provide help in small measures.

I was really excited to read this book, but was really disappointed when I started to read it. It just didn’t capture my attention.

I enjoyed the reading the chapters on attachment and reparenting. Both of these chapters were very interesting. I also found the “Take 5” questions and mental notes/reflections questions at the end of each chapter interesting and beneficial.

Finding therapy has never been easy - so many hurdles in the way. From availability, cost and social stigma, getting even a start on the road to some understanding and now we are burdened by the pandemic - it's overwhelming. This book has come at just the right time. Written in a comfortable and friendly style, this is the kind of book I know I will be coming back to. It isn't a substitute for time with a therapist but it helps. I gave it a quick read and then went back to chapter one and really focused. I needed this book.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Essentials and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is everything I needed. My only “complaint” is that it ended. This was so powerful, and so encouraging to read. Sarah Crosby covered a variety of crucial topics, such as boundaries and self talk. I loved that it gave readers a moment to reflect, especially because some of the topics covered can be very heavy and daunting to some. I also appreciated the simplicity of the writing and the realness of Sarah’s approach. I will be recommending this book to everyone for years to come.

A brief, easy-to-use self-help guide chock full of easy-to-implement ideas that can help you be more "in the moment" and recognize as well as break bad habits. Author Sarah Crosby outlines ways to find your authentic self, creative a supportive script, and make time for yourself to help you become more grounded and enjoy time with others better. Attachment styles are explored and explained. Resources to help identify your triggers , understanding them, and recovering from stressors is also dealt with in an easy-to-approach manner. A great resource for one's self and one's community.

A beautiful look though how to utilize your inner light in life and how to make your life brighter. Pun intended. Highly recommend. Especially loved the reflection to true life to humanize my feelings and relate. I felt like this book was SPEAKING TO ME. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Publication Day!

Three words that describe this lovely little book in a nutshell: practical, helpful, realistic. Crosby uses comfortable language and strikes the perfect balance between professionalism and accessibility. Self-help/self-development/psychology books can easily come off as preachy, pushy or overly intellectual, but this book is written in such a digestible way that I would find myself excited to carve out even a few minutes to read a section here and there. However when I say the book is digestible, I don’t mean it is light reading; it is overflowing with both wisdom and science that take root in you as you move through the chapters. At the author's suggestion, I made a point to read it slowly to fully process the content and reflect on the action items/prompts, which I think enhanced my experience and made it so that what I learned will stick with me. As Crosby states at the end of chapter 1, “Hopefully, this chapter has provided moments of insight. You don’t have to remember them all. They’re in there somewhere, distilling and processing, resting and realigning”.

As other reviewers (and the author herself) have mentioned, it is clear that this book is not meant to be a substitute for professional one-on-one help for those struggling with mental health issues, but it makes a great addition and reference item, and would be just as useful to people who aren’t seeking professional help for their mental health. There are even some concepts she specifically recommends tackling with a therapist. However, the author’s examples and guides helped me place myself and apply the guidance to my own life. It was full of practical, easy-to-apply, step-by-step tips (see chapter 5: self-regulation for a great example of this), explained in easy-to-understand ways (I love the “securing your front door” metaphor in the boundaries chapter and the fishbowl analogy in the reparenting chapter as examples of this). Regardless of where you are when you start the book, the lessons will meet you where you are now, and there is no one who wouldn’t benefit from some self-discovery and more self-care tools in their toolbox. This is a book that will stay in my mind for a long time and I am glad I read it.

I followed the author’s Instagram account that was mentioned in the book, and have loved seeing more of her on my social media feed. If you are a fan of her social media posts you must get this book!