To some this might seem to be just. another self help book for well being, but for others it will be far more.

The author takes the reader through her life from growing up within a cult, escaping and after brushes with serious addiction she 'finds herself, studies and qualifies in psychology and sets up her own company to help others who have mental health issues. All this gives her validation for the system that she has developed. The book then goes on to explain the system, giving copious examples.

What I found particularly interesting was a table with twelve stages that shows the way a mental health issue, if not dealt with can descend through the list until it reaches depression (no. 11) or full burn out (no.12).

She explains how she shows support for her staff in her own company, encouraging them to be self empowered and. Open about any mental health issues they may have or spot in their colleagues.

The system is what her company offers to other businesses.

Petra has been through quite the childhood and I was really interested in her point of view on trauma and the workplace. I have childhood trauma which makes me gravitate to certain workplaces / bosses which doesn't help my mental health, but means I'm 'safe' and I was hoping to gain some strategies to help me.

I found myself nodding along to the chapters, totally agreeing with Petra's view but I found it hard to understand how I could effect change on my own. A lot of the comments are to companies themselves and their lip-service to mental health. Yes I can adopt these methods myself and be a role model, but if no-one above me is modelling them too it's difficult, and can bring on guilt and shame that you are not acting as others do.

An interesting read but more beneficial for individuals who have responsibility at workplaces to put ideas into practice.

Start with you.

This was a strange book to read for me as it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was expecting a practical guide to being able to harnessing my wellbeing and mental health at work.
However, roughly 30% of the book was about the author’s back story. She had grown up in a cult which she had left and then described her life afterwards which had not been easy. This, although interesting, could have been a book in itself and I could see that some of it could be relevant to this book. However, it did take up a significant amount of the book.
The author also liberally sprinkled the text with exclamation marks which after a while began to grate somewhat as I felt that they were unnecessary.
However, the author did make some good points about toxic workplaces and mental health. Although the latter has become more prominent since the pandemic in that people appear to be more aware of it, there is still, as the author claims, a stigma about employees speaking and seeking help. The well being industry as the author calls it can be little more than a glossy veneer over a simmering pot of indifference and fear especially in these uncertain times. Although she suggests reaching out to co-workers who may be having mental health difficulties I did wonder about confidentiality and trust. How comfortable would the other person be with this?
Another pertinent area was ‘groupthink’. Sometimes when you leave an organisation, that’s when you realise what’s been going on and see what you were really up against. I related to her comment on burnout being related to boundaries as it happened to a friend of mine. The boundaries in her role changed without warning and she had a whole ton of work dumped on her without warning. It led to her leaving. The author made an interesting point about ‘playing’ into bullying if you have been bullied several times. I think the bullies sense that a potential victim may be vulnerable and that lets them in. This is not the victim’s fault and bullying is unacceptable in any organisation. But, in my experience, companies do not want to deal with it all and just brush it under the carpet while trumpeting their Dignity at work policy to all and sundry. One organisation that I worked at held a discussion on bringing ‘your authentic self to work.’ How often does anyone feel that they can do this?
The author does suggest leaving a job if it is so toxic it affects your mental health. I feel for people who are unable for whatever reason to do this. She also mentions the boiled frog scenario which I was unfamiliar with and also discusses the possibility that using apps for mental health may not be appropriate of helpful.
A book with some helpful and useful suggestions and overview but not what I was looking for.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

Thanks must first go to the publisher, Netgalley and Petra for the ARC of ‘Begins with you’.

A wonderful book full of helpful explanations, strategies and understanding written by someone who actually gets it!!!

Would highly recommend and will likely re-read!!

A nice little read - quite enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the author for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Since the pandemic (and reaching my 30’s), I seem to have been venturing into new literary territory and reading more ‘self help’ books than prior. This one piqued my interest; my experience of working in mental health services is that it’s one thing to help someone with their problems, but much more difficult to address your own whilst avoiding complete burnout.

Whilst some of the tips in this book are more common sense than groundbreaking new ideas, the book itself was enjoyable and written in a lightly humorous way that kept me entertained throughout. Some parts were more relevant than others, but that’s the case with most self help literature and did not come as a surprise. It was helpful that the author recommended some further books on specific subjects, and I feel able to implement some strategies from this book into my own life going forward.

I was expecting something more practical and this book seems to based on personal experiences and we read about them.
There's idea but i would have liked more hints and exercises.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I have read a lot of self help and well being books and always find something new to try or something interesting to learn. I feel this didn't do either of those.

This seemed to be an outlet for the author rather than being informative. It was repetitive with exact lines being repeated several times, which I found frustrating to read. I struggled to get to the end because it just wasn't holding my attention. This book covered the basics and didn't give anything more. I would suggest there are much better books on this subject matter available.

Review of Begin With You by Petra Velzeboer.

This book focuses on how important mental wellbeing is the workplace. With the author using her own life experiences along with research to provide strategies on achieving a glowing career and life by prioritising mental health. I enjoyed reading the book and the different topics and sections. Along with the under lying theme that you need to improve your own mental well-being and this is the first step to improving everything else.

Definitely worth a read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a refreshing, helpful and common sense read. I got some useful insights from this book and was inspired by what the author has overcome.

Begin With You by Petra Velzeboer focuses on the importance of mental wellbeing in the workplace. The author draws on her own experiences and psychological research to provide guidance on achieving a successful career and life through prioritising mental health.

The book covers various topics such as self-assessment, time management, building a support network, and becoming a mental health champion in the workplace. The author argues that improving one's mental wellbeing is the first step towards improving productivity, satisfaction, and creativity in the workplace, regardless of seniority or sector.

One of the strengths of the book is the author's use of case studies and real-life examples to illustrate the importance of mental wellbeing in the workplace. The author also writes in a clear and concise manner, making the book easy to read and understand.

Yet, while the book delivers some helpful tips and strategies, it often delves into the author's early life and trauma. While it is important to understand the author's background and how it informs her perspective on mental health, this does take away from the practical content at times.

That said, Begin With You is an engaging read that offers valuable insights into the benefits of prioritising mental health in the workplace and is a useful guide for anyone looking to improve their mental wellbeing and achieve success in their careers.

An interesting read. Some good tips and a very personal story. Recommended for those interested in well being.

I was interested in Begin with You by Petra Velzeboer, particularly as the last few years have been stressful- not just me but for anyone working in the caring and teaching professions during a full-blown pandemic.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The book comes into its own when on the chapters on burnout, particularly the stages of burnout and how to manage burnout physically- I will definitely be taking some of these techniques into my working practice.
The book also has techniques for managers and leaders to help their own teams prevent and manage burnout.
The book also references other books that might be helpful as well.
I found some parts of the book extremely helpful but felt that perhaps more time could have been spent on the practical management of burnout. The author’s story reads a like a bestselling novel in itself- her early life and trauma and the impact this has on her is particularly interesting but takes up away from the content.

This was not what I anticipated this would be. Based on the title, blurb and length, my expectations were that this would be a concise and factual self help guide. This is however more akin to an autobiography laced with typically common sense based advice around mental wellbeing. Now if that's what you expected, then great, this book is something you will likely derive some use from. I'm not sure if this book is for those in the early stages of self reflection around their mental health. I should also point out that there should be some prominent trigger warnings placed at the beginning of this book, particular around religious trauma; if this is something you find triggering there is quite detailed reference made to this topic.

This is a book I know I’ll go back to again and again for years to come! I’m definitely going to be buying a hard copy. The topic is very much at the front of everyone’s minds right now but that can mean that the topic is dealt with flippantly or in a throw away way.

I’d encourage people to buy the hard copy of this to tan up and go back to. Wonderful!!!

Begin With You by Petra Velzeboer

A good read that deals with coping with mental health issues ( yourself ) and helping others with theirs and the impact it might have in the work place.
Worth reading if you manage a team.

⭐️Rating: 3/5
✍🏼Author: Petra Velzeboer
📖Genre: Self Help

::My thoughts::
Petra provided some good insight on ways to prioritize your mental wellbeing and having a positive outlook. I will be taking some of her experiences and advice and implementing them in my day to day, especially at work.


*Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for my review.

This is a useful book for dealing with your own and supporting others' mental health in the workplace. It felt like it was more adapted to business and corporate workplaces in its advice and structure. Being self-employed, I knew this book wasn't specifically for me but I gleaned useful tips particularly about finding your own voice.

A good amount of common sense in this read, but some good advice too. Does make you think. Felt more impact from the mental wellbeing element as opposed to the work side but a good all round read.