Start Here

As a chronically anxious and overwhelmed person, I found in this book a gentle reminder of what is within my control. Kerry helped me reconnect with my own strength, my power and my ability to find peace – Amie McNee, author of ‘We Need Your Art’With her latest book, Start Here, Dr Makin-Byrd shares a succinct and effective way to meet our stress with kindness and care, offering readers a no-nonsense roadmap for connecting with their deepest intentions – Sharon Salzberg, author of ‘Lovingkindness’ and ‘Real Life’This is a rare kind of self-help book - deeply humane, scientifically grounded and courageously honest. Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd brings warmth, clarity and lived wisdom to her three-step model for overcoming overwhelm; one that aligns closely with key psychological flexibility processes. With both rigour and gentleness, she guides the reader toward a life of meaning, compassion and intentional change – Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Foundation Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno, and originator of acceptance and commitment therapyIn Start Here, Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd offers a refreshingly straightforward roadmap for navigating overwhelm. With warmth, honesty and the generosity of someone who truly walks her talk, she brings together stories, science and practical wisdom in a way that is immediately usable. Kerry guides readers through her simple yet profound framework -soothe, transcend and move - showing how to calm our bodies, widen our perspective and take values-based steps forward. Knowing Kerry personally, I can say the compassion and clarity you’ll find in these pages reflect exactly who she is. This is a book I will be recommending to clients, colleagues and friends alike – Robyn D. Walser, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and author of ‘The Heart of ACT’, co-author of ‘You Are Not Your Trauma’, ‘The Mindful Couple’, ‘Learning ACT II’, ‘The ACT Workbook for Anger’ and ‘ACT for Moral Injury’It’s fitting that I started reading this book in the middle of a personal disaster. What amazed me was how readable it was, even mid-disaster. The first two chapters were breezy and immediately actionable. Despite everything on my to-do list, the steps fit right into my life. This book is a breath of fresh air: easy to read, intuitive to apply and immediately useful. Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd’s writing is achingly human. The reality and vulnerability here are rare in a book so compact and clear. That’s what makes it powerful - it’s both evidence-based and grounded in humanity. Not only was this system created by an expert, it’s clearly been used by real humans in difficult situations. I love the soothe-transcend-move framework; it’s useful for me and my clients. I love how compact and easy to read this book is. Most of all, I love the hope and humanity in every chapter. Start Here truly is a ‘practical guide for the overwhelmed’ – Josh Hillis, author of ‘Lean and Strong’This terrific little book packs a big punch! Dr Kerry distils practical and scientifically-based techniques into a simple and digestible format that’s perfect for overwhelmed people. You’ll finish the book with a clear roadmap for how to soothe yourself, transcend your struggles and change your life for the better. I will be recommending this book to all the overwhelmed people in my life! – Debbie Sorensen, PhD, clinical psychologist, cohost of Psychologists Off the Clock, and author of ‘ACT for Burnout’ and ‘ACT Daily Journal’We all feel overwhelmed at times, and when we do, we can’t think clearly enough to find our way out. This book will show you. Start Here is like a roadmap to show you the way toward living well. It’s filled with practical strategies, easy-to-read text and fantastic illustrations that form a visual guide. You’ll know exactly where to start and be able to follow the three steps toward more energy and recovery. I loved this book, and you will too – Dr Louise Hayes, author of ‘What Makes You Stronger’, ‘Your Life Your Way’ and ‘The Thriving Adolescent’, developer of DNA-V, clinical psychologist and adjunct senior research fellow at La Trobe University, MelbourneKerry Makin-Byrd is one of the most insightful and wise psychologists I know, and she has shared her whole heart and wisdom in Start Here. This is a book you’ll reach for time and time again as life throws you new challenges, each time a different exercise or heart-felt sentence will hit the spot for you – Ben Sedley, author of ‘Holding the Heavy Stuff’

Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd is a noted burnout and wellbeing expert. An alum of Penn State University, University of California, San Francisco, and Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System/Stanford Medical School (affiliated), she was honoured to receive the Special Contribution Award from the Veterans Health Administration in recognition of her impactful policy contributions and clinical teaching. Not only an expert but also a burnout survivor herself, Dr Kerry previously published a memoir, The Ballad of Burnout.