In a world where mental health resources can be stretched thin, Tammi Miller, a certified practicing counsellor, is on a mission to empower individuals. Through her debut book, Paperback Therapy, Miller offers a treasure trove of therapist-approved tools and exercises, all designed to be accessible and practical.

Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Tammi and diving deep into the inspiration behind Paperback Therapy, the specific tools readers can expect to find, and how this book can serve as a valuable companion on your mental wellness journey.

Want your own signed copy of Paperback Therapy? We've teamed up with Tammi to give away 2 copies to our lucky readers! Head over to our Instagram @booxies.au to enter the giveaway. Don't miss out, giveaway closes July 31st!

• Can you describe your book ‘Paperback Therapy ’ (your elevator pitch)?

[TM] Paperback Therapy is the book I wish I had a decade ago, when I was struggling with my own mental health. It’s a self-help workbook that includes over 25 therapist-approved exercises to help readers improve and understand their mental wellbeing, at their own pace, until they can see a therapist of their own.

• Can you tell us more about yourself and what lead you to write this book?

[TM] I’m a mid-thirties therapist with diagnosed Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Depression. After many conversations with clients and friends who were questioning whether they could afford to see a therapist ongoing, I understood there to be a better way for Australians to access therapist-informed content and exercises, so I created Paperback Therapy – the very base of which is a mix of strategies that I find most useful as a client and as a therapist.

• If we would walk away from this book with 3 key takes, what would they be?

[TM] 1. Therapy is for everyone, and there is a therapist out there who will best suit your requirements. 2. You are not your feelings, and they can be managed. 3. We are living in tough times at the moment, though you can get through them with support and by ‘doing the work’.

• As parents of teenagers, how can we help our kids from the social media traps? Things such as unhealthy comparison, Unrealistic expectations, incorrect diagnosis.. etc?

[TM] Talking to your kids about how social media isn’t real is the first step. Social media is designed to keep us on the platform and comparing to others, so recognising that is important, as is consuming content curiously. This means having your kids ask themselves: why has this person shared this content?; is it likely they look like this all the time?; are their circumstances the same as mine?; is this ‘news’ from an authoritative source?; etc. Consuming consciously means we’re actively partaking in connection and can choose what to be influenced (poorly or proudly) by.

 

• If you weren’t a psychologist, what would you like to be? And why?

[TM] I’m actually also a public relations consultant, working with the world’s leading healthcare brands. My passion is to improve health literacy for all Australians, so we can make better-informed choices and be healthier inside and out.

• What’s your go to relaxing or mindfulness activity to maintain your mental wellbeing?

[TM] A long walk to get a coffee, deep-diving into a fiction book, or cuddling with my rescue cat and listening to his purrs.

• What’s your favourite drink/snack while reading and writing?

[TM] A bottle of water and a soy cappuccino are never far away, and I love a good apple-cheese combo for snacking. I’m much more into scent memory when writing, though, and so will always burn the same candle when writing – when I smell it, I know it’s time to get words onto the page!

• You get to invite one famous person to dinner, who would that be?

[TM] This is a tricky one! I would love to have a deep conversation with Alain de Botton or Brene Brown, both to just talk about life and the human experience!

• If you were an animal, what would you like to be? And why?

[TM] A cat, maybe? I welcome the idea of lazing around in sunbeams, and getting pats at night.

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Add Paperback Therapy to your tbr list and start your mental wellbeing journey now, or add one copy to you Build Your Own Booxies box and add your favourite drink and snack with A Moment to Bloom al.ive soy candle or diffuser and you never know, maybe this beautiful scent will be your writing/reading chanel too.

Don't forget to head to @booxies.au or @Bare__Therapy for your chance to win a signed copy of Paperback Therapy. Don't miss out, giveaway closes July 31st!

Read more about Tammi in her Bare Therapy website here