Mary NurrieSteams - Healing Anxiety, Depression and Unworthiness: 78 Brain-Changing Mindfulness & Yoga Practices

No one exists autonomously, and no book is written solely by its author. This workbook is truly the result of the efforts of many. I give thanks to the people mentioned below and to numerous unnamed others who helped this workbook come into being. I begin with Claire Zelasko, certifications manager at Evergreen Certifications, who encouraged me to make a workbook proposal to PESI Publishing after hearing how close this subject matter is to my heart. Karsyn Morse, my acquisitions editor, offered fine counsel that improved the workbook concept, and the publishing staff transformed the manuscript into a workbook.

I am indebted to remarkable patients and students who trusted me to teach them about the healing power of mindfulness approaches. A few of their stories are in the workbook. Of course, their names and facts about their lives are altered to protect their confidentiality. I could easily have told stories about other patients, as I have had the privilege of witnessing extraordinary human resiliency. Additionally, I bow to those patients with trauma histories who allowed me to work with them when I was younger and not yet trained in mindfulness. They taught me the limitations of therapeutic approaches not based on brain science and mindfulness of body and mind, which are newer in the field of mental health.

Advancements in psychotherapeutic interventions rely on research. Accordingly, I acknowledge the scientists who built the foundation for the evidenced-based approaches presented in this workbook. I give thanks to mindfulness experts who wrote about the application of mindfulness in clinical settings.

Much appreciation to Leslie Hoyt, the photographer who made the photo shoot a joy, and to the yoga model, Lindsay Schuler Garbelman, who is beautiful inside and outside. I bow in gratitude to my friend Bridget Blomfield for reading the first and second of three drafts of the manuscript. She loyally slogged through rough writing, continuously supplied me with love, and encouraged me to include clinical stories. I bow in gratitude to my friend Terry Vincent for reading the second draft, offering beneficial critical feedback, and encouraging me to connect with you by sharing about myself.

Finally, I thank my family. My nieces and nephew believed in me, and my siblings cheered me on. They all waited faithfully for me to be more available again. My wonderful husband rubbed my shoulders well over a hundred times as I sat at my computer keyboard pecking away. He gave me the space to write and also held me to my promises that we would visit family, take vacation, and have a life beyond my office, yoga studio, and writing. He kept food in the kitchen and contributed his love and knowledge to the workbook.