Kind Words and Endorsements

Warm words from colleagues, mentors, and fellow writers whose work I admire and respect.

Jump to “Reviews on my clinical work and training”

Jump to “Reviews for START HERE: A Practical Guide For The Overwhelmed”

Jump to “Reviews for THE BALLAD OF BURNOUT”

Reviews on my clinical work and training

Kerry is a skilled clinician with excellent therapy skills, I give her my highest recommendation. I think Kerry is one in a million and any agency, group, or setting would be lucky to have her.

- Robyn Walser, PhD, author of The Heart of ACT, co-author of Learning ACT, The Mindful Couple, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and The ACT Workbook for Anger

Kerry’s ability to read a group, understand their needs, and deliver coaching and teaching in a way that resonates with them is remarkable. Her approach integrates science with warmth and compassion, which, together with her experience and expertise make her a truly valuable partner.

- Carrie Scott, M.Ed, BCBA, Clinical Director at Ascendigo Autism Services

Kerry is compassionate, warm, dependable, funny, and thoughtful. I refer clients and colleagues to her frequently and think very highly of Kerry’s clinical and professional skills.

- Debbie Sorensen, PhD, psychologist, cohost of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast and author of ACT Daily Journal and ACT for Burnout

Reviews for START HERE: A Practical Guide For The Overwhelmed

Available now in UK, Aus, and NZ. Coming to North America mid-2026.

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 rigor and gentleness, she guides the reader toward a life of meaning, compassion, and intentional change.

- Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., Foundation Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno, and originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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

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

START HERE is the gentle guide you’ve been longing for when the weight of everyday overwhelm feels too heavy. With clarity and deep compassion, Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd offers a structured path into active healing work - pairing heartfelt wisdom with practical exercises designed to meet you exactly where you are. Each page supports you in shifting from scattered and stressed into a more grounded, empowered state. This book is a comforting companion to turn to whenever you need a little calm and reassurance.

- Megan Walsh, @connectwithmegan, psychotherapist and author of the forthcoming GOOD GIRLS GOTTA HEAL

This terrific little book packs a big punch! Dr. Kerry distills 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, psychologist, cohost of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast and author of ACT Daily Journal and ACT for Burnout

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: Eating Skills, Psychology, and Workouts

Kerry 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, PhD, clinical psychologist, author of Stuff That Sucks and Stuff That's Loud

In 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 Walser, PhD, author of The Heart of ACT, co-author of Learning ACT, The Mindful Couple, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and The ACT Workbook for Anger

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 road map 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.

- Louise Hayes, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and Co-author of bestselling books Get Out of Your Mind and into your Life for Teens, Your Life Your Way, The Thriving Adolescent and What Makes You Stronger

Start Here lives up to its name. With its thoughtful guidance and beautiful illustrations, this book offers an inviting path forward whether you’re brand new to mindfulness or have been practicing for years. Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd distills complex science into practical steps that feel both accessible and deeply supportive. As a clinician, I look forward to referring Start Here to my clients as a grounding, unintimidating tool for navigating life’s challenges.

- Leah Marone, LCSW and author of SERIAL FIXER

Reviews for THE BALLAD OF BURNOUT

Devastatingly honest, Ballad of Burnout reads like a confession made specifically to let you know you aren’t alone. A portrait of self destruction that manages to be a demonstration of self-compassion, and a reminder of the burdens we ask those who care for us to bear. A Ballad of Burnout sings with humanity, and it was just what I needed to read tonight.

- Kelly McGonigal, PhD, Oprah's Magazine 2020 Visionary and best-selling author of Joy of Movement,The Upside of Stress, and The Willpower Instinct

Readers may find it terrifying to read a book about yourself…This was raw in the best possible way; in a way that we ask our clients to be, but often struggle to be ourselves. Or at least I do. Makin-Byrd lays her soul bare, describing webs that I imagine most therapists have been caught in…I was moved and inspired.

– Ben Sedley, PhD, clinical psychologist, author of Stuff That Sucks and Stuff That's Loud

A journey that is so familiar in this modern world, where our lives are lost to things that don’t really matter, like emails and to-do lists. Join the author's journey, and reveal parts of yourself that are lost too, and perhaps, choose to let the unwanted fall away. I thoroughly enjoyed sinking into this and reflecting on my own life. I think you will too.

Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd, a friend, a colleague, and…human being, takes readers…no…wait…participants on a dreadful and wonderful journey into and out of the wounds and scars made by the capitalist and performance machine. Such a personal and revealing manifesto, touching the sorrow of overdone sacrifice and emerging into a Phoenix – a full resurrection into life and reclamation. She gets it, this journey isn’t over yet, but wow! What a ride. Thank you for bearing your soul and, through ingenious flow from page to page, inspiring me (and I know it will inspire others, too) into the capacity to rise and live wholly. This work is amazing, and I am grateful that you have chosen to share it with others.

- Robyn D. Walser, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Author of the Heart of ACT, Co-Author of You Are Not Your Trauma, The MindfulCouple: How Acceptance and Mindfulness Can Lead You to the Love You Want, Learning ACT II, The ACT Workbook for Anger, and ACT for Moral Injury

Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd has written a heartfelt, raw, and brutally honest account of burnout. If you’ve ever experienced work burnout, you will resonate with Kerry’s story. Through her powerful words, you will glean deep wisdom.

- Debbie Sorensen, PhD, psychologist, cohost of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast and author of ACT Daily Journal and ACT for Burnout