Pre-order before 21 Nov
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Pre-order before 21 Nov ☆
Pre-order START HERE + Claim Your Bonuses
STEP ONE: Order START HERE
NZ readers: Bookhub, Bookhero, Mighty Ape, Schrödinger’s Books, The Nile, Unity Books
Australian readers: anywhere books are sold!
STEP TWO: Complete the form below to claim your bonuses (or email your receipt to preorders@drkerrymakinbyrd.com)
What pre-order bonuses will you receive?
What is START HERE: a guide for the overwhelmed
An illustrated self-help guide for all helpers on dealing with burnout and overwhelm featuring science-based solutions that will last a lifetime.
Meet the author
Kerry Makin-Byrd, PhD
Kerry is a clinical psychologist and noted wellbeing expert dedicated to translating science into practical nonfiction.
Based in Wellington, New Zealand, she splits her time between writing, providing trauma therapy, and mentoring doctors and therapists.
Early Reviews
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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 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
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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
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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, clinical psychologist, cohost of Psychologists Off the Clock, and author of ACT for Burnout and ACT Daily Journal
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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.
- 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, Melbourne
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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, Author of Holding the Heavy Stuff: Making Space for Critical Thoughts and Painful Emotions
