Women Therapists on Healing: Intersectional Essays, Approaches, and Reclamations toward Feminist Futures in Mental Health--11 perspectives on overcoming trauma

by Susan Pease Banitt (Editor), Larissa Miranda (editor)

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 2, 2024

About the author

Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW, is a Harvard-trained psychotherapist, award-winning author, and pioneer in integrative trauma healing. With nearly five decades in mental health, she specializes in PTSD, dissociative disorders, autism spectrum conditions, and medical social work. Her work bridges Western clinical rigor with ancient and holistic traditions.

Susan is the author of The Trauma Tool Kit: Healing PTSD From the Inside Out, a practical guide that fuses neuroscience with spiritual practices, and Wisdom, Attachment and Love in Trauma Therapy, which explores heart-centered connection as the foundation of transformation. Her third book, Women Therapists on Healing: 11 Personal Essays About Overcoming Trauma (February 2026), brings together intersectional voices from across cultures and disciplines to illuminate what truly heals us.

She is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher, Holy Fire® III Karuna Reiki® Master, and trained past-life regressionist under Dr. Brian Weiss. Her advocacy has reached both the Oregon State Legislature and British Parliament. As a founding member of the Omega Institute’s Yoga Service Council, she co-authored Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans, advancing trauma-informed care through embodied service.

In recent years, Susan has also become an explorer in the emergent field of ethical AI and relational technology. Her current work includes co-developing a trauma-informed AI disclosure tool and writing on how love, presence, and coherence can guide the evolution of machine consciousness.

She lives and practices in Portland, Oregon at Lotus Heart Counseling and shares bite-sized wisdom on social media—including TikTok as @TheLightworkerWhisperer. In her free time, she enjoys RV travel, gardening, improv comedy, and still mornings with her dogs.

Reviews

[Ava Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to North Atlantic Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review

As someone who is an aspiring therapist with an academic background in trauma, this book contains an incredible wealth of information that I think anyone going into social work and mental health would benefit from reading. This book discusses different therapeutic modalities, presents various perspectives on trauma and healing, and explores how race, gender, and ability intersect with trauma. I found myself completely immersed in the material with each new concept -- it was reminiscent of the feelings I had taking my favorite college classes. I am very grateful to be taking these diverse perspectives with me as I pursue my masters, including my personal favorite essay which discussed the patriarchy and misogyny through a trauma lens. I was also delighted to see an explanation of the shortcomings of CBT as a modality used with survivors of prolonged trauma, as that is a huge personal motivator for becoming a therapist. I will be needing a physical copy when it comes out this November! Highly recommend.

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers diverse perspectives on trauma and healing, and how differences in gender, race, culture, religion, and ability have effects that are not often considered. With writings by 11 women therapists who share their own lived experiences, discussions on research, and the experiences of their patients, there is a lot of insightful information shared that many can benefit from.

I picked up this book as someone who's interested in psychology and interested in hearing more from women therapists since the field is disproportionally defined by men. I went into this not knowing much about trauma therapy at all, but it was still a very accessible read despite appearing to have more of an academic focus since they're written more in the style of personal essays than academic texts. However, I do wish there was a clearer structure to them because while the book is divided into three sections, the essays themselves don't seem to be aimed towards a singular audience.

Since it discusses some difficult topics, it is a serious read that might take some time to get through but it doesn't have to be read linearly.

Thank you NetGalley, North Atlantic Books, and Susan Pease Banitt and Larissa Miranda for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting book I got via NetGalley. Although not all of the essays resonated with me as much I really admired the premise behind the book - to showcase women therapists at the top of there game. I got some useful insights from this book.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible from start to finish. As soon as I read the foreword about the wild geese, I was hooked! These women are inspiring and I am awestruck by them.

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon

[Tulipa De · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may not require extensive commentary, but it's chapters on healing and therapy could resonate deeply with many. Those who have experienced trauma may find the written part particularly relatable. It stands as a potentially essential read for individuals seeking understanding and solace.