Your Unconscious Is Showing: Take Control of Your Life with the 12 Steps of Consciousness

by Courtney Tracy

A groundbreaking guide showing us how being “out of control” (and admitting it) is the first step to living a truly better, more meaningful life.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to “self-improve” but, for some reason, you just can’t follow through. Turns out, the issue isn’t a lack of willpower. For centuries, we’ve been fed a common perspective: Explore your subconscious mind, heal your trauma, fit into your society, and happiness will follow, right? Wrong. Dr. Courtney Tracy, also known as “The Truth Doctor,” disrupts this outdated narrative through digestible scientific research, shockingly honest personal stories, and compassionate-yet-direct advice. Feeling out of control and helpless isn't a flaw but a universal truth of our existence. Instead of trying to change how we work as human beings (spoiler alert: you can’t,) we need to embrace and make peace with our unconscious, making it work for and alongside us instead of against.

Half psychology textbook written by your best friend (who’s also a therapist), half comprehensive guide brimming with actionable insights for engaging with our unconscious positively and productively, Your Unconscious Is Showing is here to help us accept what we can’t control, courageously change what we can, and wisely know the difference.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Psychology, Mental Health

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Karen Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the message embodied in this book – that our unconscious is always expressing itself and it behooves us as humans to become more aware of and embrace this aspect of our being. This book goes beyond the typical self-help books that offer solutions that fail with the regularity of New Year’s resolutions because they are based on cognitive understanding and will power.

Part I explores the author’s innovative description of the tripartite nature of the unconscious, namely the somatic unconscious (your body), the cognitive unconscious (your brain), and the psychoanalytic unconscious (how you feel about yourself based on your experiences). As the author points out, this is not new information but rather a new perspective. The information is presented in a clear, relatable manner that includes graphics, short “Truth Takeaway” and “Know Your Terms” paragraphs, and chapter summaries.

Part II explores The 12 Steps of Consciousness which are adaptations of the twelve steps associated with anonymous groups focused on recovery from addictions. This section explores each step in depth with examples and exercises to illuminate the process of becoming more self-conscious.

I was impressed by the author’s candor and transparency in sharing her own challenges to illuminate the nature of the unconscious. Her philosophy of being “human first” is an invitation to drop the personas (facades) that have been adopted as survival strategies and embrace with empathy the perfectly imperfect nature of being human. My only criticism is the liberal use of profanity. I was not sure of the author’s intent with this choice, but I felt it detracted from her message.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

[Kaleigh Belz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perks for being a book that I got for free as an advanced readers copy (#goodreadsgiveaway) and my sincere apologies for not actually finishing in time to be an “advance” reader. I think that for the right person that this book would be exactly what they need, it’s approachable and conversational, and you feel as if Dr. Tracy is telling you a story as you read. However, I wasn’t prepared for this book to be an activity that I needed to complete, with the second half of the book not only actually illustrating the steps but giving activities, questions, and tasks I was supposed to complete. As someone already knee deep into law school, I wanted insight into my mind and unconscious behavior, but I didn’t want or expect another assignment. But, I appreciate the forthright nature that was evident in every sentence and an insight into behavior that I continue to dive deeper into understanding.

[Ciarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An A+ self-help book! It’s easy to read, well-structured, and gives concrete steps and activities for personal transformation. Will read again :)

[Matt Kratz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book!

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Kelli Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway ARC

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your Unconscious is Showing by Courtney Tracy is a “wake up call” kind of a book in two parts. The first half of the book is a primer on the human brain, how it functions and why it functions the way that it does. The second part of the book is a 12 step program on “waking up” and directing your unconscious with consciousness instead of allowing your unconscious to unwittingly call all the shots.

This book is vulnerable and authentically written by Dr. Courtney Tracy. If you have ever followed her on any of her socials, you can almost hear her reading the book to you in your mind. This book does have strong language and anecdotes that are inappropriate for younger audiences— so it’s definitely a book for humans with a fully developed frontal lobe (adults).

Dr. Tracy has a unique approach to describing complex terms in a way that feels friendly and approachable, and everytime you find yourself thinking of times your unconsciousness acted out in cringeworthy ways, Dr. Tracy jumps in with a quick and compassionate “me too” story of her own. The second half of the book feels like something that could be utilized alongside the help of a therapist to assist the process more effectively.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Peggy Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book!

[Connie]

#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I saw this book at the library, I thought it was a mild riff on AA's 12 Steps.

No, it's an actual deep dive. And, it's loony.

Take this quote from page 129, at the start of Part 2, where we start that deep dive:

You do not have to be sober to engage in the 12 Steps of Consciousness. ... Remember, this is not about recovering from using substances, it's about recovering from being human — one with an unconscious yet to be thoroughly explored.

Author's original emphasis.

So, being human = bad! We're supposed to become what, some New Agey angelic being instead?

But wait!

Per the other one-star reviewer, she does encourage you to get tatted up.

The first she offers, on page 136, is "human first."

But, you told me that I was supposed to recover from being human.

You don't see any contradiction? OK, that's probably another one of your problems.

Skip forward, riffing off that other one-star reviewer, to the back dust jacket flap:

Dr. Courtney Tracy, also known as The Truth Doctor ...

First, she forgot a ™ there, as in "The Truth Doctor™. (That's snark for anybody who thinks I'm serious; the snark is that I'm surprised she hasn't applied for [and been rejected for] a trademark.)

Then, there's this on page 131, which shows she doesn't understand how the unconscious really works.

I needed to consciously curate my unconscious.

By definition, if you do that, it's not unconscious.

"Generational unconsciousness" on 143ff? Sounds halfway like Jung's collective unconsciousness. Pass. She IS a psychotherapist, so there's many references to Freud in the first half of the book, along with a couple to Jung.

Let's go back to the first half of the book to peek in on that.

Next page, this beauty:

We're meant to be unconscious, and we're meant to understand that we are and to harness our consciousness, to ensure our unconscious is put to good use.

Boy, an even bigger pile of drivel than the first pull quote.

First, who meant us to be unconscious? Some New Age "higher power"? Speaking of, did you learn about AA and the Steps in a rehab? Yes, that's harder-core snark. And, per her self-intro, probably true. She was born to unmarried teenagers, got hooked on something by 13, and entered rehab the first time at 15.

And, with that, a more serious plug for non-12 step sobriety support. The leading purely abstinence based (SMART Recovery is NOT), non-religious alternative to AA/NA is Lifering. Go there. (And yes, AA and NA are religious, and Lifering is secular but not anti-religious.

Second, again, if you're using your consciousness to harvest your unconscious, it's no longer unconscious. Derp.

Back to the intro.

What she really is, is ultimately an "influencer" counselor. Riffing on the other one-star reviewer, she says:

I own multiple mental health companies ... and am an award-winning content creator known online to an audience of more than two million people.

Run. Don't let her counsel your dog into having Buddha nature.

On her website (NO NOT LINKING!) she talks more about "creators." Probably has some bullshit about stereotypical "creator personalies." NOT reading.

She also has a "speaking and partners" vertical:

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Past partners: BetterHelp, BioGen/Sage Therapeutics, Healthline, Didi Hirsch, Everlywell, 23andMe, Philips Sonicare, SelfDecode, Apostrophe, Johnson&Johnson

Because having an electric toothbrush from Philips is a part of learning about your unconscious?

RUN RUN RUN.

This is capitalist influencer bullshit.

==

Update? Per her not-being-linked website, she's not actually a doctor, not per Associated Press writing style.

When she said she was a "psychotherapist," and repeatedly talked Freud, I thought she was a psychiatrist. Nope. No MD. A PsyD instead of a Ph.D., which itself I look on a bit askance.

[C A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Listen. I’m not trying to derail any individual’s career, but this book needs an honest review before people spend money or worse, take it seriously as an accurate picture of the current science. It earned its one star through inaccurate science, the author’s self promotion, but also its horrible writing (lack of clarity, bad grammar, and repetitiveness). Not only was this book entirely contrived (and somehow also in an illogical fashion), it was a bad read. The book was also weirdly self-promoting and capitalist and in a way that I thought was especially inappropriate, even immoral, given the context/subject matter (you’re speaking from a place of *apparent* authority to a vulnerable population, for one). Just the worst example: She encourages you to get tattoos that spread her branding and marketing, specific to the design even, available on her website. If I left this book with any new information, it’s that she has suggested tattoo designs on her website, lol. I found the book through the author’s Instagram content—I think her Instagram content is good, so this was surprising... I will say as a last general point: I realize self-help books are very individual—The important part is that it works for you. But I cannot in good conscience not disclose the issues I see with this book because of what it proclaims itself to be. You’re much better off reading the significant literature on the topic, some of which she briefly references (and remarkably, corrects/criticizes at times, while simultaneously lauding debunked psychology, literally Freud. Remarkable, truly). I could go on about this forced attempt to conjure original ideas for profit, but I’ll leave it at that. Avoid.

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Your Unconscious is Showing by Dr Courtney Tracy and here are my thoughts.

I know… I’ve been reading a lot of self help books lately and it’s purely because I need to know if there is any help for a weirdo (a happy weirdo) to live a fuller life…

Do I feel out of control? I don’t know if I am but this book, if you can admit to being out of control, can help you live a meaningful life. I was hooked. It spoke to my inner fruit!

I never spent the time trying to improve myself in ways that I see others improving. I eat right, work out, I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t take prescription meds and I take the time to meditate and do some tai-chi… Now am I healed from my trauma? Doubtful so I cracked this bad boy open and began.


The book is loaded with personal stories and didn’t feel clinical and preachy. That was the first win. It’s not a textbook but it's also not not a textbook. It’s written from a very humanist perspective. You don’t feel judged. It’s like being guided by a friend you can trust.


You can’t control everything and this book will help you to accept that. I thought it was well written, easy to follow and was brimming with personality. I need that in my non-fiction!


Highly recommend it. 4 stars


Thank you @stmartinspress for my gifted copy

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Your Unconscious Is Showing: Take Control of Your Life with the 12 Steps of Consciousness by Courtney Tracy

This is an interesting and enlightening read. The first part is written as a quasi-textbook explaining the different parts of the unconscious, how they work, and how they impact our daily life. Kudos to the author for presenting this information in an understandable manner.

The second part gives a twelve-step guide which discusses ways to improve being mindful about your unconscious and offers actionable steps to control it/use it to your advantage.

I wish the author had scrapped the frequent profanity. IMHO, it's not necessary, is out of place, and detracts from the message of the book.

My thanks to St. Martin's Essentials for allowing me to access a DRC of the book via NetGalley. Publication is 3/11/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Alegra Kastens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has changed my life. Every single human being can benefit from it. Did you know that our unconscious is responsible for about 95% of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors? That our consciousness accounts for 5%? That our brain cares about survival, using the least possible energy, as opposed to happiness?

Dr. Courtney Tracy teaches us how to better consciously manage the unconscious and change what we previously thought might have been out of our control.

For me, my cognitive unconscious runs the show. Noticing this, creating awareness of it, and making changes with that awareness has given me an entirely new perspective that has me much more present in life.

Run, don’t walk, go get this. Bravo Courtney!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

#GoodreadsGiveaway

Dr Courtney Tracy does a fantastic job bringing to light the way humanity is not functioning as it should. She brings a lot of updated psychology thinking as well as concepts into friendly & easy to read terms, visuals, and example narratives. This book is great for those wanting to reconnect with a community while exploring themselves too, Dr Tracy balances a focus on ourselves and how we project outward. I did find some pages were a bit of filler but not often enough to be a detriment to the book.

Perfect for those who want to better themselves and for people who love psychology.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good deep dive into the unconscious mind, how it drives our daily lives, and what we can do to work with it to improve and enrich our lives.

The second half of the book spins the 12 Steps as a DIY guide for working with your unconscious mind. Interesting, but not the most practical thing depending on the person.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Denise Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting in the beginning and definitely an easy to consume understanding of the human mind, consciousness and psychology. I was really looking forward to the second half but it became a rehash of a generic 12 step program that just didn’t resonate with me. But I know it will for a lot.

[Sunny Lovestories · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was promising to us to 2:00am thought seekers…in the beginning. Is definitely easy to consume and understand this novel of the human mind, consciousness, and psychology. I was really looking forward to the second half but it became a rehash of an overused 12 step program that will be helpful to several readers, especially those who ever never read any self help.

[Jessa White · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare to find a book that feels intellectually engaging while also being deeply personal. Highly recommend if you enjoy psychology, philosophy, mindfulness, or simply thinking about what it means to be human.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway...read it for yourself.

[JJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was a pretty interesting subject, I just wish it was shorter. 2 1/2⭐️

[Zoya Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely insightful

This book takes you into the hidden nooks and crannies of your life to help you heal and move forward in a healthy way 💖