The founder of the self-help program, E.A.T. Emotional Awareness Therapy, Harry C. Goodall, penned a book called, Learning to Heal. The book outlines some of the 12 Steps that he uses in his group sessions at San Quentin prison.
Goodall has published many articles in other publications and with his knowledge and experience with Behavioral Science, he discovered healing methods that he now shares with the world.
Learning to Heal is a book that touches on various topics, and uses other people’s life experiences to describe the process of healing through certain traumas. It is loaded with advice with and information that can carry you from youth up until adulthood.
One section the book ask the question: Do bad boys grow up to be bad men? Goodall states, “we have a tendency to as humans to alter our better judgment at the whim of others. This creates havoc on our psyche and makes roads to recovery that much harder.” Learning to Heal dives deep into the cognitive thought process, reaching towards distorted thinking to emotional reasoning.
A profound point Goodall made in the book is, if you never search for your full potential, it will never be found. There are little jewels like that all through the book. One particular thing that Goodall mentions is that many of us humans struggle with maturity. The book points out key elements we face that, if caught early, may save lives and prevent further destruction.
The book tells you how to recognize your triggers, which if aggravated, may lead you to a bad response. It advises you to find coping skills for the moments when issues arise.
Goodall describes how he keeps mental tools in his “tool box.” One of his favorite go-to methods for managing the conflicts that arise when someone triggers him is taking 10 deep breaths.
“I hold each breath in and exhale slowly,” he says. “It has not always proven to be an effective technique, but it helps.”
The book has advice for just about every negative issue that can happen in the world. Goodall touches just enough on each topic to leave the reader wanting more.
Learning to Heal is not only the incarcerated. It is also for every human being on the planet.
