Welcome to GYST Wellness Publishing

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Step into the therapy room and discover the power of being truly heard. In Conversations from the Couch, licensed mental health counselor Louise van der Eijk draws from over two decades of experience to demystify the therapeutic process and illuminate the shared human experience behind every session. 

With warmth, humor, and insight, this book blends brain science, emotional wisdom, and real-world counseling themes to explore the heart of healing. From understanding our emotional wiring and setting boundaries to reframing problems and embracing all feelings as valid, Dr. van der Eijk offers readers an engaging and compassionate guide to self-awareness, growth, and connection.

Whether you're in therapy, considering it, or simply curious about what makes us tick, this is a thoughtful, accessible companion for anyone navigating the beautifully complex landscape of being human.

Topics include:

• Emotion regulation and the brain's stress response
• The power of validation and empathy in relationships
• Setting and adjusting healthy boundaries
• Differentiating thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Mindfulness and self-talk techniques
• Reframing problems and decision-making strategies
• Coping with grief, change, and unmet expectations
• The role of accountability, integrity, and assertiveness

Release date: July 25, 2025. Check back to purchase your copy.

Critical Acclaim for Conversations from the Couch

What a great book! Thank you for asking me to read it! 

I am writing to express my appreciation for your book, "Conversations from the Couch: Demystifying the Therapeutic Experience." I found that it offers considerable validation and insight into the range of human beliefs and perspectives. Your conversational language effectively bridges the gap between clinician and client, fostering empowerment for positive life changes. Whether viewed from a clinician's or a potential client's perspective, your book presents meaningful and inspiring viewpoints that can aid in shaping the life one desires.

I love that you hit just about every single topic that I, too, have covered in my clinical practice. I share ALL your viewpoints and have found that working through these belief systems with clients and on a personal basis have helped me grow in my human experience. I love how you highlight validation several times, as well as give real life examples from getting an oil change to identifying with Italian ancestry. You hit several trigger points of how faulty thinking or judgment, negative self-talk, expectations, or not taking accountability for a choice can contribute to overall stagnation or unhappiness. Reading your book was a great reminder for me personally to re-focus on incorporating a shift in my mindset to take back the power in my life. Thank you! 

Thank you kindly,

Lianna Trembath-Erickson LCPC, Idaho Counseling Association President, 2023-2024