Change is Possible: The 7 Stages of Healing Trauma by Michael is more than just a book. It’s a personal and hopeful guide for anyone dealing with pain and trauma. Michael shares his own life story, filled with struggles and victories, and gives practical steps for people who want to change their lives. Published by SW Publishers Ltd, this book shows that no matter how dark things seem, healing is always possible.
Summary
The book is divided into seven stages of healing, starting with safety. This is the foundation needed before any real healing can happen. Michael’s story begins with his tough childhood, filled with instability, violence, and broken systems. He takes readers through his struggles with addiction and prison, and how he managed to turn his life around.
Each chapter explains a different stage of healing and includes personal stories, advice, and thoughts on how society can do better. Michael talks about issues like addiction, mental health, and how childhood trauma affects people throughout their lives. He also suggests ways to improve prisons, schools, and mental health care so they can help people heal instead of causing more harm.
The last chapters of the book are full of hope. Michael dreams of a future where everyone has a chance to heal. He believes that sharing stories and learning from people’s real-life experiences can break the cycles of pain and trauma.
Strengths
Honest and Real:
Michael’s openness about his life makes the book very relatable and powerful. He shares both the bad and the good parts of his journey.
Easy to Follow Steps:
The seven stages of healing give readers a clear path to follow. Each step is explained in a way that’s easy to understand.
Focus on Bigger Issues:
The book doesn’t just talk about individual healing. It also looks at how society needs to change to help everyone heal.
Learning from Experience:
Michael’s own life experiences make his advice more meaningful. He’s not just talking about theories—he’s lived through these struggles.
Personal Thoughts
Reading this book felt like having a deep conversation with someone who truly understands what it’s like to struggle. Michael’s idea that safety is the first step to healing really stood out to me. It made me think about how often we expect people to heal in places where they still feel unsafe, like in schools or prisons.
I was especially moved by the chapter on awareness. Michael talks about a moment outside an AA meeting when he realized he needed to face his feelings instead of running from them. This reminded me of times in my own life when I had to confront uncomfortable truths about myself.
What makes this book special is its hopeful message. Michael’s vision of a better world—where people have the support they need to heal—is inspiring. It left me thinking about how I can contribute to creating that kind of change.
Critique
While the book is very personal and heartfelt, some readers might want more facts or research to back up the ideas. Also, when talking about big societal problems, it would have been helpful if Michael included more specific solutions.
At Last
Change is Possible is a powerful book for anyone who wants to heal from trauma or help others do the same. It combines Michael’s honest story with practical advice and a call for bigger changes in society.
The main message is clear: healing is not only possible, but it’s also necessary for both individuals and the world as a whole. After reading this book, I feel more hopeful and motivated to make positive changes in my own life and support others on their healing journeys. This book plants seeds of hope, and I’m grateful to have read it.
