Praise for

THIS BOOK IS CHEAPER THAN THERAPY

“This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy is an amazing resource for anyone looking to improve their mental and emotional health. Liz Kelly has created a fun, accessible, and highly practical guide that spans a wide range of key topics yet is also thoroughly backed by science. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s a genuinely funny book, too, which will keep you wanting more! This book is a must-read!”

―Jonah Paquette, clinical psychologist and author of Happily Even After

“A no-fluff and no-clichés framework that will see you enhance your emotional resilience, cultivate meaningful relationships, and get clear on exactly how to build a life that you don’t want to run away from. This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy will have you laughing as much as you’ve been crying, as Liz Kelly very quickly becomes not only your therapist but your hilarious and relatable best friend! A must-read if you’re looking to take your very first step to mental health healing or if you’re well-acquainted with therapy and need a supportive booster.”

―Kaitlin Harkess, clinical psychologist, yoga instructor, and host of the Wisdom for Wellbeing podcast

“Liz Kelly’s This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy is an engaging and accessible new book helping bridge the gap between peoples’ mental health needs and the prospect of engaging direct (often hard-to-find and/ or expensive) psychotherapy services. With wit and wisdom, Liz not only guides people toward a better understanding of mental health services but also gives them a sampling of techniques readers can find beneficial before ever stepping in a therapist’s office.”

―Mitch Abblett, PhD, private practice psychologist and author of Nautilus Gold-winning Prizeworthy, as well as The Five Hurdles to Happiness

“Save your copay and go buy this book! Liz’s advice is so smart, sassy, and substantial, you’ll almost be glad you didn’t find that therapist anyway. She may run me out of a job, but I couldn’t be happier. Liz is going to change your life and have you laughing all the way to your best self.”

―Michael Alcée, PhD, author of Therapeutic Improvisation: How to Stop Winging It and Own It as a Therapist

“Liz Kelly’s page-turning book reads like an illuminating and nourishing conversation with a supportive friend―who also happens to have a sparkling sense of humor. This text may be cheaper than therapy, but it’s chock-full of invaluable insights. With great ease, Kelly links ideas from various schools of psychotherapy to accessible practices you can apply to your everyday life. Whether or not you’re able to pursue formal therapy, Liz Kelly’s words, both highly informed and entertaining, will empower you to embark on a journey of effective, holistic self-care.”

―Mark O’Connell, LCSW-R, author of The Performing Art of Therapy: Acting Insights and Techniques for Clinicians

“Liz Kelly has packed a substantial collection of powerful mental health tools and strategies into a readable and relatable manual. Readers will feel like they are interacting with a good friend who also happens to be an excellent therapist. Applying these tools will undoubtedly improve mental health and quality of life.”

―Britt H. Rathbone, LCSW-C, co-author of What Works With Teens,

Parenting a Teen Who Has Intense Emotions, and other publications

“Medical and therapeutic professionals are waking up to an idea actors have long understood and business professionals have recently discovered: improvisation, specifically applied improvisation, benefits both teams and individuals, helping them ‘read the room’ and ‘be present’ for enhanced communication and interpersonal dynamics. In This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy, Liz Kelly takes that a step further: she shows you, using the tools of improvisation, how to be more present for yourself and how to ‘read the room’ when it comes to your own thoughts and feelings. (Hint: you

just might be making them up!) You’ll discover tools and skills to better understand yourself, those around you, and how be intentional about your mental and emotional health and well-being.”

―Shawn Westfall, improv comedy actor and instructor and founder of Westfall Partners

“As the need and demand for therapy grows, Liz Kelly’s new book can be a godsend to those who need help right now! Great personal advice laced with humor and authenticity from a down-to-earth therapist. She makes the complexities of therapy easy to understand and apply, with a ‘DIY’ approach to changing one’s life for the better. From extreme self-care to managing emotions and finding the right kind of support, Kelly freely shares a therapeutic mindset to help readers improve their outlook and their lives.”

―Lynn Grodzki, author of Therapy with a Coaching Edge

“Liz Kelly’s This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy is a lifeline in the midst of our national mental health crisis. I know Liz as a highly effective therapist. She is also an entertaining writer who delivers therapeutic insights, hope, and validation all woven together with her experience, wisdom, and quick wit. Writing with bravery and compassion, Liz opens doors and minds to the importance of mental wellness using her flair for humor. I’m buying my three twenty-something sons a copy as soon as it is available!”

―Susan Vitale Greynolds, LPC, EDD, grief and trauma therapist

“What a gift! Liz has taken the time to write down a perfect 101 course for everyone wanting to feel more sane and grounded in an insane and ungrounded time. This book is full of easy, doable, and extremely powerful ideas and behavioral suggestions that can be absolutely life-changing when adopted. I love that each one is laid out so tangibly, generously, and with Liz’s spark of authenticity and vulnerability. I would highly recommend reading this book in addition to or before starting therapy.”

―Paula D. Atkinson, LICSW, LCSW, E-RYT 500

“If you’re looking for a great read where Liz offers thoughtful, helpful and healing advice on navigating the tough challenges of life; anxiety, stress, grief, personal and moral injury―just to name a few―her new book is no doubt a great start. And she tackles every chapter with her endearing and hopeful sense of humor.”

―Suhail Khan, Director of External Affairs, Microsoft

Liz Kelly, LICSW, is a psychotherapist, clinical social worker, and writer living in Northern Virginia outside Washington, DC. She specializes in helping busy people create meaning, reduce stress, and live more intentionally. Liz also works with individuals contending with grief, loss, and other life transitions. Outside of work, she goes on weekend adventures with her husband and two daughters. She loves getting creative and organized (if she weren’t a therapist, she would organize closets for a living!), trying new recipes, watching random documentary films, hiking, and hanging out with her friends and neighbors.