Prentis Hemphill’s new book aims to change world through healing

The former healing justice director at Black Lives Matter Global Network and qualified psychologist, American Prentis Hemphill (they/them) has been through more than their fair share of both personal and societal trauma.

They have also spent more than a decade offering therapeutic services for marginalised people, as well as working with individuals and organisations during their most challenging moments of change; whether navigating leadership transitions, conflict or realigning their work with their values. 

In their new book, they aim to give readers a life-affirming framework to live their lives better, and therefore change society and the world as we emerge from the past few years of collective upheaval.

Prentis, who has an MA in clinical psychology, believes that living a life of joy, authenticity, and connection, in both our personal lives and at work, is now more important than ever - but to do that, we must learn to heal ourselves, connect with one another and authentically embody our values.

For PRs, there will be much to delve into, as Hemphill also demonstrates how to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to stick to our values in all areas of our lives, including our jobs, and thereby improving wider society - as well as making ourselves happier. 

An expert embodiment practitioner, Prentis believes that recognition of our habits and beliefs and the embodiment of them are critical to lasting healing and transformation. They also emphasise that a future where healing is done in the community and the world is more just is actually attainable, and does so by weaving together stories from their own experience as a trauma survivor with clinical accounts and lessons learned from their time as a social movement architect.

A vital insight into how we can achieve social justice through our own connection and healing from someone with lived experience, the book has already been raved about. 

American professor, social worker, author and podcast host Brené Brown, who’s written six number-one New York Times bestselling books focusing on shame, vulnerability and leadership, has described the book as: “Beautifully intimate and wildly expansive”, and Trauma Research Foundation founder Bessel Van Der Kolk describes it as: “'A visionary, personal, compassionate, empowering guide.”   

Prentis Hemphill is a therapist, political organiser, somatics teacher, writer and founder of The Embodiment Institute. Prentis currently lives on a small farm in Durham, North Carolina, US, with their partner, Kasha, their child, and two dogs. They are also the host and creator of  popular iTunes Top 100 podcast Finding Our Way, which has more than 450k downloads to date. In 2016, Prentis was awarded the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Soma Award for community work inspired by Buddhist thought.

• What It Takes To Heal is out now, published by Penguin Random House.