Based on his upbringing in rural Minnesota, a clinical psychologist’s unique and intuitive principles for mental health draws vivid, surprising parallels between the mind and the natural world.

Dr. Scott Eilers began his career by seeking to treat his own disabling depression and self-isolation, and was disappointed to find no relief in today’s popular methodologies. Instead, Eilers found his peace of mind only when he reconnected with nature in the area where he was raised. As he grew up geographically isolated and immersed in the wild tapestry of the lakes region, he observed patterns of the natural world that eventually transformed his understanding of how we view and preserve mental well-being.

From the mysterious depths of a lake to the pivotal roles of plants in an ecosystem, Eilers’s observations formed the seeds of unconventional yet commonsense strategies for coping with the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Philosophical and powerfully empathetic, The Light Between the Leaves shares Eilers’s therapeutic tools for building a worthwhile life around pain. Learn how to:

• Identify essential self-care practices and weed out invasive behaviors
• Set boundaries to allow time and space for inner healing
• Avoid stagnation through meaningful direction, momentum, and steady work
• Engage deeply with the present moment and the complex pains and joys of living

A judgement- and jargon-free guide for those whose needs cut deeper than most, The Light Between the Leaves is a love letter to life that invites you to explore clear glacial lakes, sprawling northern forests, and surprising detours through darkness and wonder on the road to improved mental health and reconnecting with the world.