Most self-help books tell you what to do. This one helps you discover what is true for you.

Written by Clinical Mental Health Counselor Margaret Bryden, How I Understand It: A Bad Poet's Guide to Mental Health & Resilience is a unique blend of poetry, psychological insight, and reflective exercises that invites readers to explore life's most challenging experiences with honesty, curiosity, and self-compassion.

At the heart of the book is Bryden's refreshing concept of "Bad Poetry"; the idea that self-expression does not need to be polished, profound, or even particularly good to be meaningful. Through vulnerable, accessible poems and thoughtful clinical reflections, readers are encouraged to put perfection aside and discover what happens when they tell the truth instead. Organized around themes such as grief, shame, relationships, codependency, trauma, forgiveness, identity, resilience, and motivation, each chapter pairs poetry with therapeutic insight and practical prompts that help readers deepen self-awareness and navigate difficult emotions.

Part poetry collection, part mental health companion, and part guided journey inward, How I Understand It offers readers a rare opportunity to experience the wisdom of therapy in a format that feels deeply human rather than clinical.

Perfect for readers of reflective nonfiction, personal growth, and emotionally intelligent writing, this book will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find the right words for what they were feeling—and anyone who suspects that healing begins when we stop trying to sound impressive and start trying to be honest. It is for readers who would like to know what a therapy session might sound like, if it were poetry.

Margaret M. Bryden is a Venezuelan-Californian author with a passion for understanding the intricacies of the human heart. A graduate of UC Berkeley, she holds a double major degree in Linguistics and French. Her academic journey continued with an MBA from San Jose State University in California. When Margaret pivoted from the world of business to that of mental health, she obtained a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Westminster University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Margaret currently practices as a licensed therapist, informed by her multicultural upbringing and extensive educational background.

Margaret is the founder of Sage Insight Therapy (www.SageInsightTherapy.com), where she dedicates her work to providing compassionate therapy services to individuals and couples, fostering personal growth and emotional well-being. When she's not immersed in her professional practice (or writing Bad Poetry) Margaret finds enjoyment in hiking scenic trails, cooking delicious Venezuelan dishes, and getting her hands dirty in the garden.