I found this at a book at a pop-up boutique in London & picked it up on a whim. What a gift. I’ve used countless mental health tools over the years, but this framework is different — it actually works. The state map, and especially the “state-specific regulating resources” have helped me build a real toolkit. Also, as a man, I appreciated how unisex and elevated it felt — no pastel wellness clichés, just beautifully designed wisdom.

As someone who’s spent years in therapy, I thought I’d covered all the basics. But this? It goes deeper. The part on “State-Specific Perception” helped me understand that I’m not “too sensitive” — I’ve just been living in Overload for most of my adult life. The affirmations for Depletion made me cry. This workbook meets you where you are and doesn’t force you into some false sense of positivity. It’s clear, compassionate, and absolutely stunning in design.

I first came across the workbook after attending a small talk with Kitty. I remember her saying, “Insight isn’t enough if your body doesn’t feel safe.” That stuck with me. Since then, this book has become my daily compass. It doesn’t just offer ideas — it maps out the entire terrain of nervous system states. The Five-Step Method taught me how to pause before reacting, to recognize Activation without shame, and how to orient back toward truth. It’s so much more than a workbook. It’s a return home.

Before this I kept asking myself why I felt stuck or energyless — now I know: I was in Depletion. The workbook’s “Stress Management Techniques” section gave me real options (breathwork, movement, co‑regulation). Then the journaling prompts had me write: “When I feel heavy, I will…” and I fill in my resource of choice

This workbook helped me go from gut‑reactions to awareness. The “State Change Numeric Scale” (1‑10 intensity of state) is surprisingly useful — I now track where I am each day and reflect in the journal provided. It’s fun to see how my average score moves over weeks. The affirmations under each state are also subtle but powerful: when I flip to the Activation section, the affirmation “I honour the speed of my system and guide it gently” (paraphrasing) anchors me.