Seven Ways to Build Resilience

Dr Chris Johnstone is one of the UK's leading resilience trainers, with more than three decades' experience teaching in this field. He graduated in medicine with distinction in 1986, after a first degree specialising in psychology. Experiencing burnout and depression as a junior hospital doctor, he became a leading figure in the campaign to improve working conditions. He trained as a GP before moving into the mental-health field, where for many years he ran groups teaching resilience skills. Influenced much by positive psychology, he trained with Martin Seligman and other leading practitioners in 2005. Since then he has pioneered the role of resilience training in mental-health promotion, coaching practice and the workplace. His previous book Active Hope (co-authored with Joanna Macy) has been published in more than eight languages, his video-based online course Personal Resilience in an Hour has participants from more than 55 countries. He lives in the north of Scotland, where he teaches online at CollegeofWellbeing.com.

'Practical and clear with strategies that work, this is, by far, the best book I've read on resilience' - Miriam Akhtar, Author of Positive Psychology for Overcoming Depression'This timely and important book is packed with brilliant, practical ideas to help us respond constructively to whatever life throws at us. Recommended' - Dr Mark Williamson, director of Action for Happiness'After working through the programme described in this book, I had an emergency admission to hospital. Being encouraged to see challenging situations as opportunities to practice using resilience tools, I asked myself 'what would a story of resilience look like here?' and applied my resilience toolkit. Doing that transformed a potentially horrendous situation. These tools really work. Thank you' - Heather Thompson, personal development coach, www.positivelycoaching.co.uk'Full of useful wisdom that helps us cope with the challenges of life, this highly readable book is both a resource for self-care and guide for practitioners' - Dr Alan Kellas, psychiatrist and specialist in nature-based mental health care'If you want to strengthen your unique tapestry of personal resilience, this inspiring and far-reaching book weaves in much needed threads' - David Peters, professor emeritus, The Centre for Resilience, University of Westminster'If you are dealing with a difficult situation in a personal or professional capacity, then this book provides a well-researched and practical step-by-step guide to finding a new positive direction. Can't recommend it highly enough!' - Deirdre Murray, executive coach, trainer and author, PeopleResources.ie'Chris Johnstone is a writer whose voice is inviting, engaging and to the point' - Joanna Macy, co-author of Active Hope and Coming Back to Life'Chris Johnstone is a gifted trainer who manages to turn complex ideas into clear and practical guiding wisdom. I'm so pleased he has written such a useful and clear-sighted toolkit for developing resilience which is much needed at such a tumultuous time in society' - Nicola Banning, editor of BACP Workplace