Psyche’s Awakening

Originally from Ireland, Dr. Gillian O’Shea Brown is a New York based psychotherapist, adjunct professor at NYU, and EMDRIA approved consultant passionate about whole living for all people. Her work on the treatment and healing of complex trauma (relational trauma) has been featured internationally in Vogue, Forbes, Marie Claire, Huffington Post, and elsewhere. Her first book, entitled Healing Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Clinician’s Guide (2021, Springer) was designed to provide trauma-informed therapists with psychoeducation. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.

"An invitation to enter an alchemical healing experience based on ancient wisdom and modern evidence-based therapeutic modalities." — Tara Swart, MD, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Signs"A teacher through and through, Gillian guides her reader to greater self-awareness with myth and story." — Kelly McDaniel, author of Mother Hunger“Psyche’s Awakening is a compassionate and deeply illuminating exploration of trauma, self-love, and healing. Bridging ancient mythology with modern psychological and somatic insight, Dr. Gillian O’Shea Brown guides readers beyond survival patterns and back toward authenticity, wholeness, and the wisdom within.” — Dr. Nicole LePera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Do the Work, How to Be the Love You Seek, and Reparenting the Inner Child"Psyche’s Awakening provides a compassionate and exquisitely crafted bridge between mythology, the ancient understanding of relational trauma, and the possibilities of healing. Whether it is using the myth of Medusa to highlight how trauma survivors are left carrying shame, Narcissus to illustrate the harms of pathological egocentricity, or of Sisyphus to understand repetitive cycles, Dr. O’Shea-Brown’s book is an enlightening, engaging, hopeful, and actionable book for anyone navigating the aftermath of betrayal and emotional abuse." — Ramani Durvasula, PhD, psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People"Psyche’s Awakening is a deeply textured, lyrical . . . interweaving of Dr. Brown’s childhood experiences, her heartfelt as well as intellectually sophisticated valuing of folklore and the myth-expressed archetypes of ancient Greece, as well as stories and insightful observations from her own clinical practice—all employed for the psychological healing of others. In the end, this is a multi-layered guide for healing of the psyche . . . a journey Dr. Brown leads us on with consummate skill and compassion." — Douglas M. Gillette, M.A.R.S., M-Div., co-author of King, Warrior, Magician, Lover, teacher, life-guide, and retired pastor"Psyche’s Awakening is the book I would have given my younger self in the years I was searching for language to make sense of my own becoming. Gillian O’Shea Brown writes with the rare warmth of a therapist who has done her own descent. She returns the old myths to us as living maps, and reminds us that the wound itself is the threshold." — Sheleana Aiyana, bestselling author and founder of Rising Woman“A beautifully written book bursting with unique insights that gently guides the reader on a wondrous journey of deep self-discovery filled with compassion and empathy.” — Kristin Auble, director of research at Condé Nast"Psyche's Awakening offers timeless wisdom. Gillian unlocks for us the wisdom of these ancient stories, weaving mythology, shadow work, and the hero's journey into a profound map for healing and transformation. If we want to understand ourselves and the urgent challenges of this moment, we need look no further. Psyche's Awakening reminds us that the work of transformation is as urgent and available today as it has ever been." — Dr. Brandon Nappi, Lecturer, Yale Divinity School“This book was truly a joy to read! Gillian masterfully invites you in by using the wisdom that emerges from Greek myth to teach you the impact of trauma and guides you through the path forward for how to heal. This book is a magical resource and an essential guidebook for any trauma survivor.” — Daphne Fatter PhD, author of Integrating IFS into EMDR Therapy“Psyche’s Awakening skillfully bridges the gap between academic rigor and spiritual insight, guiding the reader through a profound synthesis of psychological theory and ancient wisdom. By grounding esoteric concepts in intellectual framework, it offers a transformative roadmap for those seeking to reconcile the mind’s logic with the soul’s yearning." — Carol Tosone, Ph.D. L.C.S.W. Professor, NYU Silver School of Social Work, Recipient of the AAPCSW Lifetime Achievement Award & NYU Distinguished Teacher Award"Psyche’s Awakening is a deeply creative approach to teaching us the fundamental facts of how trauma affects the developing self. Dr. O’Shea Brown writes with a voice of incredible compassion while also giving practical and actionable steps everyone can take to begin the road of healing and flourishing." — Anthony Charuvastra, MD, complex trauma researcher and adjunct assistant professor, NYU Grossman School of Medicine