Q & A with Dr. Christina Hibbert author of This is How We Grow

We met 7 years ago at a conference. Since then I've seen you go through many difficult life experiences that are now in your first book. Tell a little bit about those experiences, in your own words.Yes. Seven years and it feels like nothing, yet so much has happened in those years! This is How We Grow shares the four years after my sister and brother-in-law died, we inherited our two nephews, and I had our fourth baby, going from three to six kids practically overnight. The years that followed brought much learning and growth, as we navigated grief, postpartum depression, family relationships, and struggled to build our new family. As a clinical psychologist specializing in grief/loss, women’s mental health, postpartum, motherhood, and parenting, it was especially interesting to watch myself go through this “doctor becomes the patient” experience. In this book I share the insights and lessons I gained as I overcame my challenges, became my true self, and eventually flourished.What inspired you to write this memoir?It’s just one of those things I knew I needed to do. I’ve always loved to write and have used writing as a healing tool through journaling, but one day I just woke up and knew I would write a book about this. It made absolutely no sense to me, because I had six children to look out for, and we were all still trying to heal. But I knew writing our story would be a healing process for me, and for us. It most definitely has been.You’re a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In what ways did your faith play a role in the experiences you write about in this book?Faith played a huge role, and I share many of my faith-building experiences in this book. Prayer, pondering, meditation, scripture study, and church attendance all strengthened me when I needed it most. Even writing the book was a faith experience. Each day I had to rely upon my Heavenly Father, trusting He knew what He was having me do, because I had no clue! Being here, at the end of this book-writing process, I can see He, of course, saw the bigger picture I could not see. Trusting in that bigger picture day-by-day, moment-by-moment is what got me through those four years and what has gotten me through the writing and publishing process, too.A little birdie told me I am mentioned in the book! Is that true?Yes! We attended the Evolution of Psychotherapy conference together, in California, as I’m sure you recall, and even shared a room. It was funny to me that we’d only ever seen each other in person once, for about five minutes when we met, and yet there we were, sharing a room for a week! Staying up talking to each other late at night—two therapists—well, it was eye-opening for me. You helped me see some things I couldn’t see on my own, and for that I am grateful. You’re even mentioned in the acknowledgements, so check that out, too!What is one thing you hope people take away from This Is How We Grow?I hope people feel like they’re not alone. I hope reading this will help them see we all have our personal struggles and weaknesses and trials, and it is okay. I hope it will get people feeling and talking and choosing to grow through their trials, too. As I write in the book, “When hard times come our way, we can go through them, or we can choose to grow through them.” This is really a book about love and hope. Love of family and friends, love from God, and ultimately, love for ourselves, and the hope that we can be so much better than just “okay” or “better.” We can be “better than better!” We can flourish!This Is How We Grow will be available on Amazon, November 13, 2013! Visit www.drchristinahibbert.com/products/this-is-how-we-grow-book/ for launch details and to order! Pass it on!FREE Kindle download of This Is How We Grow, Wed. Nov 13, 2013! Go download the book for FREE and be sure to spread the word!!Be sure to visit my website and check out my blog! www.DrChristinaHibbert.comJoin Dr. Hibbert’s This is How We Grow Personal Growth Group! Online. FREE. Growth. What more could you ask for?Join the This is How We Grow Blog Hop! Theme: “I choose to grow.” For more information, visit Dr. Hibbert’s website.Follow Dr. Hibbert:Facebook Pages: www.facebook.com/drchibbert & www.facebook.com/thisishowwegrowTwitter: @DrCHibbertPinterest: www.pinterest.com/drchibbertInstagram: www.instagram.com/drchristi_hibbert