The Joy Reset

Six Ways Trauma Steals Happiness and How to Win it Back

Coming Soon

Contributors

By Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald, PhD

Formats and Prices

Price

$19.99

Price

$25.99 CAD

A groundbreaking, accessible guide to the identifying the key ways trauma prevents joy and hope, with strategies for healing.

Joy does not exist only in the moments that are free of pain. In fact, the brightest, tiniest, most important pieces can only be found in the dark. I want to teach you how to harness and amplify the power of that glinting magic–because this sustainable, endless light source will do more than help you get through your darkest, scariest, loneliest times.
 
In The Joy Reset, Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald identifies the six common barriers that prevent us from accessing joy–hypervigilance, emotional numbing, fear of loss, conditioning, guilt, and shame–and then redefines positive emotions as those tenacious, gritty, often tiny experiences that appear within the darkest moments and form the very foundation of psychological resilience. Rooted in the neurobiology that explains how trauma and suffering affect us, Dr. McDonald shares exercises that make joy and gratitude bite-sized and accessible. By emphasizing the very real ways that joy and hope show up even in our toughest moments, The Joy Reset empowers you to find the light in the dark–no matter what.

 

  • “I call MaryCatherine the Brené Brown of trauma. She normalizes trauma and helps us get rid of shame so that we can accept our stories fully and embrace our humanness―something that we need now in the world more than ever.”
    John Kim, aka The Angry Therapist
  • “Unbroken is a fascinating new book from an emerging philosophical talent.”
    Simon Critchley, former New York Times editor of The Stone column

On Sale
May 20, 2025
Page Count
256 pages
Publisher
Balance
ISBN-13
9780306836268

Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald, PhD

About the Author

MaryCatherine McDonald is a research professor and life coach who specializes in the psychology and philosophy of trauma. Her work focuses on thinking critically about how we understand, define, and heal from traumatic experiences. She has published several research articles and book chapters, as well as three books on trauma. In addition to her academic work, Dr. McDonald coaches individuals and corporations and creates trauma-based curriculum for non-profit organizations and schools.

Learn more about this author