How I Understand It, by Margaret Bryden

A Bad Poet’s Guide to Mental Health & Resilience

What happens when a therapist writes poetry about her own heartbreak, healing, and inner contradictions? You get a book that’s part personal reckoning, part emotional survival guide—and, surprisingly, a little funny.

How I Understand It is a candid, unconventional collection of poems, reflections, and clinical insights from a therapist who isn’t afraid to call out codependency, detail the emotional complexities of grief, or tell imposter syndrome to go f*ck itself. Each chapter explores a universal theme—love, divorce, dating, trauma, forgiveness, grief, motivation—blending raw poetry with therapeutic commentary and journaling prompts that invite readers into their own journey of insight and growth. The book culminates with a guide on how to build your own collection of poetry for resilience, making it a practical therapy tool for anybody looking to upgrade their self-expression repertoire.

Whether you’re a therapy client, a clinician, or a human navigating the tender terrain of adulthood, this book is here to remind you: your emotions make sense, your perspective is valid, and your story is still being written.

This is not your average poetry book.
This is not your average self-help book.
This is How I Understand It.