What will I learn about: why traditional medication and therapy aren't always enough to cure burnout, and learn to embrace a holistic approach that heals your mind, body, and soul simultaneously?

Discover why traditional medication and therapy aren't always enough to cure burnout, and learn to embrace a holistic approach that heals your mind, body, and soul simultaneously.

What will I learn about: the profound mind-body connection, including how your gut health directly impacts your mental well-being and brain function?

Understand the profound mind-body connection, including how your gut health directly impacts your mental well-being and brain function.

What will I learn about: Learn how the emerging field of epigenetics proves that lifestyle choices like sleep, stress management, and diet can actually turn genetic predispositions for illness on or off?

Learn how the emerging field of epigenetics proves that lifestyle choices like sleep, stress management, and diet can actually turn genetic predispositions for illness on or off.

What will I learn about: Realize that you spend 95 percent of your day on autopilot, and find out how to break free from the subconscious childhood patterns that dictate your behavior?

Realize that you spend 95 percent of your day on autopilot, and find out how to break free from the subconscious childhood patterns that dictate your behavior.

What will I learn about: the practice of conscious awareness to stop blindly believing your own racing thoughts and regain control over your emotional reactions?

Master the practice of conscious awareness to stop blindly believing your own racing thoughts and regain control over your emotional reactions.

How to Do the Work

Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self

Nicole LePera

★ 4.5 / 5(593 ratings)

Start ListeningDownload QR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App Store

Try free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

Categories:

Psychology Personal Development

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that your daily physical habits could be the secret key to healing deep-seated emotional trauma and transforming your mental health?
💡Have you ever wondered why you keep repeating the same self-sabotaging relationship patterns, even when you’re consciously trying to do things differently?
💡What if you could finally break free from chronic burnout by mastering the hidden link between your nervous system and your spiritual well-being?

Listen to How to Do the Work — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from How to Do the Work

✓Discover why traditional medication and therapy aren't always enough to cure burnout, and learn to embrace a holistic approach that heals your mind, body, and soul simultaneously.
✓Understand the profound mind-body connection, including how your gut health directly impacts your mental well-being and brain function.
✓Learn how the emerging field of epigenetics proves that lifestyle choices like sleep, stress management, and diet can actually turn genetic predispositions for illness on or off.
✓Realize that you spend 95 percent of your day on autopilot, and find out how to break free from the subconscious childhood patterns that dictate your behavior.
✓Master the practice of conscious awareness to stop blindly believing your own racing thoughts and regain control over your emotional reactions.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from How to Do the Work

Mind Map

How to Do the Work

The Mind-Body Connection+

Conscious Awareness+

Healing Childhood Trauma+

Disarming Survival Systems+

Reparenting & Core Beliefs+

Establishing Boundaries+

Authentic Connection+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9

Why did Dr. LePera shift away from traditional mainstream psychology?

A. She wanted to focus exclusively on treating patients with psychiatric medications.
B. She realized that treating the mind independently from the body and soul was too limiting.
C. She discovered that childhood trauma cannot be treated through psychological methods.
D. She wanted to prove that genetic predispositions cannot be altered by lifestyle changes.

Question 2 of 9

How does the emerging field of epigenetics challenge traditional views of illness, according to the text?

A. It proves that all physical illnesses are merely psychological illusions.
B. It suggests that genetic traits are completely immune to environmental factors.
C. It shows that lifestyle factors like stress and diet can turn genetic predispositions 'on' or 'off.'
D. It argues that only systemic oppression is responsible for chronic medical conditions.

Question 3 of 9

What is the primary danger of living our lives on 'autopilot'?

A. We become overly critical of our daily routines and relationships.
B. We remain trapped in childhood patterns and subconscious habits, feeling powerless to change.
C. We experience a constantly heightened state of the fight-or-flight response.
D. We become too deeply connected to our physical senses and ignore our mental health.

Question 4 of 9

Why do children often develop dissociation as a coping strategy?

A. Because they are inherently rebellious and want to act out against their parents.
B. Because they have a secure attachment and feel safe exploring their independence.
C. Because they are trying to manipulate their parents into giving them more attention.
D. Because they feel overwhelmed, powerless, and unseen by their caregivers.

Question 5 of 9

What is a recommended method for consciously disarming our involuntary survival systems (fight, flight, or freeze)?

A. Taking deep belly breaths to instantly calm the body.
B. Suppressing negative emotions until the perceived threat passes.
C. Engaging in a heated argument to release pent-up adrenaline.
D. Isolating oneself completely from all social interactions.

Question 6 of 9

What is the core practice of 'reparenting' oneself?

A. Confronting your actual parents about the mistakes they made during your childhood.
B. Making and keeping small promises to yourself to build the trust of your inner child.
C. Treating your own children exactly the opposite of how you were treated.
D. Ignoring your childhood memories so you can focus entirely on the present moment.

Question 7 of 9

When is the most effective time to assert a new personal boundary in a relationship?

A. During a heated argument, so the other person truly understands your anger.
B. Immediately after the other person gives you a gift or compliment.
C. In an emotionally neutral moment, after preparing and regulating your emotions.
D. Through a third party, to avoid direct confrontation and guilt-tripping.

Question 8 of 9

What is a 'trauma bond' as described in the book?

A. A healthy, interdependent relationship built on mutual healing and shared goals.
B. A relationship characterized by a painful rollercoaster of closeness and crushing rejection.
C. A highly professional relationship between a holistic psychologist and a patient.
D. A bond formed when an entire community successfully overcomes a natural disaster together.

Question 9 of 9

What is the author's primary advice for implementing lasting change in your life?

A. Completely overhaul your daily routine all at once to shock your system into healing.
B. Focus on changing your genetic predispositions through intensive medical therapy.
C. Change one small habit at a time, such as drinking a glass of water every morning.
D. Cut off contact with all family members immediately to start with a blank slate.

How to Do the Work — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Dr. LePera hit rock bottom and realized something in her life had to change.
32 — To heal our minds, we must heal our bodies—and vice versa.
43 — Learn to become aware of your thoughts.
54 — We need to recognize childhood trauma in order to heal.
65 — We must learn how to disarm our survival systems.
76 — Reparenting can help reprogram our core beliefs.
87 — Building strong, loving boundaries will improve your relationships.
98 — SelfHealing helps you surround yourself with a loving, supportive community.
109 — Final summary

How to Do the Work Summary & Overview

How to Do the Work (2021) is a hands-on guide to healing our bodies and minds. The physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of our health are all interconnected. By changing how we eat and exercise, engaging in mindfulness and tackling past trauma, we can heal ourselves and transform our relationships.

Who Should Listen to How to Do the Work?

Spiritual seekers looking for new ways to connect with the world
Children of emotionally unavailable parents looking to heal past trauma
Anyone who’s tired of feeling sluggish and burnt out

About the Author: Nicole LePera

Dr. Nicole LePera is a clinical psychologist who studied at Cornell University and earned her PhD from the New School for Social Research. Her hugely popular Instagram account, @the.holistic.psychologist, has a following of over three million people from around the world.

How to Do the Work

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to How to Do the Work — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from How to Do the Work

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

How to Do the Work — Full Chapter Overview

How to Do the Work Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to How to Do the Work?

About the Author: Nicole LePera

Books Similar to How to Do the Work