Social Freedom: The Path to Wellbeing is a new book about mental health coping strategies by Illawarra art therapist and wellbeing coach Deborah Devaal. I sat down with Deborah to discover more…

What is your book about?

It explores the deep connection between social freedom, emotions, and overall wellbeing. It sheds light on how understanding and managing our emotions can lead to improved mental health and a more fulfilling life.

The book provides practical tools, exercises, and a structured framework for emotional identification, empowering readers to create stability and positively change the way they think, feel, and act. It's a guide for those seeking to enhance their wellbeing and navigate life's challenges with resilience and confidence.

Who should read it?

Anyone struggling in their daily life. Whether you are a teenager looking to understand emotions, a parent feeling overwhelmed by the many demands of everyday life, or you are struggling with mental health challenges, this book provides simple tools and strategies and an easy to understand framework as to how we can improve our own mental health and find balance in life.

How will the book help?

Social Freedom: The Path to Wellbeing offers significant benefits for readers by helping them gain clarity about their emotions and understand how these feelings shape their daily experiences. This book is an essential guide for teenagers, parents, and anyone seeking true fulfilment through emotional awareness and wellbeing practices.

Through relatable case studies, practical tools, and exercises, readers can improve their emotional wellbeing and learn strategies for creating a more balanced life. Additionally, the book provides valuable insights for those looking to support others going through challenging times.

What motivated you to write this book?

As an art therapist and wellbeing coach, I’ve worked with a wide range of clients, from young individuals facing mental health challenges, to entrepreneurs dealing with burnout, to parents struggling to balance daily life. Over time, I developed a method to help each of them improve their wellbeing.

In our sessions, I often created sketches and wrote down tools for clients to take home. After doing this repeatedly, I realised how beneficial it would be to have all these resources in one place – that’s how the idea for this book came about. My hope is that it will guide readers, empowering them and sparking their curiosity to reach their full potential and live their best life.

Why is it called Social Freedom?

Because it emphasises the deep connection between personal authenticity and overall wellbeing.

Let me first explain "Social Freedom." It refers to a state of mind where you feel comfortable being yourself. With social freedom, you can express your thoughts, connect with others, and handle social situations with ease. It also means setting boundaries, communicating your needs, and facing challenges confidently. In essence, social freedom is about being true to yourself and feeling good about it.

Wellbeing, on the other hand, involves feeling happy, healthy, and balanced across different areas of life – your emotions, physical health, relationships, and sense of purpose. It’s about building strong connections, finding meaning, and maintaining resilience during tough times.

A key step to attaining both social freedom and wellbeing is learning to understand and manage your emotions. This book delves into how mastering emotions can positively transform your life.

True freedom lies in the ability to regulate emotions, and this directly influences how we live day to day and whether we follow the path we truly desire.

Where can readers buy the book?

The book is available on my website (free shipping within Australia) and on Amazon. It is available in paperback and Kindle format.