The Giving Prescription

A compassionate guide to healing from trauma through the power of giving back. If you’ve suffered a loss or trauma—perhaps a life-changing illness, the death of a loved one, or a sexual assault—you probably feel that life as you know it has changed forever. You’re dealing with intense, draining emotions as you try to negotiate a new normal, and you’re wondering if you’ll ever fully rebound. Courtney Clark has been there, and in The Giving Prescription, she shares a fresh approach to the healing journey: one focused on the fact that helping behaviors—like volunteering, donating, and advocating—can help survivors find their footing after a major loss. When you’re giving to others, you’re reconnecting with people, participating in something larger than yourself, taking on a new role, and perhaps even helping others who are going through the same experience you had. Each of these has the potential to strengthen your recovery and help you flourish following a trauma. Starting with an acknowledgment that everyone’s healing journey is different, Clark shares eight questions designed to help you reflect on what type of giving works best for you, and when you’ll be ready to try it. And as she draws from her own experiences with cancer and brain surgery as well as other real-life stories, she shows how understanding the power of helping others can transform your journey of recovery.