Bird Therapy by Joe Harkness is an open and honest look at Harkness' journey with debilitating mental health issues and his path towards healing. While medication and therapy did help, he found that nothing was more profound in his recovery than his connection with nature, in particular, the impact of birdwatching.

The healing power of nature is something that is well documented but often ignored in place of more traditional treatment. I admired that Harkness was able to share his powerful experience without taking away from the beneficial inclusion of both medication and therapy. Many times when I have read about more "natural" treatment ideas, pharmaceutical drugs, in particular, are often frowned upon.

As someone who takes medication for anxiety and also uses many other more "natural" options, I appreciate this open-minded approach. There isn't a one size fits all answer, and I was very impressed that Harkness was able to share his viewpoint without shunning other ones that can be very helpful in their own right.

Bird Therapy approaches birdwatching in a relatable and youthful manner and takes away the stereotypical idea that is is only for people in their "retirement" years. Harkness shares his journey with his reconnection with nature and how it helped his mindfulness practices, and his passion for the avian world is infectious.

Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound for an advanced copy of this book. ( )

Just as he was putting the twisted bed sheet around his neck, the front door opened and footsteps pounded up the stairs. A firm but kind voice persuaded him to pause and think again. He did. This act was the culmination of many years of depression and anxiety, but thankfully it was a turning point. He was given medical assistance and drugs and whilst they helped, they weren’t giving him the desire for life that he needed back. That happened on a walk across a field one day near North Walsham. A huge brown bird appeared over the trees in front of them. Without really knowing why he instinctively knew it was a buzzard. That one sighting, seeing that magnificent bird soaring free moved something in his subconscious mind. The road to recovery had fully begun.

This one buzzard reignited a dormant love of bird that he used to have as a child and brought back memories flooding back of happier times spent with his grandfather whose passion for the outdoors had rubbed of on him. Before he knew it he had begun watching birds, and the time spent outdoors had begun to make him feel better. He decided not to go down the twitcher route as he could see that the dash to find a rarity would add to his anxieties, he decided to start keeping a list and began a blog.

Little did he know where this would take him. His article touched a nerve and he began to be known for extolling the benefits of birdwatching, even ending up at Downing Street and on the radio and of course this book. The book is full of personal anecdotes showing how the recovery from mental health, even from the abyss that Joe stood at, is possible. This is a touching story of one man’s recovery. Given Joe’s anxiety, it is quite an accomplishment that he got the support to write this and then actually did it. His key to success was getting outside, taking the time to enjoy all that the natural world has to offer and letting it refresh and replenish his soul. I liked the pointers at the end of each chapter of practical things to do and this is another book like The Nature Fix and the Wild Remedy that provide evidence that the natural world is important for our mental health. ( )

Bird Therapy is a fantastic book.

Joe Harkness has the courage to speak of struggles that most of us go to great lengths to deny and conceal. He has the wit to find and develop a passionate hobby that contributes enormously to his mental health recovery. And he is committed to understanding how and why birdwatching is so healing for him, what pitfalls he encountered, and how he corrected his course and came back to the basics in order to be fully grounded and present to his encounters with wild birds and nature in all its aspects. The miracle for us is that he then laboured at his writing in order to let us in on this joyous discovery: how bringing an awareness of birds into your life can also bring you to a much happier place.

Thank you, Joe. I needed that. ♥️🕊 ( )

3.5 Could birds be the answer? Although this is set in the UK and the mental health statistics are grim, in the USA they are just as bad. So many people suffer from anxiety or depression, or both that something really needs to be done. Yet, while there are some effective medications, many don't have access to them or can't afford them. It is inexcusable.

The author, candidly honest, tells of the nightmare his life has become, struggling with mental illness, to the point where he tried to take his own life. As many do who have become utterly hopeless.
Bird watching, literally saved his life. It provided time outside of mind, healing nature and a consistency to his days. As he saw and listed birds, some rare, some common he found his mental anguish lightening.

Maybe bird watching is not be for all, but finding something to immerse oneself in, may be helpful. I don't suffer from a mental obstacle but I do have some heavy duty physical ones, and have found that nature provides me with the piece of mind to deal with my difficulties. The other day I saw a comorant on our river, sitting on the log and sunning himself. So peaceful!

ARC from Netgalley. ( )