Harnessing Hope - take control of your life and master depression

South Island author, Jan Marsh, saw a gap in the market that needed to be filled.

“I found I was often going over the fundamentals with each client and wanting to give them something to take away and refer to as a reminder,” Jan says.

While former All Black and coach Sir John Kirwan has de-stigmatised the topic of depression and created awareness, her book Harnessing Hope, shows how simple lifestyle changes can make a difference in offering real hope for those suffering from depression.

This small-format book answers two key questions: What is depression and what causes it? If I have depression, what can I do about it?

Jan takes a holistic approach, addressing mind, body and spirit through tips on physical wellbeing, insights into the habits and beliefs that shape our moods, and ways to keep sight of the bigger picture through mindfulness practices. She also explains how these strategies can be used alongside other treatments to provide an empowering process that is tailored to each individual. Five case studies are tracked throughout the book, enabling the reader to see how each individual uses these tools to master depression and harness hope in their own lives. This is the ideal resource for people who are often feeling overwhelmed and unable to tackle lengthier, more complex material.


Photo courtesy of Exisle Publishing

Harnessing Hope includes positive psychology methods, such as compassion-focused therapy and mindfulness.

“Jan Marsh has provided a wonderful resource that is both easy to read and practical for people who are struggling with depression — I would definitely recommend it to my clients.”— Anthony Morrison Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, based in both the United States and New Zealand.

Jan Marsh is a clinical psychologist with 40 years’ experience and lives in Nelson. She has worked with clients from all walks of life and is familiar with a wide range of effective treatments for depression. After many years of service in the public system, Jan has been in private practice for over a decade.