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A Companion for Life’s Twists & Turns

Open When…

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM BESTSELLING CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND TIKTOK SENSATION DR JULIE, AUTHOR OF WHY HAS NOBODY TOLD ME THIS BEFORE? NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK 
 
'Absolutely extraordinary...I needed this book 30 years ago.' MEL ROBBINS, #1 bestselling author of THE LET THEM THEORY 
 
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Feeling overwhelmed? Open when… stress takes over. 
 
Facing self-doubt? Open when… imposter syndrome strikes. 
 
Lost your direction? Open when… you need fresh motivation. 
 
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This is the book for life's twists and turns, when being human starts to get complicated. 
 
A must-have companion to Dr Julie's international bestseller Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, which taught us the skills to strengthen our future mental health, Open When... is the book to turn to when you find yourself in the eye of the storm. 
 
Within this book are a series of Open When style letters from Dr Julie to help navigate the moments of overwhelm, confusion or self-doubt that we all face when life gets messy. 
 
Offering calm, clarity and a laser focus on the best way forward, each personal letter is followed by real-time tools that will help you re-frame the situation and decide on your next move. 
 
Every chapter covers a new scenario; universal problems that each of us will likely face at some point. So, whether you’re experiencing: 
<ul><li>Stress</li><li>Pressure to perform</li><li>Dealing with difficult people</li><li>Trying to fit in</li><li>Making big decisions</li><li>Arguments with your partner</li><li>Big emotions causing anxiety</li></ul> 
Open When... brings the words you need to hear to get back on the front foot, feeling ready to take on everything life throws your way. 
 
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Praise for Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? 
 
'Sound wisdom, easy to gulp down. I'm sure this book is already helping lots of people.' MATT HAIG, bestselling author of REASONS TO STAY ALIVE 
 
'A toolkit of deceptively simple strategies for life's troubles. Everyone could benefit from the wisdom of Dr Smith' i 'BEST NON-FICTION BOOKS OF 2022' 
 
'Julie Smith is the psychology teacher you wish you'd had at school' EVENING STANDARD 
 
'This book is a goldmine. I truly treat it like a handbook now' STYLIST 
 
'It's real, it's authentic . . . Very practical and very, very helpful' LORRAINE KELLY 
 
'I'm blown away by her ability to communicate difficult ideas with ease, simplicity and practicality. Amazing. Go and buy it now!' Jay Shetty 
 
'If you want to feel like you have a therapist sitting across from you, empowering you with how to be your best self, this book is for you!' Nicole LePera, New York Times bestselling author of How to Do the Work 
 
'Full of sound, helpful advice with life skills, from building confidence to managing stress' Sunday Times 
 
 
Instant No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller, January 2025

Absolutely extraordinary...I needed this book 30 years ago.

Mel Robbins, #1 bestselling author of The Let Them Theory

Full of sound, helpful advice with life skills, from building confidence to managing stress

It's so engaging that it's even led me to switch off my phone for several hours so I can read it, and in this social media-obsessed age, I don't think I can give a bigger recommendation than that

This book is a goldmine. I truly treat it like a handbook now - when I feel an unpleasant feeling brewing or come up against a tricky moment at work or in my relationships, my first thought is to wonder what Smith might suggest

So much advice on such a wide variety of things: it's brilliant. So helpful

The book's great. It's real, it's authentic . . . Very practical and very, very helpful

DR JULIE SMITH is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author and content creator. After working in the NHS and private practice, Julie made it her mission to make good-quality mental health education freely accessible across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Her audience grew astronomically as users related to the bite-sized self-help videos she was sharing. Today she has over 10 million followers across the social media platforms and her content has had over 1 billion views. 
 
Julie’s first book, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, was an instant #1 Sunday Times Bestseller, clocked up over 140 weeks in the UK Top Ten, sold over 1 million copies in the English language and was translated into more than 45 languages. 
 
Julie is a regular expert on ITV’s This Morning and has been featured widely across the media and further afield. Julie is a proud ambassador for BBC’s Children in Need and has appeared as a guest on many of the most-listened-to podcasts, including The Diary of a CEO and The Mel Robbins Podcast. Julie lives in Dorset, England, with her husband, three children, ten chickens, three goats, two dogs and a cat.

This is a book for when you feel overwhelmed – whether you’re facing grief, fear, self-doubt, relationship issues, difficult decisions, burnout, regrets or don’t know how to ask for help. 
 
Each chapter begins with a letter from Dr Julie to the reader offering comfort and perspective. She then follows with her trademark simple and straightforward advice to help you see clearly how best to respond and act. 
 
Showing you how to re-frame life’s complex problems, Open When . . . will help you navigate any crisis or tough moment and return to a place of calmness, strength and positivity.

Julie Smith

This book is a goldmine. I truly treat it like a handbook now

A toolkit of deceptively simple strategies for life's troubles. Everyone could benefit from the wisdom of Dr Smith

Julie Smith is the psychology teacher you wish you'd had at school

It's so engaging that it's even led me to switch off my phone for several hours so I can read it, and in this social media-obsessed age, I don't think I can give a bigger recommendation than that

Smart, insightful, and warm. Dr Julie is both the expert and wise friend we all need

Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone and co-host of the 'Dear Therapists' podcast

This book is basically an inside scoop into a therapist's tool kit. Covers so many important topics such as managing anxiety, battling low mood, building self-confidence and learning to forgive yourself. It is no wonder that the author has become an online sensation with all her amazing advice

A guide for optimal mental wellbeing that you can dip into whenever you need

Wise words and compassionate tone . . . Smith's work is hugely important in bringing applied psychology into the public realm

Take care of your mental health with these bite-size tips on everything from how to manage anxiety to coping with grief

If you have never read a self-help book before, this is the book to read

Full of sound, helpful advice with life skills, from building confidence to managing stress

The book's great. It's real, it's authentic . . . Very practical and very, very helpful

I'm blown away by her ability to communicate difficult ideas with ease, simplicity and practicality. Amazing. Go and buy it now!

Relatable, real and easy to digest, it covers everything from understanding low mood to emotional pain, self-doubt and anxiety as if your wise best friend is chatting to you. An essential mental-health bible for adults and teenagers

Now more than ever, people are struggling with their mental health and Dr Julie Smith delivers in a big way in Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?. Her practical tips and tools are for anyone struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, or depression. Readers will step away from this book feeling more resilient and able to take control of their own lives. If you want to feel like you have a therapist sitting across from you, empowering you with how to be your best self, this book is for you!

Nicole LePera, New York Times bestselling author of How to Do the Work

This book is a goldmine. I truly treat it like a handbook now - when I feel an unpleasant feeling brewing or come up against a tricky moment at work or in my relationships, my first thought is to wonder what Smith might suggest

So much advice on such a wide variety of things: it's brilliant. So helpful

Smith . . . is especially adept at addressing the insecurities afflicting a younger generation raised on social media

Deceptively digestible and quietly life-changing

Relatable and easy to digest. An essential mental-health bible for adults and teenagers

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? was one of the biggest non-fiction debuts of the past decade and has spent over 140 weeks in the hardback Top 10. Offering simple advice, effective strategies and powerful coping techniques, Dr Julie’s million-copy bestselling manual for better mental health is finally available in paperback, including two bonus chapters for anxiety and panic attacks. Bite-sized entries let readers easily find tools to suit the challenge faced. From tackling self-doubt to battling low mood, this book is a therapist’s guide to the everyday issues that affect us all, offering practical solutions that just might change your life.

Julie Smith

Books by Julie Smith

Articles featuring Julie Smith

The Penguin books that helped us through hard times

12 books to help with anxiety, burnout and stress

Books to read if you’re going through a break-up

Videos

Dr Julie Smith: Overcome Your Negative Thoughts With This Daily Practice

You Have To See This If You Have Anxiety

Want To Be Happy? Don't Make This Mistake | Dr Julie

What Nobody Tells You About Grief and Loss - Dr Julie #shorts

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