True to You - Pretzl Skip to content
SMP header Area
  • Our Books
  • In the news
  • Articles
    • Excerpts
    • Op-Ed
    • Roundups
  • About Us
Pretzl Header Mobile Area
  • Our Books
  • In the news
  • Articles
    • Excerpts
    • Op-Ed
    • Roundups
  • About Us
Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Self-Help

Home Our Books True to You

True to You

Describes for True to You by authors
Publication Date: July 9, 2024

True to You

Kathleen Smith

Present Authors date for  True to You by authors
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Creating Authentic Relationships

When’s the last time you felt as composed as you portray to your boss, family and friends? If there’s a discord between the two, you’re not alone. Humans are master pretenders—we often seem stronger, calmer and more mature than we really are, while the truth is we’re full of doubts and self-criticism that pushes us to borrow reassurance from friends, beliefs from strangers on the internet, or attention that, in the moment, makes us feel successful, but leaves us totally hollow and burnt out.

True to You is a relatable self-help guide for people who want to learn to live less focused on others’ reactions and more confidently by their own principles. Readers will learn how to:

· Interrupt relationship patterns that keep you stuck.
· Rely less on praise and approval from others.
· Develop a solid sense of self in anxious times.
· Build more authentic and rewarding relationships.

Dr. Smith uses examples from the lives of her therapy clients to explain how we borrow confidence, calmness, and beliefs from our relationships and offers actionable steps and exercises for building a life with your own best-thinking. With a healthy dose of humor, she unpacks the basics of Bowen Family Systems Theory and science of our social nature, explaining why we try so hard to be what others want us to be and how we can start living from the inside out. By learning how to be more responsible for yourself, rather than over-responsible for everyone else, you can find the freedom to develop richer relationships, pursue what’s important to you, and feel steadier in this very anxious world.
Amazon links for SMP Presentation for Amazon IndiaAmazon Barnes Noble links for SMP Presentation for Barnes NobleBarnes & Noble Presentation for BAMBooks-a-Milion Bookshop links for SMP Presentation for BookshopBookshop Apple links for SMP Presentation for AppleTarget Walmart links for SMP Presentation for WalmartWalmart
A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Creating Authentic Relationships

When’s the last time you felt as composed as you portray to your boss, family and friends? If there’s a discord between the two, you’re not alone. Humans are master pretenders—we often seem stronger, calmer and more mature than we really are, while the truth is we’re full of doubts and self-criticism that pushes us to borrow reassurance from friends, beliefs from strangers on the internet, or attention that, in the moment, makes us feel successful, but leaves us totally hollow and burnt out.

True to You is a relatable self-help guide for people who want to learn to live less focused on others’ reactions and more confidently by their own principles. Readers will learn how to:

· Interrupt relationship patterns that keep you stuck.
· Rely less on praise and approval from others.
· Develop a solid sense of self in anxious times.
· Build more authentic and rewarding relationships.

Dr. Smith uses examples from the lives of her therapy clients to explain how we borrow confidence, calmness, and beliefs from our relationships and offers actionable steps and exercises for building a life with your own best-thinking. With a healthy dose of humor, she unpacks the basics of Bowen Family Systems Theory and science of our social nature, explaining why we try so hard to be what others want us to be and how we can start living from the inside out. By learning how to be more responsible for yourself, rather than over-responsible for everyone else, you can find the freedom to develop richer relationships, pursue what’s important to you, and feel steadier in this very anxious world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This is author Kathleen Smith for books
Pic Credited (Amanda Joy Photography)
Dr. Kathleen Smith is a licensed therapist and mental health writer who lives in Washington, DC. An associate faculty member of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, she teaches Bowen family systems theory to leaders around the globe. Breaking down therapy concepts into witty, relatable stories for readers, Dr. Smith is the author of Everything Isn’t Terrible (Hachette, December 2019) and a popular newsletter with over 10,000 subscribers. She has been interviewed by The New York Times and The Washington Post about anxiety and relationships, and her essays have appeared in Slate, Salon, New York Magazine, Psychology Today, and more.

Related Books

By books What’s Holding You Back? related books
What’s Holding You Back?

Sam Horn

LEARN MORE
By books Artful Dodging related books
Artful Dodging

Jeanne Martinet

LEARN MORE
By books Never Be Lied to Again related books
Never Be Lied to Again

David J. Lieberman

LEARN MORE
By books The Right Job, Right Now related books
The Right Job, Right Now

Susan Strayer

LEARN MORE
SMP Footer Showing Content

Our mission is simple: Help you achieve your goals—whether you’re a CEO, just starting your career, or simply searching for a little guidance in life. Presented by St. Martin’s Publishing Group, Pretzl has a carefully curated collection of cutting-edge books and articles with informative, accessible insights from thought leaders across a wide range of interests and expertise.

Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Pinterest

explore

  • Our Books
  • In the News
  • Articles
 
  • About Us
  • Privacy Notice
  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Terms of Use

Subscribe to our newsletter

Enter your Email and receive the Latest Updates

Copyright © 2026 Pretzl. All Rights Reserved.