Therapist Kobe Campbell turns author to help others

COURTESY KOBE CAMPBELL

Licensed trauma therapist Kobe Campbell makes her debut as an author with "Why am I Like This? How to Break Cycles, Heal From Trauma, and Restore Your Faith."

Mental health remains a top leading issue across the United States.

Kobe Campbell, a licensed trauma therapist in Charlotte, is releasing her debut book titled “Why am I Like This? How to Break Cycles, Heal From Trauma, and Restore Your Faith” available in stores and online on April 4.

Campbell, 30, a wellness advocate, podcaster, and a mother of two, was inspired to write the book after struggling with her own mental health prior to becoming a therapist.
“I wrote this book because I felt like when I was struggling with my mental health, struggling with depression and anxiety, there were so few resources for me as a Christian,” said Campbell, the founder of the Healing Circle Therapy and Wellness Center in Charlotte.

“So few voices that came from a perspective about kindness and tenderness and empathy. I realized my community and my community-based community, we talked so seldomly about trauma. We talked so seldomly about our emotional pain. This book is really meant to be a 101 book for the person who’s curious about their patterns, curious about why they operate the way they do and excited to start healing past pain.”

The book offers a deep understanding of what trauma and healing really are and how trauma shows up in our everyday lives. With tender wisdom, rare vulnerability, honesty, Campbell empowers readers to step into healing and joy and therapeutic, evidence-based coping skills and resources.

The stigma behind Christians going to counseling can prevent people from seeking help and lead to their trauma going unaddressed.

“It is not wrong or simple or a lack of faith to utilize something to help you in the process of wellness,” Campbell said.

Negative thought patterns are often connected to past trauma.

“The pattern acts as a band aid that makes us feel good for a moment but makes us feel alone and disengage and heartbroken for seasons,” Campbell said. “Oftentimes, the patterns that we don’t address in the present are tied to the pain that we haven’t yet investigated in the past.”

In the book, Campbell discusses how to better understand your pain, and how to heal your wounds. She discusses how God responds to trauma and how to begin healing.
“It’s not just that we believe it’s what we believe, and I think our faith can be such an asset to us in our healing journey if our faith empowers us, or our faith makes us feel safe, if our faith makes us feel accepted.”

Some coping skills Campbell recommends to her patients are journaling, writing poetry, a song, and other ways to “name” the issue, or talk about your feelings. In a viral video on TikTok, she describes “healing is not becoming the best version of yourself but letting the “worst version” of yourself be loved.

She also shares gems about health/wellness and healing on her podcast, “The Healing Circle.”

On April 4, Campbell will host a book launch gathering from 7-10 p.m. at Revel Room located at the corner of 6th Street and Davidson.

When finding a therapist, look for someone you can feel comfortable talking to.

“Your therapist feels like they could be your friend. I have to remind my clients we’re not friends,” Campbell said, laughing. “Your therapist should feel like someone that you would say I would trust this person to be my friend.”

For information about how to find a therapist, visit psychologytoday.com.

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