Bread Therapy

"To knead dough mindfully is a way of slowing down, of giving ourselves the opportunity to be in the present moment."

Bread Therapy is a self-help book that celebrates baking bread; a practice that not only produces delicious loaves, but also improves mental health and wellbeing. As the world feels ever more dangerous and unreliable, there is something soothing and grounding about basic human activities such as baking.

Breadmaking provides an ideal opportunity to develop mindfulness skills by forcing you to concentrate on what you can see, hear, feel, and smell. Escape your mind and connect with your body by kneading a classic sourdough, or even just by tasting fresh bread straight out of the oven.

Featuring delicious recipes and how-tos that will inspire everyone from the bread baking beginner to a seasoned pro, this book is part guide, part cookbook, and the perfect gift for anyone that has discovered the joy of bread (or still needs to!). This delightful meditation on the intrinsic power of baking will fill your stomach and calm your mind.

Pauline Beaumont has a degree in Psychology and Philosophy, a post graduate certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Therapy and a Diploma in Group Work Practice. Based in a university Health and Wellbeing Service, she works as a student counsellor at Newcastle University, supporting students who are struggling with a wide range of mental health problems. Bread is a passionate hobby, and as a mother of six, feeding people is what makes her happy. She feels there is a synergy between therapeutic work, writing and baking bread that is fulfilling creatively and interpersonally. Mixing, proving and baking bread punctuates her week. She lives in Northumberland in the Northeast of the United Kingdom.