What is your book called and what is it about?
Real Talk Real Change – Strategies from a Life Coach & Psychologist
It’s a book about learning the tools and strategies that a coach and psychologist (me, Dr Nat) used to change her own life and used to help her clients change their lives over the first ten years of her career as a psychologist. It’s written in a very down-to-earth straight-talking way (and even has some swearing in it). It’s a book that talks about using CBT and ACT therapy, but is written in a way that is as if you and Dr Nat are just having a chat together. There are purposely no references to research (although it is completely based in long standing evidence based therapies), so that it feels easy to read and understand, and just feels like having “a chat with Dr Nat”. Without ‘psych-jargon’ or complexity, Real Talk, Real Change is a book for real people, with real problems who want real life-changing strategies – right now!
Tell us more about you?
Hi, I am Dr Natasha Davison (or Dr Nat, as some clients like to call me). I’m a high-performance coach, who loves working with sports people and high performers. I’m also a registered health psychologist, and AMAZON bestselling author who is passionate about helping people to achieve their life dreams and goals. I’ve been a psychologist for the past 16 years and owned my own private practice for the past 8 years. I bring 30 years of personal and professional development trainings, and am obsessed about finding the best, fastest, most effective tools to create lasting change for my clients. I have a doctorate in psychology, as well as diplomas in education and teaching.
I am married to an amazing man, have a fabulous daughter, and two cute pups called Alfie and Monty. We live on some acreage in Australia and often have kangaroos hopping through our backyard, along with lots of other wildlife, including deer, echidnas, and parrots. I love going for walks, reading, and playing games. I dabble in gardening and love growing veggies. I get nerdily excited when I grow things that I can take into the kitchen and cook up. When I’m in the mood to cook, it’s really nurturing for my soul.
Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions:
What is your favourite quote?
Jerry Rice “Today I will do what others won’t, so I can accomplish what others can’t”
What is your favourite book?
This is not a fair question – it’s like saying pick your favourite child. Please don’t make me pick….
What is your favourite podcast at the moment?
Therapists Rising – Dr Hayley Kelly – talks about how to branch out from being a 1:1 therapist and creating fulfilling and sustainable business outside of the therapy chair.
Who is your role model?
Love Michelle Obama, Brene Brown, & Mel Robbins – again picking just one? Impossible!
Who in your life has inspired you the most and why?
At different times in my life, there have been different people and things that have inspired me. But more recently, it is my husband. He is a rock for me, and always believes in me and what I’m doing. He makes me want to be a better person.
What is your coffee order?
Prefer a good chai latte to coffee, but if I do have coffee – it’s a decaf otherwise I’m bouncing off the walls
Pet peeves?
Watching people doing things ineffectively. For example, you have a dirty plate in the lounge room, and you are going to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Please pick up the plate and take it with you, and definitely do not say “ I was going to do it later” It’s sooooo ineffective – grrrrrr….
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to share some of the tools and things I had learned in the first ten years of me being a psychologist. These were things that have helped me personally and my clients professionally. Some of those tools and learnings I would call the secret to a happier and more fulfilled life. They were my grounding and set an amazing foundation for me. I didn’t want this knowledge lost or forgotten, and wanted others to benefit from it. This was because I knew that I was moving forward into a whole new realm of coaching and psychology strategies, tools and technology that would provide clients with a whole new level of transformation at a faster, more effective and lasting way.
How did you find the process of writing and publishing your book?
It was trickier than I thought it would be, but way more rewarding and satisfying than I imagined. And it took a lot longer than I thought it would – is it just me or is that the case with most things?
What surprised you most about the writing process?
How difficult and personal it was at times. I am someone who has written millions of words in my lifetime. But I could not believe how hard and scary it was at times, I felt very exposed. I was so glad to have my editors and the Dean team there to get me through those tough parts, so I would keep going and have the finished product.
What do you hope the reader gets from reading this book?
At least one tool, or one new way to look at life, or one realization that leads to some kind of change or aha moment. I hope they find what they need to live a better life, to overcome obstacles, to be the kind of person they would love to be. I hope that they realise that while pain is inevitable – suffering is optional. We have the tools and power to make changes.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to write a book but doesn’t know how?
Find yourself a great support team. Dean Publishing are awesome at it. That’s it! Full stop. Period.
