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You Are More Than Your Body

30+ Evidence-Based Strategies for Living Well with Chronic Illness--By a clinical therapist living with cerebral palsy

Author Jennifer Caspari, PhD
Read by Eleanor Caudill
Audiobook Download
North Atlantic Books
On sale Jun 17, 2025 | 4 Hours and 54 Minutes | 9798889843023
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A gentle, supportive guide to developing coping skills and improving quality of life for disabled and chronically ill people

Managing the stresses of everyday life can be exhausting and overwhelming. Dr. Jennifer Caspari knows this struggle well—both through her work as a clinical psychologist and her lived experience as a disabled woman with cerebral palsy. You Are More Than Your Body weaves together clinical expertise, personal stories, and practical, evidence-based tools to help readers with chronic health conditions better cope with pain, fatigue, depression, and the emotional vulnerability that comes with living in a world not designed for our bodies. 
The methods in this book synthesize a wide range of emotional regulation skills and coping techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness practices, all of which Dr. Caspari has successfully used with her own clients. In this book, you’ll learn over thirty practical coping skills to help you:

  • tune into internal experience and connect with your body; 
  • shift mental focus;
  • cultivate self-compassion and radical acceptance; 
  • change your relationship with your thoughts; 
  • engage the power of the present to get unstuck; 
  • practice realistic goal-setting;
  • tap into your deepest values as a resource;
  • tolerate discomfort; and
  • give yourselves permission to do things differently.

Each chapter includes a personal story or experience; a self-reflection exercise; associated coping skills; and practical guidance on how you can start using these tools in your own life. 
Having a disability or chronic illness does not have to mean accepting a lower quality of life. While we can’t make our issues and challenges disappear, by practicing the exercises in this book, we can learn to better manage challenges that arise and learn how we can live a meaningful life now—whatever our bodies and abilities might be.
"[This] primer is a winner, written by someone who talks the talk and walks the walk."
—Booklist

"Written from a place of honest vulnerability, You Are More Than Your Body shares an accessible roadmap to self-acceptance and is a guide from which everyone can benefit."
—SHARON SALZBERG, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life

"Reading You Are More Than Your Body feels like sitting down with a great friend—one who shares her story with authenticity, humor, and eye-opening common sense. Dr. Jennifer Caspari offers not just coping skills but also powerful principles to guide each of us on our unique journeys."
—STEPHANIE SZOSTAK, actor and author of SELF!SH

"A beautiful guide to support you on your journey and help you accept and love yourself even more."
—SHANNON KAISER, best-selling author of The Self-Love Experiment

"Dr. Jennifer Caspari has combined her clinical expertise with her lived experience to create a must-read guide for anyone looking to live their life with more ease.... she effortlessly integrates evidence-based psychological strategies with personal narrative to enable the reader to shift their mindset and make meaningful changes in their life."
—ALEXIS CONASON, PsyD, CEDS-C, clinical psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and author of The Diet-Free Revolution

"Dr. Jennifer Caspari stands at the unique intersection of being a highly skilled psychologist and a woman with a disability. From this vantage point, she offers us a profoundly compassionate and practical guide to enhancing our well-being ... a must-read for anyone looking to navigate life's challenges with an open mind and determined heart."
—DR. DIANA HILL, clinical psychologist, host of the Wise Effort podcast, and author of The Self-Compassion Daily Journal

"With warmth, honesty, and mature professional insight, Dr. Caspari shares her personal journey of life with cerebral palsy, providing readers with a guidebook for emotional and psychological resilience. I strongly recommend it for anyone seeking to transform their personal challenges into growth opportunities."
—KENT DRESCHER, PhD, clinical psychologist living with muscular dystrophy and coauthor of The Moral Injury Workbook

"What Dr. Caspari shares will resonate deeply with those who have felt different or limited by their bodies and provide hope to those who have felt alone in their struggles."
—DR. JADE WU, author of Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications

"A compassionate guide for anyone with a chronic health condition—offering hope and a practical path to thriving. Through personal stories and insights, it acknowledges the complexity of difficult experiences while providing clear psychological strategies for tolerating discomfort and managing thoughts and emotions. It's a must-read for anyone seeking greater self-acceptance and empowerment."
—ANNA KRESS, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Heal Your Past to Manifest Your Future

"People often ask me, 'How do I move forward when I'm in constant mental and physical pain?' From the most practical aspects of finding greater ease in the body and mind to deep reflections about what makes life worth living, You Are More Than Your Body is an excellent guide to discovering a personal answer to that question."
—Kelly McGonigal, PhD, author of The Upside of Stress
Jennifer Caspari, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist working at a group practice in Colorado, CBT Denver, that specializes in general and health psychology. She is passionate about helping clients live full and meaningful lives including those living with acute or chronic illness and chronic pain.  She lives with cerebral palsy and writes a Psychology Today blog titled Living Well When Your Body Doesn't Cooperate. Dr. Caspari is the creator and instructor of a nationwide chronic pain course with PESI, a national leader in providing continuing education to mental health professionals (https://catalog.pesi.com/item/132063).

In her free time, Dr. Caspari enjoys spending time with loved ones, feeling the sun on her face, listening to audiobooks while moving her body, watching cooking and baking shows, and eating delicious food. You can find her on social media @moxie_mindset.
Jennifer Caspari, PhD View titles by Jennifer Caspari, PhD

About

A gentle, supportive guide to developing coping skills and improving quality of life for disabled and chronically ill people

Managing the stresses of everyday life can be exhausting and overwhelming. Dr. Jennifer Caspari knows this struggle well—both through her work as a clinical psychologist and her lived experience as a disabled woman with cerebral palsy. You Are More Than Your Body weaves together clinical expertise, personal stories, and practical, evidence-based tools to help readers with chronic health conditions better cope with pain, fatigue, depression, and the emotional vulnerability that comes with living in a world not designed for our bodies. 
The methods in this book synthesize a wide range of emotional regulation skills and coping techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness practices, all of which Dr. Caspari has successfully used with her own clients. In this book, you’ll learn over thirty practical coping skills to help you:

  • tune into internal experience and connect with your body; 
  • shift mental focus;
  • cultivate self-compassion and radical acceptance; 
  • change your relationship with your thoughts; 
  • engage the power of the present to get unstuck; 
  • practice realistic goal-setting;
  • tap into your deepest values as a resource;
  • tolerate discomfort; and
  • give yourselves permission to do things differently.

Each chapter includes a personal story or experience; a self-reflection exercise; associated coping skills; and practical guidance on how you can start using these tools in your own life. 
Having a disability or chronic illness does not have to mean accepting a lower quality of life. While we can’t make our issues and challenges disappear, by practicing the exercises in this book, we can learn to better manage challenges that arise and learn how we can live a meaningful life now—whatever our bodies and abilities might be.

Reviews

"[This] primer is a winner, written by someone who talks the talk and walks the walk."
—Booklist

"Written from a place of honest vulnerability, You Are More Than Your Body shares an accessible roadmap to self-acceptance and is a guide from which everyone can benefit."
—SHARON SALZBERG, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life

"Reading You Are More Than Your Body feels like sitting down with a great friend—one who shares her story with authenticity, humor, and eye-opening common sense. Dr. Jennifer Caspari offers not just coping skills but also powerful principles to guide each of us on our unique journeys."
—STEPHANIE SZOSTAK, actor and author of SELF!SH

"A beautiful guide to support you on your journey and help you accept and love yourself even more."
—SHANNON KAISER, best-selling author of The Self-Love Experiment

"Dr. Jennifer Caspari has combined her clinical expertise with her lived experience to create a must-read guide for anyone looking to live their life with more ease.... she effortlessly integrates evidence-based psychological strategies with personal narrative to enable the reader to shift their mindset and make meaningful changes in their life."
—ALEXIS CONASON, PsyD, CEDS-C, clinical psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and author of The Diet-Free Revolution

"Dr. Jennifer Caspari stands at the unique intersection of being a highly skilled psychologist and a woman with a disability. From this vantage point, she offers us a profoundly compassionate and practical guide to enhancing our well-being ... a must-read for anyone looking to navigate life's challenges with an open mind and determined heart."
—DR. DIANA HILL, clinical psychologist, host of the Wise Effort podcast, and author of The Self-Compassion Daily Journal

"With warmth, honesty, and mature professional insight, Dr. Caspari shares her personal journey of life with cerebral palsy, providing readers with a guidebook for emotional and psychological resilience. I strongly recommend it for anyone seeking to transform their personal challenges into growth opportunities."
—KENT DRESCHER, PhD, clinical psychologist living with muscular dystrophy and coauthor of The Moral Injury Workbook

"What Dr. Caspari shares will resonate deeply with those who have felt different or limited by their bodies and provide hope to those who have felt alone in their struggles."
—DR. JADE WU, author of Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications

"A compassionate guide for anyone with a chronic health condition—offering hope and a practical path to thriving. Through personal stories and insights, it acknowledges the complexity of difficult experiences while providing clear psychological strategies for tolerating discomfort and managing thoughts and emotions. It's a must-read for anyone seeking greater self-acceptance and empowerment."
—ANNA KRESS, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Heal Your Past to Manifest Your Future

"People often ask me, 'How do I move forward when I'm in constant mental and physical pain?' From the most practical aspects of finding greater ease in the body and mind to deep reflections about what makes life worth living, You Are More Than Your Body is an excellent guide to discovering a personal answer to that question."
—Kelly McGonigal, PhD, author of The Upside of Stress

Author

Jennifer Caspari, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist working at a group practice in Colorado, CBT Denver, that specializes in general and health psychology. She is passionate about helping clients live full and meaningful lives including those living with acute or chronic illness and chronic pain.  She lives with cerebral palsy and writes a Psychology Today blog titled Living Well When Your Body Doesn't Cooperate. Dr. Caspari is the creator and instructor of a nationwide chronic pain course with PESI, a national leader in providing continuing education to mental health professionals (https://catalog.pesi.com/item/132063).

In her free time, Dr. Caspari enjoys spending time with loved ones, feeling the sun on her face, listening to audiobooks while moving her body, watching cooking and baking shows, and eating delicious food. You can find her on social media @moxie_mindset.
Jennifer Caspari, PhD View titles by Jennifer Caspari, PhD

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