Life rarely follows the script people write for themselves. Rachael Stewart has learned that firsthand, and now she is encouraging others to stop waiting for life to go according to plan.
Stewart, LCSW, CFRC, of Chicago, is the author of Well, That Was a Doozy! A Therapist’s Guide to Participating in Life’s Unexpected Moments, a semi-memoir that blends personal stories with a clinical perspective and practical reflection.
The book, independently published through IngramSpark, officially launches Sept. 19.
Stewart earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Governors State University. As a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Amaris Counseling, a virtual counseling practice, she spends her days helping people navigate some of life’s most difficult and unexpected moments.
Those experiences became part of the inspiration for her book.
“I’ve always loved to write, and many of the topics explored in the book are things I talk about in my therapy sessions, podcast episodes, and speaking engagements,” Stewart said.
She wanted to take those conversations beyond the therapy room and create something readers could recognize in their own lives.
“I wanted to create a more relatable framework where people could see themselves in the conversation and recognize that these lessons aren’t limited to therapists or any one particular life experience,” she said.
The book explores what it means to participate in life instead of constantly waiting for circumstances to fall into place. Stewart encourages readers to let go of some of the pressure to control every outcome and instead become more present for the life they are actually living.
That message can apply to just about anyone.
“Whether you’re divorced, a single parent, happily married, facing a difficult season, starting over, or simply trying to figure out what comes next, I believe there is something powerful about learning how to enjoy the journey instead of constantly waiting for life to finally go according to plan,” Stewart said.
Her hope is that readers walk away with a different perspective on control, uncertainty and the moments that do not turn out as expected.
“So much of our energy can go toward trying to control outcomes, predict what’s coming next, or prepare for the life we hope to have,” Stewart said. “I want readers to discover what it looks like to move from control to presence and to find meaning, growth, and even joy in the life that is unfolding right now.”
The book’s title reflects that reality. Sometimes life is simply, as Stewart puts it, “a doozy.”
Her own experiences have taught her that some of the most important lessons do not come from having everything figured out. They come from navigating the unexpected and learning how to remain engaged along the way.
Stewart will celebrate the book’s release with a launch event at The Book Bar in Mokena, a location that carries special meaning for her.
She has spent many hours at the bookstore and coffee shop, often with an Iced Lavender Fog in hand, during difficult seasons of her life.
“I’ve spent many hours there with an Iced Lavender Fog during difficult seasons, making hard decisions, processing life, and moving through both laughter and tears,” Stewart said. “Now I get to return to that same space to celebrate something I created.”
The launch will be an intimate afternoon surrounded by family and friends who have supported Stewart throughout her journey. The event will include an author Q&A, book reading, photos and signing, along with time to celebrate the milestone.
The book is currently available for preorder through Stewart’s website and online preorder link. The official launch date is Sept. 19.
Stewart’s work as a therapist is a natural extension of the message behind her book.
“My work as a therapist is a huge part of why this book came to life,” she said. “I spend my days sitting with people through some of their hardest and most unexpected moments, and I’ve learned that sometimes the most meaningful work isn’t helping someone create a perfect plan, it’s helping them learn how to participate in the life they actually have.”
That is the lesson Stewart hopes readers carry with them long after they finish the book.
“I hope this book carries that same spirit beyond the therapy room,” she said.