As a psychiatrist I am aware of the fact that our past experiences can have great impact on our lives, but I also know that human beings are resilient creatures who can thrive despite – and sometimes even because of – adversity.
Many years ago, when I was specializing in psychiatry, I became disillusioned with the at that time popular emphasis in our field on all the bad things that had happened to our patients in the past. I became interested in the counterpart of vulnerability known in psychological literature as “resilience”. My partner at the time encouraged me to write a book about the topic and a year later the book "Never too late to have a happy childhood" was born. It was first published in Finnish but over the years it has been translated and published in several other languages as well.
The book has resonated with many readers and has even become something of a bestseller in some countries. The stories and feedback I have received from its readers have convinced me that it is possible for people who feel that they carry the weight of their past on their shoulders, to learn to see their past in different way, not so much as the root of all their trouble, but more as a source of growth, learning and resilience.
There is saying in my country Finland, a country that has been deemed as the happiest country in the world for five years in a row, that I find amusing:
"The manure of my past is the fertilizer of my future". It’s a reminder that even the most challenging memories can nourish our growth and hope for a better future, if we learn to see them in different light.
I created this app to bring together the tools, exercises, and insights I’ve
learned throughout my career. Here, you’ll find not only the contents of my
book but also a practical guided self-therapy process to help you turn your
past into a foundation for a happier, more fulfilling future. My hope is that
this app becomes a safe, supportive space for your personal journey—one where you can reflect, heal, and move forward in your life with confidence.
No matter where you start, it truly is never too late to have a happy childhood. I’m honored to walk this path with you.
