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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Mary-Joy Albutt’s powerful new book, The Bear, The Bull and The Butterfly: A Journey To Authentic Healing, blends personal narrative, poetry, and reflection to speak to the soul of every trauma survivor in a world where such experiences are often shrouded in silence and stigma.
The Bear, The Bull And The Butterfly
In a world where the scars of childhood trauma often remain hidden, Mary-Joy Albutt’s new book, The Bear, The Bull and The Butterfly: A Journey To Authentic Healing, emerges as a lifeline for survivors. This raw, honest, and profoundly hopeful memoir offers a blend of personal narrative, poetry, and reflections that speak directly to those navigating the complex paths of dissociation, self-discovery, and recovery. For trauma survivors and those who support them, Albutt’s words provide both a mirror and a map—reflecting their experiences with striking clarity while illuminating a way forward.
Albutt’s journey is one of resilience forged through decades of introspection and courage. Since 1982, she has been gathering the prose, verse, and reflections that now fill the pages of this book, creating a tapestry of survival and transformation. Her writing resonates deeply, leaving readers feeling seen, understood, and empowered to break their own silences. It’s not just a memoir—it’s an invitation to healing.
What sets The Bear, The Bull and The Butterfly apart is its unflinching authenticity. Albutt, a registered mental health nurse since 1989, brings her professional dedication to supporting others into her writing. She doesn’t shy away from the painful realities of abuse, instead confronting them head-on with a voice that is both compassionate and unapologetic. Divided into five parts, the book traces her path from the shadows of childhood trauma through dissociation to the light of renewal. Each section—rich with personal stories and poetic insight—offers a stepping stone for readers on their own journeys.
More than a resource, this book is a literary companion. For those who feel isolated in their struggles, Albutt’s words provide solace and solidarity, ensuring no one has to face their trauma alone. Her professional background as a mental health nurse only deepens the book’s impact, reflecting her lifelong commitment to helping others heal. Whether you’re a survivor seeking understanding or someone supporting a loved one, The Bear, The Bull and The Butterfly offers inspiration, comfort, and a powerful reminder of the strength found in reclaiming one’s life.
In its essence, Albutt’s work is a celebration of hope—a beacon for anyone striving to transform pain into power. As one reader might put it, this is a book that doesn’t just speak to the mind, but to the soul. For trauma survivors and their allies alike, The Bear, The Bull and The Butterfly is a must-read, a gentle yet unwavering hand extended in the dark.
Mary-Joy Albutt
This is not a personal attack on the Baptist Church or any religious institution. Every group has compassionate individuals striving to make a difference, as well as those seeking belonging and validation. Unfortunately, there are also predators who exploit positions of power, especially when institutions prioritise reputation over the well-being of victims.
We’ve seen this in powerful organisations including the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, and the BBC. I wish I were the only one affected within the Baptist and “born again Christian” churches, but I doubt it. My experience challenged their belief systems, making it easier to silence me than confront uncomfortable truths.
Anyone who has experienced persistent abuse of any type will have developed abnormal reactions and thinking patterns. But when the abuse happens within a religious context, there is an added dimension to the complex web of distorted thinking and brain-washing that takes place. Unpicking these multilayered strands makes therapy, and recovery, a slow process.
If you have endured similar experiences and remained silent—whether for a few years or decades—please reach out. I’m not a trained therapist, but as a mental health nurse, I can guide you to qualified professionals who can help. No matter how much time has passed, your story matters. I will listen. I will believe you. There is hope.
–Mary-Joy Albutt
Mary-Joy Albutt has been a qualified nurse in both general and mental health fields since 1989, building an impressive career that spans teaching, health promotion, and public health. Today, she works as a consultant in dementia care while pursuing a PhD exploring the connections between trauma and dementia. Yet, her professional accomplishments tell only part of her story. As a young person, long before specialized mental health services existed for youth, Mary-Joy endured inpatient treatment on an acute psychiatric ward—an experience that shaped her life in ways she wouldn’t fully understand for decades.
For the next 40 years, she grappled with frustration and self-doubt, unable to comprehend why success so often triggered a return to self-sabotaging behaviors. Misunderstood by others and herself, she carried the weight of a past that refused to stay buried. Then, at 55, a turning point arrived. Engaging with mental health services for the first time in 12 years, she encountered a system that had evolved—now trauma-informed and ready to listen. Where she had once been silenced, dismissed, labeled, and stigmatized, she now found validation. Professionals not only believed her story but helped her see how her symptoms and behaviors were logical responses to a traumatic history.
With the support of a counselor, Mary-Joy began unraveling the mystery of her own identity. No longer running from her past, she started embracing it, piecing together the fragments of her authentic self—the person she was always meant to be. What emerged was a profound sense of joy and self-discovery, a testament to the resilience that defines her journey both as a healer and a survivor.
Find more from Mary-Joy Albutt now:
Apple Books: https://apple.co/4lbE4jd
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3Yg0TbF
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3E1aaNX
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3RsoUs7
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-bear-the-bull-and-the-butterfly/mary-joy-albutt/9798896040873
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The Bear, the bull and the butterfly
Everand: https://www.everand.com/author/831576312/Mary-Joy-Albutt
Bookscape: https://bookscape.com/product-details/the-bear-the-bull-and-the-butterfly-9798896040941
Overdrive: https://www.overdrive.com/media/11590975/the-bear-the-bull-and-the-butterfly
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