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YOU MAKE SENSE.

THE STORY BENEATH THE SURFACE

Understanding the Experiences That Shape How We Think, Feel, React, and Connect

The Story Beneath the Surface book and companion workbook by Karyn Skiba

If you've ever wondered, “Why do I react this way?” or “What's wrong with me?” there may be more to the story. Understanding what shaped you can change how you understand yourself.

The Story Beneath the Surface by Karyn Skiba book cover

The Story Beneath the Surface

Understand why you think, feel, react, and connect the way you do. Explore anxiety, grief, relationships, and the experiences that shape your patterns - so you can replace judgment with curiosity and begin to see why you make sense.

The Story Beneath the Surface companion workbook by Karyn Skiba

Companion Workbook

Take what you're learning one step deeper. Reflective prompts and practical exercises help you recognize your patterns, connect them to your experiences, and put greater self-understanding into practice.

THE MISSION

Karyn Skiba, LMSW, is a licensed therapist and author who believes there is always more beneath the surface. Our thoughts, emotions, reactions, and relationship patterns don't develop in isolation—they are shaped by our experiences, relationships, and the ways we've learned to navigate the world.

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Her mission is to make mental health education accessible, compassionate, and human, helping people replace judgment with curiosity and understand themselves with greater compassion. Through her books, workshops, and educational work, Karyn invites people to explore the patterns that shape their lives and discover a simple but powerful truth: you make sense.

Karyn Skiba, LMSW, author and mental health educator

READER VOICES

Reader reviews of the original edition, You Make Sense, now expanded and reimagined as The Story Beneath the Surface.

“Very easy and right to the point. I found this book very helpful to understand some of my issues and why I may have them.”


★★★★★ Amazon Review

“This book is compassionate, validating and hopeful. It helps people understand themselves with a little more curiosity and a lot less judgment.”

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★★★★★ Amazon Review

— KRISTINE FUESLEIN

— T. ANTISHIN

SPEAKING & WORKSHOPS

Bringing compassionate, accessible mental health education beyond the therapy room.

Through engaging, compassionate mental health education, Karyn helps audiences better understand the experiences behind their thoughts, emotions, reactions, and relationships - and leave with practical language, greater self-awareness, and a more curious way of understanding themselves and others.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS • WORKSHOPS • MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION • ANXIETY • GRIEF • RELATIONSHIPS

LOOK BENEATH THE SURFACE

When a reaction feels bigger than the moment, there may be more underneath it. These five questions can help you slow down, get curious, and begin understanding what your response may be trying to tell you.

Get the free 5-question reflection guide

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