Creative First Aid

Caitlin Marshall and Lizzie Rose founded MakeShift, an Australian agency bringing trauma-informed creativity programs to first responders and traumatized communities, and that real-world grounding gives this book something many wellness guides lack: actual evidence from people in difficult circumstances, not just aspirational case studies. The fifty short creative prescriptions are deliberately low-barrier — some take only minutes — making the book accessible to readers who find creativity intimidating. Personal stories from people navigating trauma, grief, and chronic illness give the science a human face. Psychologist Chris Cheers' endorsement notes the balance of evidence and lived experience. Honest limitations: Australian publication limits US availability, the framework is secular, and critical coverage beyond the authors' networks is thin. Still a genuinely useful tool.