Book Review: Fully Human by Steve Biddulph

How Self-Understanding Creates Space for Compassionate Parenting

At our play therapy practice, we often remind caregivers that healing and growth are deeply relational processes. This message is echoed powerfully in Steve Biddulph’s book, Fully Human: A New Way of Using Your Mind, which explores how reconnecting with ourselves enables us to better support the emotional worlds of our children.

Biddulph, a renowned psychologist and parenting author, takes readers on a journey into the often-neglected inner landscapes of emotion, intuition, and deep awareness. He introduces the idea of the “supersense” a natural, embodied intelligence that most of us have lost touch with in our fast-paced, disconnected modern lives. By learning to tune in to this internal compass, we can begin to access more calm, clarity, and compassion not just for ourselves, but for those around us.

For parents and caregivers, Fully Human is more than a book it’s an invitation. It asks us to slow down, get curious about our own inner wounds, and nurture our own healing. Biddulph makes a compelling case that doing our own “inner work” is not just beneficial for our wellbeing it’s essential for raising emotionally healthy children. When we understand our triggers, recognise old patterns, and make space for our feelings, we naturally become more attuned to our children’s needs.

At its heart, this book affirms what we see every day in play therapy: children thrive when the adults in their lives are emotionally grounded and self-aware. Working on yourself—learning to feel fully, listen inwardly, and live authentically—creates the conditions where patience, presence, and empathy can flourish in your parenting.

We highly recommend Fully Human to any parent or caregiver seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and how that journey can profoundly impact the way they show up for their children. It’s a beautifully written, hopeful guide to becoming the kind of adult every child needs: calm, connected, and fully human.

Content developed with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI. Adapted for this website by Humanistic Therapy Hub.