Vertical Moments: How A Traumatized Child Became Trauma Therapist: Memoir of the Hands That Reached Out to Me

"For clinicians, this memoir offers a powerful reminder of why our work matters and how deeply it can change a life... For survivors, it offers validation, hope, and the reassurance that healing is not linear, not perfect, and not out of reach." Tracy Ryan Kidd, LCSW, from the Foreword "You shouldn't be alive." That's what a doctor told Jack Stell after reading his medical file - and he wasn't wrong. Vertical Moments is the true story of how a traumatized child survived abuse, electroshock treatments, and the long shadow of complex PTSD to become a trauma therapist who helps others heal. A powerful memoir of childhood trauma, resilience, and the healing journey that transformed a survivor into a healer. In Vertical Moments, Jack Stell shares an unforgettable account of survival, recovery, and the small acts of kindness that helped him rise from a childhood shaped by instability, fear, and profound abuse. From the chaos of his early years to the shock treatments that nearly erased him, Jack learned to survive by noticing the brief, vertical moments when someone reached out and held him up. Those moments became the map he followed into adulthood, military service, and eventually the long, winding path toward becoming a therapist for others living with PTSD and C-PTSD. Told with clarity, heart, and unflinching honesty, Vertical Moments is both a survival memoir and a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Readers who have lived through trauma - and the clinicians who support them - will find hope, validation, and deep recognition in these pages. This inspiring memoir explores: - surviving childhood trauma and complex PTSD- the impact of intergenerational trauma and how healing begins- the resilience required to overcome childhood abuse- the lived experience of PTSD and the journey toward recovery- how a survivor became a trauma therapist and healer- the power of connection, compassion, and "vertical moments" that lift us up For readers of trauma recovery stories, military veteran PTSD memoirs, and true accounts of resilience, Vertical Moments offers a deeply moving, beautifully written narrative of courage, healing, and the hands that reached out along the way. ENDORSEMENTS: "For veterans navigating PTSD, and families trying to understand what their loved ones carry, this book is a mandatory read." Colonel Darel Maxfield, U.S. Army (Retired) "A true hero's journey - full of courage, heart and hope. It will be a gift to survivors, clinicians, and anyone who deeply respects the power of healing." Nancy Newport, LPC, LMFT, Jack's clinical supervisor during his internship