Conversations With a Rattlesnake: Raw and Honest Reflections on Healing and Trauma
by Theo Fleury & Kim Barthel
About the Book
Following the release of his mind-blowing first book Playing with Fire, Theo Fleury joins forces with world-renowned therapist Kim Barthel in a new book Conversations with a Rattlesnake, coming out November 2014. The book is a raw and honest conversation, loaded with personal insights and cutting-edge information about healing from trauma and abuse.
Fleury calls Barthel the Wayne Gretzky of therapy, and within their emotionally safe relationship he bares his soul so that others can learn from his mistakes, triumphs, and new learnings. Fleury’s story will inspire not only those overcoming their own trauma but friends, parents, teachers, coaches, therapists, and health practitioners. Anyone who is in the critical position of supporting someone who needs to share their own story.
Co-author Kim Barthel provides an in-depth explanation of early childhood attachment and addiction that ties into the reasoning behind our behaviours and the science of how our brains work. Barthel explains how understanding groundbreaking scientific and psychological research can eliminate the unnecessary and damaging shame that so often accompanies abuse and trauma. Her dialogue with Fleury illuminates self-awareness, mindfulness, and the power of relationships. Fleury’s life experiences and Barthel’s informed interpretation combine to provide a unique look at the healing process that is easy to read, entertaining and transformational.
I’ve had a few teammates who have had struggles in the past, and I know how hard it is to make a comeback in life. I’m really happy for Theo, and where he is today, because that’s where we all wanted him to be in the first place. Theo gets that healing takes teamwork.
— Mario Lemieux
Illuminated by Kim Barthel’s insights and research and by Theo’s own humorously self-deprecating and keen awareness, their refreshing discussion ranges over the field of trauma and recovery, therapy and human development.
— Gabor Mate, MD, Best selling author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
About the Author
Theo Fleury used to be best known for his time on the ice; he’s an NHL Stanley Cup Champion, a 2002 Olympic Gold Medallist for Canada and a World Junior Champion. Then in 2009 Fleury wrote the best-selling novel Playing with Fire in which he speaks of his troubled home life as a child, traumatic years of sexual abuse and then his often-out-of-control life off the ice as an adult. Now, in 2014, Theo has an amazing reason to jump out of bed in the morning. He is a healing motivator with an ever-growing knowledge in the field of relational trauma.
Theo’s mission statement, to help as many people get to where they want to go, has taken shape in many forms, whether meeting people for a brief moment on the street or as a dynamic inspirational speaker. He loves people, their stories and their journeys. He is committed to daily transformation through self-reflection, mindfulness and new action. His compassionate spirit allows others to feel safe and whole through experiencing his vulnerability. Theo has been awarded the Canadian Humanitarian Award and the Queen’s Jubilee Medallion. He is an Honorary Chief, recipient of the Aboriginal Indspire Award and most recently, Theo was humbled to accept an honorary doctorate in Science from the University of Guelph-Humber for outstanding contributions to the mental health of Canadians.
About the Co-Author
Kim Barthel is a sought-after speaker and therapist, most actively teaching in the fields of relational trauma, attachment theory and sensory processing. Her revolutionary process reinforces the importance of blending intuitive inquiry with cutting edge developments in neuroscience. She travels extensively worldwide, especially throughout Asia in recent years, developing services for children with developmental disabilities and trauma. In Canada, Barthel had her own multi-disciplinary clinic for 10 years in Winnipeg where she also expanded services supporting high-risk youth.
She later developed mental health services for children in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, and today supports people with the extremes of complex behaviour throughout Vancouver Island. Barthel is addicted to learning and sharing as much as she can on the topics of mental health and healing, and has contributed chapters in many textbooks related to a wide spectrum of topics. She is not specifically a hockey fan, but continues to be awed and inspired by Fleury’s commitment to his own healing.
In the Media
Featured on Global News “The Morning Show”
Interview with The Toronto Star
Interview on City TV’s Breakfast Television
Interview with the Edmonton Sun
Theo Fleury Talks to Inmates at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary
Influence Publishing author Theo Fleury, with healing partner Kim Barthel, made CBC news on Monday after taking time during the final leg of their January book tour to visit Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s.
A previous article published by CBC revealed signs of a violent prison culture after video surveillance showed a brutal group attack against another convict inside the chapel of Her Majesty’s last November; the largest penitentiary in Newfoundland and Labrador has also received media attention for its deteriorating conditions.
The Olympic and Stanley Cup Champion has become a passionate speaker on overcoming childhood trauma; leading as a spokesman for mental health, Theo Fleury has a no-holds-barred rhetoric on dealing with addiction, shame, and abuse by openly sharing his journey learning from his mistakes and initially using aggression as a way of trying to heal.
His presence at the Her Majesty’s was a voluntary speaking engagement as the hockey legend spoke directly to convicts with a message of hope, and donated several copies of Conversations with a Rattlesnake.
Fleury’s talk was followed by standing applause from the inmates.
How befitting as we recognize today’s “Bell Let’s Talk Day“— a social movement and fundraising campaign that aims to break down barriers on the open discussion of mental health, led by Bell media.
Like Theo Fleury and Kim Barthel’s Conversations with a Rattlesnake and social media efforts at #CWAR — #BellLetsTalk is all about getting the conversation going. Find out how to take the first step with a friend, family member, and/or therapist here.
View the post below to read more about Theo’s first visit inside a penitentiary, or find the article directly on CBC.
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Legendary hockey player and published author Theo Fleury detoured from the usual book launch hot spots to make a stop inside Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s Monday.
Fleury spent two hours inside the Victorian-era jail, speaking directly to inmates about his battle with addictions and memories of sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of a former coach.
“From the ages of 14 to 16, I was raped over 150 times by a coach of mine and you know that sort of set me on this path of addictions, anger, bad behaviour,” Fleury told the inmates.
Those stories of horrific abuse — and how he overcame it — are outlined in his new book called Conversations with a Rattlesnake.
Co-written by Fleury’s therapist and friend, Kim Barthel, the book talks about his struggles and healing from trauma and abuse.
Fleury played fifteen years on NHL ice with The Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, the New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks.
He won the Stanley Cup in 1989 and an Olympic gold medal in 2002.
“I wanted to reach out to guys like yourself because I know we share a lot in common,” Fleury told the group of men, “Because without hockey, I would be sitting right beside you right now, that’s where my life would have ended up.”
25 books donated
The former NHL star said he kept his emotions bottled up inside, but has since learned to speak about his feelings.
“I believe that every single issue that we have in society starts with trauma and then you pick your poison as to how you’re going to deal with this trauma for the rest of your life,” he said.
“We hope today that when we leave, that we leave you with a message of hope, that you can change the way you look at the world, see the world, and how you can change.”
Following Fleury’s discussion, the men jumped to their feet, applauding him for taking the time to speak to him.
HMP was the first jail Fleury has ever visited; he hopes to make similar visits at other correctional institutions.
Fleury often gets paid for speaking engagements, but CBC News was told he did not accept any money for Monday’s talk.
Twenty-five books have been donated to the jail, and they hope to make an audio version available as well.
This slightly edited version was originally posted by CBC on Jan 26, 2015 6:18 PM NT