Nightbird

In Nightbird, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott delivers an unflinching and deeply moving account of her journey through unthinkable personal tragedy and into hard-won healing. With the insight of a seasoned clinician and the vulnerability of a survivor, she recounts a childhood overshadowed by religious extremism and emotional abuse, a marriage marked by psychological captivity, and the shocking revenge suicide of her husband after she asked for a divorce. Through vivid storytelling and raw emotional honesty, Scott traces the long arc of trauma and how it echoes through generations. She reveals how the wounds of the past shaped her personal relationships-and how, despite the tragedy, she ultimately found strength, self-worth, and meaning. This is not only a story of suffering, but of resilience and reinvention. As Scott confronts the shadows of her past, she also shares how her work with thousands of trauma survivors helped illuminate the path to her own recovery. For readers of Tara Westover, Jeannette Walls, and Cheryl Strayed, Nightbird is a testimony to the power of truth-telling and the quiet courage it takes to break cycles of abuse. It's a compelling read for anyone who has lived through emotional harm, sought understanding, or longed to reclaim their voice. Essential reading for those interested in the psychology of trauma, domestic violence, and the redemptive power of facing the past, Nightbird reminds us that while trauma may shape us, it does not have to define us.