“Mend or Move On”

a safe space to explore questions of belonging, betrayal, boundaries, and healing.

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Book cover titled 'Mend or Move On' by Kate King, MA, LPC, with awards and badges including three awards, a gold Living Now Book Awards seal, a silver BookFest Award seal, and a black Award Winner badge, against a purple background with a doorway illustration.

Authored by Kate King, Published by Johns Hopkins University Press

Relationships are meant to be nourishing-but what happens when they cause harm instead?

Mend or Move On is a multi-award-winning therapeutic guide to recognizing, releasing, and recovering from relationships that harm your mental and emotional health.

I am a credible relationship expert you can trust. As a licensed psychotherapist and art therapist, I offer a bold, compassionate guide to breaking free from toxic dynamics and reclaiming a life rooted in self-respect and happiness.

In my new book “Mend or Move On”, I challenge the long-held belief that family loyalty and social harmony should come at the expense of personal well-being. This book is not about saving every connection-it's about knowing which relationships are worth healing, and which demand an honest goodbye. With insight, clarity, and empathy, I will guide you through the difficult process of deciding whether to stay or walk away with her practical, psychology-informed approach that supports both paths.

Through cutting-edge research and powerful stories from my clients and my own life, I offer a safe space to explore questions of belonging, betrayal, boundaries, and healing.

My unique approach provides a holistic path forward that emphasizes creative expression, evidence-based concepts, and nervous system regulation. This guide invites readers to build relationships that are honest, kind, and respectful-and to walk away from those that are dysfunctional, abusive, and beyond recovery.

Whether you are repairing a struggling bond or finding the strength to sever it, "Mend or Move On" will help you navigate this complex emotional territory with integrity.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling and holding a bright pink book labeled "MEND OR MOVE ON" by Kate King, in front of a staircase with wooden steps and metal railing.

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See What People Are Saying

  • "A compassionate, practical, and deeply validating guide for anyone navigating painful or confusing relationships. With clarity and heart, it helps readers discern whether to repair or release the bonds that shape their lives."

    -Dr. Sherrie Campbell, author of Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members

  • "A practical, inspiring guide for anyone who wants to transform their life by learning to recognize, understand, and release toxic relationship dynamics"

    -Eli Harwood, author of Securely Attached and Raising Securely Attached Kids

  • "This transformative book is medicine for anyone ready to stop abandoning themselves for the comfort of others. King's compassionate approach empowers readers to reclaim their authentic worth and create relationships built on genuine respect and truth rather than compliance and peacekeeping."

    -Jen Berlingo, author of Midlife Emergence

  • "For anyone questioning the health of their relationships, including the need for communication and boundaries, King approaches the complexity of connection with compassion and an ongoing invitation to stay curious. As an art therapist, King takes this to another level with engaging prompts for enhanced self-discovery and insight."

    -Khara Croswaite Brindle, author of Understanding Ruptured Mother-Daughter Relationships

Order Your Guide to Navigating Complex Emotional Territory with Integrity

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