A dad from Tulse Hill has written his debut book, Recognition, which blends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and poetry to help others embrace personal growth.
Mr. Lisp, who chose his name due to his speech impediment, shared how his lisp, which makes it difficult to pronounce the letter ‘S,’ led to years of teasing and self-doubt during his childhood.
He told the News Shopper: “This caused me to become self-isolated, have low self-esteem, and lack self-confidence.
“It was something I battled with for most of my life.
“During lockdown, I realised things had to change.
“I couldn’t ask others, including my children, to be the best version of themselves while hiding from the true me. So, I decided to embrace change and work on my mindset.”
Mr Lisp chose his name due to his speech impediment (Image: Mr Lisp) A creative individual, Mr. Lisp used art, journaling, and poetry to express what he couldn’t say out loud.
He explained that poetry allowed him to be unapologetically himself, reflecting on his feelings and using it as a form of therapy.
“Poetry is art, and art is a form of psychotherapy,” he said. “It’s essential for expression and communication.”
Drawing on his experience as a substance misuse counsellor and CBT practitioner, Mr. Lisp created Recognition to help others understand and improve their mindset.
He said: “I didn’t want to write a simple self-help guide.
“I wanted something impactful and personal, that readers could use throughout their life, as they grow and develop.
“The poems and affirmations will resonate differently at each stage of their journey.”
The inspiration behind his book also led to the creation of The Mask We Wear event, a night of introspection and art.
The Mask We Wear event (Image: Mr Lisp)
Mr Lisp explained: “The event aimed to show that we all wear masks for different reasons.
“Some masks we don’t even realise we’re wearing.
“The goal was to create a space where people could remove their masks and be their true selves.”
Throughout his journey, Mr. Lisp has been supported by a strong network of family and friends, helping him stay balanced and focused.
“It allows me an outlet to express myself verbally, which is still new to me, but I’m learning to embrace the new me,” he said. “I’m no longer confined by others’ opinions.”
His advice for others facing challenges is simple: “Believe in yourself, even when others don’t. Obstacles are tests that will always develop you.
“There’s no such thing as failure – you have to take what you may believe is a failure as a lesson or a development opportunity.”
Recognition is Mr Lisp’s debut book (Image: Mr Lisp)
Looking ahead, Mr. Lisp plans to release his second book in 2025, titled Our Issues Don’t Define Us, Vol. 1.
This collection addresses struggles like substance abuse, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
He also hopes to collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations, aiming to empower others through poetry, podcasting, and creative expression.
Mr Lisp added: “One of my goals for 2025 will be to go into schools, services, organisations and projects encouraging and empowering individuals via poetry, podcasting, discovering self-discovery and expression of creativity.”