Held in The Skin

Emma Levett is a nurse, skin clinician, and educator based in Australia. Born in Kent, England, her work sits at the intersection of skin, nervous system regulation, and human connection. Held in the Skin. Held in the Skin is a narrative nonfiction work that explores how the body particularly the skin holds memory, emotion, and survival responses long after the mind has moved on. Through personal storytelling, clinical observation, and poetic reflection, Emma Levett traces her journey from childhood in Kent, through experiences of bullying, Bell’s palsy, migration, motherhood, and clinical practice, to a deeper understanding of how safety, touch, and nervous system regulation shape both skin health and human behaviour.

The book sits at the crossroads of memoir, body-based insight, and quiet psychology. It is written for readers interested in embodiment, healing, and the emotional intelligence of the body, as well as professionals working in caring, clinical, or therapeutic roles. Held in the Skin is not a self-help manual. It is an invitation to listen — to the body, to sensation, and to what has been carried silently for years.