Self-help psychology ghostwriter book coach

I help psychology, wellness, and self-help authors write books that grow their influence, build their credibility, and expand their reach.

Have a great idea for a self-help book, but no time to write it?

I can partner with you as a ghostwriter to turn your vision into reality.

Have a first draft that isn’t quite working?

I can elevate your manuscript to publishing industry standards while keeping your voice intact.

Want to master the craft of self-help writing?

I offer one-on-one coaching to help you develop the skills to write, structure, and polish your book.

Whichever path you choose, I make sure your research, insights, and experiences become a book that not only showcases your knowledge but shapes your legacy.

Book a Strategy Session

About Me

Since 2008, I’ve edited and ghostwritten books by therapists, psychologists, addiction specialists, neuroscientists, artists, and doctors. Along the way, I’ve learned that a book is never just a book—it’s a launchpad to a meaningful life.

I don’t just help authors finish manuscripts. I work with them to clarify their voice, shape their ideas, and create books that open doors — from workshops and retreats to speaking engagements, teaching opportunities, and lasting influence in their fields. My goal is to turn research, insights, and experience into a self-help book that changes readers’ lives while positioning the author for long-term impact.

Here are some fun facts about me:

  • I published my first self-help book when I was 24. Sixteen years later, I still get emails from readers telling me my book changed their lives—and I still get royalty checks every year.

  • I recently completed my 40-hour domestic violence advocacy certification and I bring my sense of ethics and advocacy to every self-help book I work on.

  • I believe in lifelong learning. I am constantly taking classes and attending workshops on publishing topics so I can give my clients the best possible advice.

  • When I’m not ghostwriting books for other people, I publish my own writing in magazines like Lion’s Roar, Parabola, bp hope, Appalachia Journal, and The Sun.

  • I love teaching and public speaking, and my online writing workshops have reached 500 students and counting.

Psychology ghostwriter giving talk at bookstore

About You

Enough about me—let’s talk about you!

You’re an accomplished practitioner who loves working one-on-one with your clients, patients, or students—but you also yearn to do more. You want to shape your field, share your ideas, and reach many more people than you could possibly work with directly.

Maybe you’re a therapist who’s created a new system for helping clients heal and grow, a doctor who wants to translate complex research into advice ordinary people can actually follow, or a coach with a passion for public speaking.

You don’t just want to publish a book. You want to help more people than you can reach in your private practice alone. You want to share what you’ve learned and make a meaningful contribution to your field.

If this is you, let’s talk.

I work best with people who are total nerds about using their knowledge to help others.

If you love ideas, care about getting them right, and feel a real responsibility to make your expertise serve the public good, we’ll get along very well.

With a one-hour strategy session, we can clarify your book concept, identify your audience, assess your readiness, and see if we vibe—before you invest in editing, ghostwriting, or book coaching.

Book a Strategy Session

  • “Although we knew we had all the elements of a strong psychology book, we needed Hilary to help us pull it all together. She helped us to reimagine the structure, provide a much needed flow, and bring our personal voices to the forefront. Without Hilary, our book would not have the same quality and impact that we know it will.”

    Dr. Kim McManama O’Brien, PhD, LICSW

  • “Hilary’s writing advice is the reason I was able to sell my self-help book to my dream publisher. Working with her as a book coach was the best professional investment I ever made.”

    Carrie Schmitt, visual artist and creativity coach

  • “Hilary helped me transform a sprawling 400-page manuscript—six years in the making—into a focused book, skillfully shaping the storyline while respecting my voice. On more than one occasion, a reader would remark, “I like the way you said that.” And I’d confess, ‘My ghostwriter wrote that.’”

    James Callahan, former Executive Vice President of the American Board of Addiction Medicine

  • "Hilary's self-help writing class made the idea of writing my psychology book so much more manageable. I have a solid direction now and am excited and inspired to start putting my project together."

    Naomi Kimmelman, LMFT

  • "‘Hilary appeared like a literary lifeline with her gentle, encouraging wisdom, helping me to shape my teachings into a coherent narrative. I learned storytelling, pacing, order, structure… all through watching how Hilary edited and co-created my book with me."

    -Rhonda McCrimmon, founder, The Centre for Shamanism

  • “When I look back on my journey to publication and the moments that made the biggest difference, I always go straight to the manuscript critique I received from Hilary Smith. That critique turned out to be the biggest “Ah hah!” moment of my writing career. Using her editorial notes, I revised once more and a few months later signed with my first agent, which ultimately led to a two-book deal with HarperCollins.”

    Sharon Huss Roat, author