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.

About Me

Since 2008, I’ve edited and ghostwritten books by therapists, psychologists, addiction specialists, neuroscientists, creativity experts, coaches, 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 am the co-author of The Self-Help Author’s Toolkit, the comprehensive guide to writing self-help books and building a career as a self-help author.

  • 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 attending publishing workshops and conferences 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, Brevity, Appalachia Journal, and The Sun.

  • I love teaching and public speaking, and my online writing workshops on self-help writing through Insight Events USA have reached 700 students and counting.

  • “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, author of Awakening Creativity

  • “After decades of storytelling through photographs, films, talks, and articles, I was sitting on a mountain of material. Hilary helped me organize [it] into a memoir that feels true to who I am and what I’ve learned. Hilary is ray of light and a delight to work with.”

    -Pete McBride, filmmaker and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year

  • “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, HarperCollins author

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.

Have a great idea for a self-help book, but lack the technical skills 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.

Whether you’re considering book coaching, editing, or ghostwriting, I start with a 60-minute strategy session to understand your vision for your book and career. If we decide to work together, the cost of this $250 session counts towards your full project fee.

My Process

Many times, authors come to me with book ideas that don’t fully express their true potential. One of the deepest joys of my work is helping self-help authors identify the treasures they may not even realize they possess. Maybe you have life experiences that feel normal to you, but are actually extraordinary; unique insights that are getting buried under generic advice; or a framework that feels “too simple” when in fact it could serve as the backbone of your book. Helping you discover the real book hidden within your initial notes and outlines lights me up every time.

Often, that means stepping back and asking deeper questions: What’s the biggest challenge your readers are facing, and how will your book help them? What are the stories only you can tell? How can your book showcase the full range of both your experience and your expertise? When those pieces click into place, you’ll be glad you kept digging and didn’t leave those treasures buried underground.

My number one priority is not just to help you write a book, but to help you write the right book: the book that will express your core values, help the largest number of people, and provide a lasting contribution to your field.

Discovery & Strategy

Many of the authors who come to me are focused on the next 1-2 years of their careers. I am constantly reminding authors that the book you publish will become your public identity for the next 10-15 years or more. Your book is what journalists, clients, and event organizers will look at when they want to understand what you stand for and what you contribute to your field.

For that reason, I start every project with a Strategy Session so I can get to know you better. What ideas do you want to be known for? What conversations do you want to shape? What kind of opportunities—speaking, teaching, clinical work, research, or community leadership—do you hope your book will open up? When we keep that longer horizon in view, we can shape a book that not only succeeds in the year it is published, but continues to support your work for many years to come.


We begin by uncovering your expertise, audience, and long-term goals. I map out how your self-help book can become the foundation of a sustainable and fulfilling career, not just a one-off project. I review your prior publications and social media to see how you’re already communicating your ideas and where there may be opportunities to deepen or expand your message.

From there, we identify the themes, frameworks, and stories that best represent your work and have the greatest potential to serve readers. The goal is to shape a book that not only reflects your expertise, but also strengthens your platform and supports the larger body of work you want to create.

Manuscript Development
The manuscript development process looks different from project to project. If we’re starting from a blank page, I’ll interview you extensively, then build an outline based on our conversations. And if we’re starting from a draft you’ve written, I’ll read the manuscript closely and look at what’s already working, where important points are getting buried, and how we can more finely match your expertise to your audience. From there, we’ll develop a revised outline that presents your ideas logically and makes the most of your unique expertise.

Once we’re fully aligned on the vision, I’ll start writing or rewriting one chapter at a time, checking in with you at regular intervals so you can review drafts, share feedback, and stay connected to how the book is developing. This step-by-step approach ensures that the final manuscript feels cohesive, polished, and true to your ideas while also allowing room for refinement as the work evolves.

Beyond the Book
Beyond finishing the manuscript, I help you think strategically about how your book will live in the world after you publish it. I can connect you with PR professionals, marketing specialists, and other experts who can help you promote your book effectively. You’ll walk away with clear next steps for getting your book into readers’ hands.

Why Self-Help Authors Work With Me

Self-help authors work with me because I’m very good at identifying the gold in a rough outline or first draft, then rewriting the book to fully realize that untapped potential. I have a knack for helping non-writers articulate their expertise with greater precision, so their book reflects the very best of their thinking and communicates it in the strongest possible way.

My years of experience working both within and alongside the publishing industry mean I can give accurate and high-quality advice about how best to develop and position your book. I understand what editors, agents, and publishers tend to look for, and I use that knowledge to help you make strategic decisions throughout the writing and revision process.