exploring the ebb and flow of mental health and healing with poet Katie Cecilia
Katie Cecilia is a talented poet and mental health advocate with a strong passion for helping others. Through her authentic and heartfelt writing, she explores themes of healing, self-care, reflection, and self-discovery.
We were thrilled to speak to Katie in the run up to the launch of her highly-awaited second poetry collection, ebb and flow, about her evolution as a writer, what we can expect from her second collection, and the challenges and triumphs that come along with publishing two books in a year.
Huge congratulations on the release of your second poetry collection! Tell us all about it.
Thank you so much! Ebb and Flow is a collection of poems that really invites readers to explore their own emotional journey, connecting with themselves, healing old wounds, and learning to trust their inner voice. The idea behind the collection is that life, much like the ocean, moves in rhythms. There are highs and lows, moments when everything feels chaotic and moments when things settle again. Through these poems, I hope readers find comfort in knowing it’s okay to go through all of it, and that healing doesn’t have to be rushed. Ebb and Flow is meant to be a gentle guide for anyone navigating their own path toward peace and self-acceptance.
The book, ebb and flow, is out now! (released on the 11th of July 2025) and available for purchase on Amazon. For readers in the UK, I also offer personalised copies through my website, katiececiliapoetry.com
What can we expect from the second collection and how is it different from or an expansion on your first book, growing?
ebb and flow dives deeper into mental health and healing than growing did. This collection explores experiences such as going to therapy, unlearning toxic patterns, and really taking the time to sit with and process difficult emotions. I wanted to show the full spectrum of mental health; the ups, downs, and everything in between.
What sets ebb and flow apart is how raw and honest it is. It doesn’t just focus on growth but on everything it takes to get there. In many ways, it feels like a prequel to growing. Even though I hadn’t planned it this way, many poems reflect what I was going through before writing my first book. While growing is about blooming and coming into yourself, ebb and flow is about the emotional groundwork, the messy, vulnerable process of healing and figuring things out.
At its core, this collection is about transparency around mental health, helping readers feel seen and less alone. Healing isn’t linear, and reducing stigma starts with honesty; that’s what I’ve tried to bring to every page.
What was different about writing this second book compared to your first?
The process was quite different. When I was working on growing, there were a lot of poems I loved that didn’t fit the themes or story I was telling, so they didn’t make the final cut. After growing came out, I kept thinking about those poems, they still felt important and deserved their own space. That’s how ebb and flow started to take shape.
I revisited those earlier pieces and wrote new ones that fit naturally around them. The second book told a different story, more focused on mental health, healing, and the emotional work before growth happens.
I also had more confidence this time. By then, I had an audience resonating with my words and sharing how my poetry impacted them. That reassurance gave me the courage to be even more vulnerable and true to my voice. Knowing that my honesty could give someone hope or strength made the process feel even more meaningful.
While growing was intentional and structured, ebb and flow came together more organically from a place of deeper honesty and what was left unsaid the first time around.
The book is divided into five chapters—Drift, Fall, Surge, Reflect, and Release. What can readers expect from each section?
Drift is where it all begins, the quiet feeling that something’s not quite right. You start noticing patterns that no longer serve you and feel that change is needed, even if you’re unsure what that looks like yet.
Fall is when things start to unravel. Change sounds great in theory, but in reality, it’s messy. This section dives into that in-between space where you’re facing the consequences of past decisions and sitting with uncomfortable emotions.
Surge is about finding strength to push forward. Challenges are still there, but there’s momentum. It’s when I started to feel that sense of movement again, even if things weren’t perfect.
Reflect is a quieter, grounded space where I looked back and processed what I’d been through, learning from it.
Release is about letting go—old stories, wounds, and ways of being that no longer fit. The poems here reflect growth and new tools for healthier relationships with others and myself.
My hope is readers will see themselves somewhere in this journey and feel a little less alone, no matter at which stage in the process they are.
Is the overall feeling you want readers to leave with a sense of peace and healing?
Absolutely. While the book takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions; grief, confusion, and self-doubt among them, I want them to leave with a sense of peace and healing. The final chapters offer uplifting messaging and guidance, reminding readers that even in the darkest moments, there’s always a path forward and light at the end of the tunnel. My hope is that they finish the book feeling more grounded, empowered, and with renewed trust in themselves.
Your first book, growing, emulated the evolution of foliage and flowers, while ebb and flow reflects the movement of the sea. Why is nature such an important inspiration for you?
Nature symbolises possibility for me. I see so many parallels between the natural world and our emotional journeys. Flowers blooming and wilting with the seasons mirror how we grow, rest, and evolve. The sea’s movement, its calm and chaos, reflects the highs and lows, the stillness and surges we experience in life.
In growing, each flower represented how we’re all different but still share core emotions. Nature has always been deeply meaningful in my life, so rooting my poetry in those symbols felt natural. It gives me a way to express complex feelings that can be hard to put into words.
Were there any particular challenges in writing this book that you hadn’t faced before, or things that arose again from your first collection?
One big challenge with ebb and flow was allowing myself to be even more vulnerable. I was already sharing personal experiences in growing, but with this book, I felt the desire to be even more raw and honest, especially about mental health. I was nervous about delving deeper but knew it felt authentic to my writing and what it represents.
Some challenges were familiar, such as wrestling with self-doubt and worrying about how my work would be received. But having been through it once, I felt a bit more prepared emotionally the second time.
Releasing two books within a year has been exciting but intense. Since I’m self-publishing, I’m wearing a lot of hats; content creator, writer, finance advisor, researcher, marketer etc. It’s been fun and interesting to develop those skills, but juggling it all alongside every day, life, work, rest, and self-care requires constant effort and planning.
Even with the challenges, I truly love creating books and writing. It’s been fulfilling in such a unique way, and connecting with people through my poetry makes all the hard work worth it.
How do you feel you have evolved as a writer since your first book? What has changed working on the second collection?
I’ve definitely grown more confident in my writing and in expressing my experiences. When I was working on growing, everything was new, writing a full collection, sharing personal work, and releasing a book for the first time. I constantly wondered how it would be received and whether people would connect with it.
With ebb and flow, I felt more grounded. I trusted myself more, in my voice and in the process. I allowed myself to go deeper, explore more complex emotions, and write without overthinking it. It’s been freeing to write from experience and self-trust.
What is your favourite poem from this book, if you can choose one?
I have a few favourites, but if I had to pick one, it would be the “fickle and fearful” poem on page 85. This poem captures a raw and necessary moment in my healing journey. I wrote it after a therapy session when I realised the parts of myself that had gotten me through so much, my coping mechanisms and mindset, were no longer helping me.
Here is the poem:
“the fickle and fearful version of myself
is the person that got me here.
she weathered chaotic storms
and wiped tears from sore eyes.
i owe her everything
for the sunrises i see now
which is why
it is gut-wrenching
to sit in this therapy chair
and know
it is time to let her go.”
That moment felt like saying goodbye to a version of myself that had done its best but was holding me back from true healing. Writing this poem helped me honour that part while accepting change was necessary. It reminds me, and hopefully others, that healing is about growth and change, even when it’s scary.
Are you working on any new poetry? What can we expect to see in the future?
Yes, I’ve been writing quite a bit over the past few months, though not as much as I’d like to. The past year has been a wild ride; from promoting my first book to going through the whole process again to release Ebb and Flow. Both books are incredibly special to me; they represent so much strength, reflection, and personal growth. I want to give them the time and space to truly connect with readers and to celebrate all the work that went into bringing them to life.
While I don’t have a new collection planned just yet, I’ve been writing new poems and getting back into performing at open mic events, which I really enjoy. I’m also focusing on making more intentional time to write and reconnect with why I started writing poetry in the first place, as a way of reflecting and connecting with myself. My journey with poetry books is far from over, and I’m excited to see where it leads next.
Thank you so much to Katie for taking the time to share her inspiring insights with our readers and continuing to encourage conversations around mental health and healing through poetry.
ebb and flow is out now! (released on the 11th of July 2025) and available for purchase on Amazon.
Readers in the UK can also get their hands on personalised copies through Katie’s website, katiececiliapoetry.com
Interview with Katie Cecilia
Poet & Author
Katie Cecilia is a poet and mental health advocate who writes from the heart, with a passion for helping others feel seen and supported. Her poetry gently explores themes such as self-care, reflection and personal growth. Her second collection, Ebb and Flow, is out now and touches on mental health, inner strength, and the journey of self-connection. Her first book, Growing, is all about self-discovery, embracing change, and coming home to yourself. Through her words, Katie hopes to offer comfort, inspiration, and a reminder that you're never alone in what you're feeling.