Pat Paulst was busy balancing her family and professional life when, one day, she found herself in the midst of situations that changed her life completely. She felt as though she had lost control of all aspects of her life and had seemingly been hurled into a dark pit containing slimy muck. While blindly groping to stand, she discovered a ladder and started the climb up, determined to find the way back to a state of sanity and control. Struggling and slipping back on the rungs many times while searching to identify the requirements for a successful climb, she discovered tools and concepts helpful not only to her but to anyone who chooses to climb the rungs of the healing-ladder experience.