The Behaviourist: A true story of survival and resilience.
The Behaviourist is a raw, unflinching memoir of survival, transformation, and grit.
From a childhood shaped by violence and fear to a youth spent on the margins of society, J.C. Atkins fought her way through poverty, addiction, abuse, and prison. But this isn’t just a story of hardship—it’s a story of what happens when you refuse to stay broken.
Torn between the streets of Blackpool and a system that never made space for women like her, Jo became an ex-offender who defied every label.
As her son entered the justice system, she found herself on a new path—one that led from the prison gates to university halls, and eventually to the creation of The Lion Theory, a ground-breaking trauma recovery programme born from lived experience.
With brutal honesty, fierce heart, and dark humour, Atkins shares her fight to reclaim her health, her family, and her voice—proving that recovery isn’t just possible, it’s revolutionary.
This is the true story of a mother, a survivor, and a behaviourist.
"Born into an organized crime family, brought up in a caravan, raised on the streets. Jo became the first offending behaviourist of her kind"
Joanne Atkins lives in Blackpool and spent most of her youth in and out of prison.
Jo has spent most of her career teaching trauma resilience workshops in the community and working in hostels, drug rehabs and on at risk teams.
After my son started offending she went to university to find the answers, but the work was all over the place. She then had to build her own work, that actually had a impact on the trauma cognitive pathways
In 2019 she was credited for her work in the Lion Theory, a pioneering childhood trauma recovery model.
Jo became the first offending behaviourist of her kind and paved the way for others like her to follow.
Joanne is the founder of The Lion Theory Project which provides support and online workshops for adults suffering from past childhood trauma,
When Jo decided to write a book about her life after endless people telling her to. She wanted the book to be truthful, inspiring and encourage people that the road to recovery is always open, regardless of how impossible it may seem.
Joanne is a grandmother and a mother of 3 adult sons, She lives on the Claremont estate in Blackpool. One of the most deprived areas in the UK and fights for change for areas like her own and the people who live there.
Available now in the kindle store from amazon; https://www.amazon.com/author/jcatkins