In her new book REAL SELF-CARE: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included), Dr. Pooja Lakshmin explains why our understanding of self-care is incomplete at best and manipulative at worst—and instead, she offers a complete road map to treat ourselves with compassion, while asserting our power. Dr. Pooja Lakshmin is a board-certified psychiatrist, New York Times contributor, and the founder of Gemma, a physician led women’s mental health education platform.