Mapito: Embrace Yourself

by Chani Getter

Overview

Chani Getter's "Mapito" is a powerful how-to guide for finding, accepting, and loving every part of yourself. Through a collection of memorable stories—sometimes funny, often poignant—this trailblazing trauma expert reveals profound truths about the human experience. "Mapito" reconnects you to what really matters, offering a fresh perspective on life, love, and self-acceptance.

Drawing from deeply personal experiences, Chani's narratives are both relatable and illuminating, providing insights into human psychology and the shared struggles we all face. With warmth, humor, and compassion, "Mapito" gently encourages readers to wake up, slow down, and embrace the parts of themselves they may have overlooked or forgotten.

Praised by therapists and activists alike, "Mapito" is a heartfelt, revelatory masterpiece. It is trauma therapy made accessible, a celebration of the human spirit, and a guide to living more freely and authentically than you ever imagined.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798990042421
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	04/22/2025
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Chani Getter, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, award-winning queer activist, and interfaith minister. Chani also serves as Scholar-in-Residence for Footsteps, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive services to people who have left or are considering leaving ultra-Orthodox communities.

Chani's life and work have been featured in two documentary films, One of Us and Devout, and in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Elle, Haaretz, and The New Yorker.

Raised in an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish home, Chani entered an arranged marriage at age 18 and quickly had three children. During their second pregnancy, Chani learned what a lesbian was thanks to a secret television, Ellen DeGeneres, and a dictionary. At last, Chani had a word for something they always knew themselves to be, yet was never named or discussed.

At 23, Chani left the marriage and began a courageous journey to live authentically. With barely a high school diploma and little work experience, Chani earned a bachelor's degree in human development and a master's degree in social work, was ordained as an interfaith minister, and opened a therapy practice while working full-time and raising three children alone.

For nearly 20 years, Chani has supported and nurtured a growing community of queer and non-binary people across North America and Europe. The Jewish Women's Archive highlights Chani's pivotal role in supporting the formation and development of organizations and resources for LGBTQ+ people, including those wanting to stay connected to their Orthodox roots.

Called "boundlessly inspiring," Chani has changed the lives of people from every walk of life. Chani's powerful storytelling and non-judgmental approach create time and space where people can connect with their authentic selves and deepest yearnings to build a life beyond the limitations they have encountered. Learn more at chanigetter.com.

Editorial Reviews

2025-04-18
Getter blends memoir and self-help advice in this nonfiction debut.

As a gay, Jewish, nonbinary parent, interfaith minister, and therapist, the author exists in many disparate spaces. “Mapito,” a cross between the feminine “mamita” and masculine “papito,” is the nickname Getter’s Colombian mother-in-law invented for them. Examining their own life’s journey and case studies from their practice in these pages, the author largely focuses on those struggling with crises of faith and gender identity, as they themselves did. Born into an ultra-orthodox Jewish community, the teenage Getter was forced into a heterosexual marriage that quickly yielded three children. Living a life that felt inauthentic, the author found solace in therapy before becoming a therapist themself. Rather than uniformly applying one strategy, the author now flexibly approaches each client as an individual. When helping Andy, a former Christian who was afraid to commit to her female partner, Getter considered different attachment styles (such as “secure,” “avoidant,” or “anxious”); treating Grace, who had recently fallen in love with a woman after 25 years of marriage, the author recounted a story they’d heard in Al-Anon illustrating how, even with the best intentions, sometimes one person can never give another what they lack. Getter keeps this large volume of stories from becoming unwieldy by using brevity to get at the heart of each topic; in just one paragraph, Anna, a client with a “horrific childhood,” finds a way to get rid of pain by burying a rock outside the author’s office. In a story about language and categorization, the author uses short sentences and simple words to capture a 2-year-old’s perceptions. Though therapy is often steeped in pain and trauma, Getter’s tone remains upbeat as they work to make negatives positive—Alzheimer’s disease, in the author’s view, enabled their mother-in-law to see them “fully in a way no one else ever had,” while Getter’s own brain injury brought them more understanding of other people with disabilities. There’s a sense that the author grows along with their clients, providing a comforting relatability. The text includes reflective questions for readers pertaining to each chapter’s themes.

A kind and inclusive guide to becoming your most authentic self.

Kirkus Reviews

"Reading Mapito will uncover Chani Getter's magic! Chani's words are relatable, healing, and restorative."
— Phyllis B. Frank, Award-Winning Activist

"Chani's message is one we all need to hear: discover, embrace, and celebrate all of you. Mapito is a gift to all those who delve in!"
— Lani Santo, CEO, Footsteps

"Mapito is a revelatory guide to finding the parts of ourselves that have been lost or forgotten. It is trauma therapy made accessible and delivered with warmth and humor and so much love. In Mapito, Chani Getter shows us how to live more freely than we could ever have imagined. It is a masterpiece."
— Dr. Sara Glass, therapist and author of Kissing Girls on Shabbat

From the Publisher