About Andrea – Author, Survivor and Founder of What Life Throws at You

About Andrea Bevan

I’m Andrea Bevan-Ducker. I write, coach with a trauma-informed approach, and founded What Life Throws At You to help people move from just surviving to truly thriving after trauma.

My work is rooted in my own experiences, along with trauma-informed knowledge and practical tools for real-life healing.

Healing isn’t just something I talk about—it's something I’ve lived through.

My Story

I survived ten years of intrafamilial abuse and grew up surrounded by alcoholism, instability, and fear.

My grandad was my safe place and my best friend. When he died at age 11, I lost the one person who made me feel protected.

Back then, I often looked for help without really knowing what was wrong. I went to my GP with sores, blisters, and migraines, but was only given creams and no real support. I couldn’t explain what I was going through; I just had the symptoms. His lack of validation made me feel like what was happening was normal and that there must be something wrong with me instead.

I learned to stay quiet, carrying shame, guilt, and fear, always trying to hide everything so I wouldn’t upset or disappoint anyone.

At 17, I left home. At 19, I became a mother.

When my son turned two, something changed. For the first time, I truly saw how much I had been through. That’s when I was diagnosed with anxiety and complex PTSD.

I tried talking therapy, but it often focused on the actual event itself. But my trauma was from more than a single moment; it was years of silence, shame, guilt, constant uncertainty, and the feeling of always being in survival mode.

That’s when I had an important realisation.

If I wanted to heal, I had to understand myself, not just what happened to me.

I started focusing on self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-worth. Only then could I really begin deeper healing through therapy and EMDR.

My memoir, Sacrificial Girl, shares that story, not as one of victimhood, but as one of strength, resilience, and reclaiming my identity.

Read the first few chapters for free here

I believe our past shapes us, but it doesn’t define who we are.

Life Beyond Trauma

My challenges didn’t stop when I was a child.

As an adult, life kept testing my strength and resilience. I faced more trauma, including an attack by a stranger and abuse by a GP. That was when I had to face a pattern I couldn’t ignore anymore.

That’s when I made a decision.

I decided I would no longer live as a victim of my past.

Everything I had been through would not define me.

I went on to face some of life’s hardest challenges: losing a stillborn baby, supporting my child through anorexia and mental health struggles, and going through cancer treatment and surgical menopause.

Throughout these challenges, I would refer back to the work I had done previously around Self-Compassion, Awareness and Acceptance.

This is what inspired me to create my workbook and journal, “The Foundations of Inner Healing and Growth.” 4 Guided workbooks and reflection journal for Change & Transformation, Self-Compassion, Acceptance and Awareness.

Get Your Digital or Physical Copies Here

In 2017, I donated my kidney to a friend to save her life. She had inspired me when I was younger to be comfortable and confident within myself, and I wanted to give something back to her in return.

Throughout my life and career, I’ve always been drawn to helping people, whether that is at work, in my community, or in my personal life.

From Corporate Career to Purpose-Led Work

Alongside my personal journey, I spent 30 years in industrial manufacturing, starting as a project manager and working my way up to Commercial Director.

This experience gave me:

• Structure and discipline

• Strategic thinking

• The ability to turn complex ideas into practical, usable tools

In 2023, I started writing my memoir.

In August 2024, Sacrificial Girl was published on Amazon and became a #1 bestseller in the physical and sexual abuse categories. That same month, I finished my trauma-informed coaching certification.

Read the first few chapters for free here

In 2025, I co-authored Start Over: Stories of Unyielding Courage, which also became a #1 bestseller and gained worldwide recognition.

As my work grew, I created What Life Throws At You, a platform to support others through healing, growth, and self-discovery.

In October 2025, I made the decision to leave my corporate career and focus fully on this mission.

What I Do Now

Today, I keep growing this platform. Through What Life Throws At You, I create trauma-informed resources to support healing, self-reflection, and personal growth.

This includes courses, workbooks, journals, and community projects, all built from my own experience, understanding, and a real commitment to helping others move forward.

This includes:

• Guided journals and workbooks

• Online courses and workshops

• Blog content and self-help resources

• Community-led initiatives

My work focuses on:

• Self-awareness

• Self-acceptance

• Emotional healing

• Rebuilding confidence and identity

Everything I create is meant to help people reconnect with themselves and move forward with strength.

Click here to download free resources to support your journey

Qualifications & Training

My work is shaped by both my lived experience and formal training.

• Trauma-Informed Coaching Certification

• Ongoing self-study in trauma, emotional regulation, and mind-body connection

• Practical experience supporting individuals through trauma recovery and personal growth

While my qualifications give structure, it’s the mix of training and lived experience that shapes how I support others.

Survivor Stories Project

I also created Survivor Stories – Turning Pain into Purpose.

This is a collaborative publishing project where people come together to share meaningful chapters of their lives in a safe, supportive space.

Each book:

• Focuses on a specific theme or experience

• Supports a registered charity aligned to that theme

• Donates all Amazon royalties

This project exists to:

• Give survivors a voice.

• Break silence

• Turn pain into purpose.

Thank you for taking the time to read about me. I really do appreciate it.

“Want to work with me? Get in touch.”

Contact me here