Introducing The Catching Force
A powerful debut book exploring back pain, depression and addiction and the transformative power of yoga, faith and compassion
As conversations about mental health grow louder, a new book asks whether the West’s approach to recovery is too cerebral. The Catching Force by Cosima Somerset explores a uniquely holistic model that views addiction, depression and physical pain as deeply interconnected.
In her debut book, Somerset tells the remarkable true story of a Catholic priest who has spent decades helping addicts rehabilitate using a unique combination of the 12-step Minnesota model and Iyengar yoga. Blending memoir with reportage, The Catching Force challenges the limits of medication-led approaches and offers a powerful, deeply human alternative to clinical recovery. It’s a message of hope for anyone living with pain, or supporting someone who is.
It began with a chance encounter in Goa between Somerset - a British entrepreneur recovering from recent spine surgery and having survived her first episode of clinical depression - and Catholic priest Father Joe Pereira, whose work with addicts and marginalised communities across India has quietly transformed thousands of lives.
"Addiction is a physical ailment as well as a mental one," Father Joe tells her. "My approach is to treat the body and the mind through yoga."
Intrigued by his philosophy and the powerful effect it had on those around him, Somerset spent the next decade following Father Joe’s work, documenting his approach through a detailed personal diary. Gradually gaining his trust, she uncovers the extraordinary journey that shaped his life: from a small town in India to working alongside Mother Teresa in the slums of Calcutta and Mumbai, and later continuing her work among alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes and society’s most vulnerable people.
But The Catching Force is more than a biography about a man of faith and his journey. It is an exploration of how people can hold the pain of others without becoming overwhelmed themselves, and how unconditional compassion can create space for healing.
Through candid storytelling Somerset observes:
● How families can support loved ones struggling with addiction
● The relationship between mental distress and physical pain
● The role of spirituality, community and discipline in recovery
Woven through the narrative is Somerset’s own journey through depression and loss, and how witnessing Father Joe’s work offered her a new perspective resulting in greater resilience, enthusiasm for life and a growing faith.
“I had never met anyone like him before”, says Somerset. “Somebody who embodied uprightness, goodness, compassion and discipline. I recognised how rare he was and I didn’t want to lose him."
At a time when Western societies increasingly rely on medication to treat pain and mental health challenges, The Catching Force invites a broader conversation about holistic approaches to healing and the possibility of recovery that encompasses mind, body and spirit.
Cosima Somerset’s first book is a story of extraordinary depth, power and perception about one man’s love of humanity that guides him through a cruel, unequal and often dangerous world, interwoven with Cosima’s own challenges. Ultimately, it is a story about what happens when despair meets compassion and the “catching force” of unconditional love.
The Catching Force soft launched in November 2025 and is available on Amazon (£14.99). For more information about Cosima Somerset, visit www.cosimasomerset.co.uk.
For press copies of the book or to discuss interviews with author Cosima Somerset please contact: Kath Kay: kath@indigoeight.com | +44 (0) 7790 159 333
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Cosima Somerset
Cosima Somerset is a London-based business entrepreneur. She founded Concierge London in 2000, recently renamed SomersetWhite, now operating in London, New York and Los Angeles. In the 1980s, Cosima worked at Andy Warhol's New York magazine Interview under Shelley Wanger, and later in London for the literary agent Gillon Aitken. In the 90s, after the birth of her two children, Lyle and Romy, she worked for documentary maker, Belinda Allen, as a researcher for TV documentary films including Tory Wives and Juries. She has a passion for horses and dogs, yoga and cold water.
This is Cosima’s first book on the life of a man who has worked with addicts since the 1960s. She explores the connection between trauma, addiction and physical health and the healing potential of yoga, 12 step fellowships and faith.
Cosima Somerset is available to discuss:
Supporting loved ones through addiction without absorbing their pain
Why recovery must address body, mind and spirit
The connection between physical pain, trauma and addiction
The power of storytelling in breaking the stigma around addiction and depression
Lessons from Father Joe’s work helping thousands rebuild their lives
Why Western societies may be over-medicating instead of healing
How spirituality and community can aid recovery
The unexpected role of her loyal shepherd dog, Bear in the book and how he ‘bookended’ the entire writing process