Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed

I read it because it had 46,000 great reviews. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is an enlightening exploration of the human experience through the lens of therapy, written with both depth and humor. The author’s insight into the complexities of life and the intricacies of human emotions resonates throughout the narrative.From the very beginning, the author emphasizes that "most people are what therapists call ‘unreliable narrators,’” reminding us of the importance of perspective in understanding our experiences. This concept is woven through various anecdotes and reflections, illustrating how the narratives we tell ourselves can shape our realities.One powerful takeaway is the idea that “the perfect is the enemy of the good,” encouraging readers to find joy in the imperfections of life. The author’s candid acknowledgment of her own struggles adds an authentic touch, particularly when she states, “The only way out is through,” highlighting the necessity of confronting our pain head-on.The book also tackles significant themes such as loneliness and the need for connection, revealing that many people seek therapy due to a craving for meaningful human interaction. This resonates deeply in our modern world, where isolation can often lead to despair. As the author notes, “You won’t get today back,” reminding us of the urgency to seek fulfillment and connection in our lives.In discussions of the therapeutic process, the author skillfully navigates complex concepts like “forced forgiveness” and the notion that “suffering shouldn’t be ranked,” emphasizing that pain is not a competition. Her assertion that “you can have compassion without forgiving” encourages a nuanced understanding of healing.The book is not just a narrative about therapy; it’s a reflection on what it means to be human. The author’s ability to balance the technical aspects of therapy with relatable anecdotes makes this a compelling read. The exploration of dreams, familial patterns, and the intricacies of the human psyche leaves the reader with a profound understanding of the challenges we all face.Overall, *Maybe You Should Talk to Someone* is a must-read for anyone interested in personal growth, mental health, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and others. This book will not only change the way you view therapy but also inspire you to embrace your own journey with compassion and courage.

What a powerful, incredibly poignant book. This isn't just a book about therapy, it's a book about being human. About living, and connection - with others, ourselves, our feelings, life - and about how we learn from each other. The very first sentence of the Author's Note sets the tone: "This is a book that asks, 'How do we change?' and answers with "In relation to others.' "I won't give a summary; you can get that from the blurb and the full title of the book itself serves as a mini-blurb.What I'll say is that I love the way the author's insight into herself, during her own therapy, both informs and *is informed by* her work with her patients, by their insights into themselves, reached with her guidance, as well as by the insights she, in turn, takes from them. But what really struck me was how, as a reader, I too became part of this experience, because there wasn't a part of this book that didn't touch me, and often deeply: In every person's story, the author's and each patient's, though their personalities and circumstances were all very different from each other's and from mine, I found common ground, found my own resonance, even my own insights.Fair warning: If you read this, be prepared to cry, and more than once. But (for me at least) it was the good kind of crying, because these are stories of letting go and acceptance and healing, so the crying is the sort that leaves you feeling vulnerable but washed clean, like after a storm, peaceful and full of hope.But it's not all tears and insights and seriousness; this book is also really funny at times, often at the same time it's touching your heart. And if that doesn't capture in a nutshell what its like, both being in therapy and being human, I don't know what does.I highly recommend this book to anyone with feelings, whether or not you have ever been in therapy, considered it, or are a therapist yourself; but maybe *especially* if you have been, or are. And yep, I *totally* recc'd this to my own therapist :DI'll close with one of my favorite touchingly humorous and human moments from this book:SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT“Is that a pajama top?” Julie asks as she walks into my office. It’s the afternoon after the [...] Incident, right before my appointment with [....], and I’ve almost made it through the day. I give her a quizzical look.“Your shirt,” she says, settling onto the couch. I flash back to the morning, to the gray sweater I intended to wear and then, with a sinking feeling, to the image of the sweater laid out on my bed next to the gray pajama top I’d taken off before stepping into the shower [...]. Oh God.[...] had gotten me a pack of PJs, their fronts emblazoned with sayings like AREN’T I JUST A F[…]ING RAY OF SUNSHINE and TALK NERDY TO ME and ZZZZZZZZZZ SNORE (not the message a therapist wants to send her patients). I’m trying to remember which one I wore last night.I brace myself and glance down. My top says NAMAST’AY IN BED. Julie is looking at me, waiting for an answer.Whenever I’m not sure what to say in the therapy room—which happens to therapists more often than patients realize—I have a choice: I can say nothing until I understand the moment better, or I can attempt an answer, but whatever I do, I must tell the truth.[...]“Yes,” I tell Julie. “It’s a pajama top. I guess I put it on by mistake.”I wait, wondering what she’ll say. If she asks why, I’ll tell the truth (although not the specifics): I wasn’t paying attention this morning.“Oh,” she says. Then her mouth twitches the way it does when she’s about to cry, but instead, she starts laughing.“I’m sorry, I’m not laughing at you. Namast’ay in Bed . . . that’s exactly how I feel!”Content Warnings: terminal cancer, death, mystery illness, depression, suicidal ideation, romantic breakup, car accident, sudden death of child