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

The first thing that stuck out to me was how well the book is written. The next was how easy and engaging it was. The book is written as a story with so many messages, lessons and insights. There will be things that you will almost certainly relate to from each character. It is also cleverly written as one would talk to a therapist - jumping to talk about different characters and times, ultimately connecting everything. Definitely worth the buy and an amazing edition to any home or personal library.

I’ve never read a book by this author and had started reading it online when I quickly discovered it was a book I wanted to own so I could mark it all up😊. It’s an easy read with good insights and lovely bits of humor. A great asset foe everyone. Highly recommend it.

Interesting read. Clarified a lot about the therapy process to me - from both sides. Nothing groundbreaking. But definitely insightful and humanizing.

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.

Do you know how difficult it is to whisper an ugly cry? I do. There I was at 3:30am, relaxed and enjoying the insight and surprising humour of this book, caught up in a ‘just one more chapter’ loop. Then, out of nowhere, I was ugly crying as quietly as possible so I didn’t wake up the sensible people in my home, those who actually sleep when it’s considered an acceptable time to do so. Okay, so it wasn’t exactly ‘out of nowhere’; I knew it was coming at some stage with that particular patient but I wasn’t expecting it right then. That wasn’t the only time I cried during this book (there may have been another four tissue grabs and some very dignified sniffling involved) and it wasn’t the only time my tears caught me off guard (who knew I’d cry about the patient I initially loved to sneer at!) but it did remind me of some of the reasons why I never formally used my psychology degree. Reason #1: Although I don’t cry a lot about my own stuff, I am a champion crier when it comes to pretty much anything else. Movies. TV shows. Songs. Books. When you cry about your stuff. When I think about your stuff and consider how brave, resilient, [insert any number of adjectives here] you were, are or are going to be. Who wants to come to therapy and feel like they need to console their therapist about their reaction to their patient’s problems?! Reason #2: There would be certain types of people and life experiences where I just know I couldn’t remain impartial. Reason #3: The goodbyes. See Reason #1. Full disclosure: I started reading this book while my own therapist was on leave. Besides confirming my decision to not actually be a therapist (you’re so welcome, all of the people whose lives would have crossed my path in this way. I hope you found a Wendell instead!) I also got a glimpse of what it’s like behind the scenes for therapists, something I’ve always been interested in, something that’s difficult to obtain because of that pesky ‘confidentiality’ thing. I’m not ashamed to say that I have my very own Wendell, who is awesome, by the way. None of us get out of life unscathed and I think pretty much everyone could benefit from therapy at some point in their lives. One of the perks this book offers is a therapeutic ‘try before you buy’; if you’ve been considering therapy but are hesitant to schedule that initial appointment, then reading this book will give you some idea of what to expect - from the therapist, from the experience, and how it looks when it’s done right. “Sitting-with-you-in-your-pain is one of the rare experiences that people get in the protected space of a therapy room, but it’s very hard to give or get outside of it” I enjoyed Lori’s down to earth approach, her compassion and ability to bring truth to a situation, while still making me smile along the way. She humanises our experience of pain and even when she’s talking about her own therapy, her insight and openness had me smiling in recognition much more frequently than the narrative made me cry. Of her own therapy: “Yes, I’m seeking objectivity, but only because I’m convinced that objectivity will rule in my favor.” Of her therapist: “He looks at me meaningfully, like he just said something incredibly important and profound, but I kind of want to punch him.” A quote I love: “defenses serve a useful purpose. They shield people from injury … until they no longer need them. It’s in this ellipsis that therapists work.” And another: “People often mistake numbness for nothingness, but numbness isn’t the absence of feelings; it’s a response to being overwhelmed by too many feelings.” Oh, and I have to share this one too: “When the present falls apart, so does the future we had associated with it. And having the future taken away is the mother of all plot twists. But if we spend the present trying to fix the past or control the future, we remain stuck in place, in perpetual regret.” I highlighted so many passages in this book that each time I started another binge read it felt like I was experiencing my very own mini therapy session. I saw myself in Lori and in her patients, even the initial ‘love to sneer at’ one, probably because I saw something of myself in them as well. I saw my own therapist in Wendell and felt probably too much pride in having found myself such an amazing ‘Wendell’ to help me navigate my presenting problem as well as the real issues behind the facade. From the presenting problem to the “doorknob disclosures”, “what-aboutery” and self-sabotage, all the way to the “termination” (seriously, can therapists collectively find a less aggressive way to label someone’s graduation from therapy?), I ‘just one more chaptered’ my way through this book. Although at times I felt voyeuristic, have some outstanding questions about Lori’s patients I’m not entitled to know but still want to (Would you please tell me John’s real name or at least the name of the TV show you kept referencing so I can binge watch it?) and had at least one ugly cry headache as a result of reading this book, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to pretty much anyone. Much like the way Lori talks about who therapy can’t help, I think the only people who wouldn’t benefit in some way by reading this book are those “who aren’t curious about themselves.” I’ll leave you with what’s currently my favourite quote: “There’s no hierarchy of pain. Suffering shouldn’t be ranked, because pain is not a contest.” Content warnings are included in my Goodreads review.

I loved this book. It has helped my on my own therapy journey and in my journey to become a therapist. It’s a great mix of: - fiction, hearing the stories of the patients is gripping, - therapy knowledge, learning about different theories and techniques through her descriptions of real-life examples - autobiography, hearing her own life story intertwine with it all. It surmounts to a wonderfully written, funny, eloquent, personable and relatable read. I learnt so much, and got a lot of personal insights from it.

If you enjoy real human stories and connect well with introspective, reflective writing and you don’t mind some deeper themes, as long as they feel grounded in real experiences rather than abstract philosophy. This book might be a perfect bridge for you — it gives both storytelling and life reflections, but in a very human, relatable way.

Fans of Lori Gottlieb will surely like this - a smart, big book which meanders back and forth but at the core, it discusses what gives a life "meaning". I enjoyed it very much... though perhaps not as much as some other works of hers I read. I couldn't help feeling it could have been a little bit shorter, for the same content value.

Book that will help you deal with your ups and downs.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A lovely mix of stories and therapeutic observations. I got a lot from this as I was processing my own grief from a break-up.