Barry Farber, Ph.D., Professor, Director of Clinical Training
Chair, Department of Counseling & Clinical Psychology
Terry Wise’s book about her therapeutic journey through suicidal depression is riveting, compelling, beautifully written, and unique-it’s the first book to truly capture the long-term rhythms, struggles, and hard-earned successes of contemporary psychotherapy. Moreover, the psychotherapy portrayed is one that struggles with some of the most salient issues of our time: child abuse, depression, suicidality, the tension between giving to others and taking care of ourselves. The dialogue between the patient/author and her extraordinary therapist is intense and powerful, full of phrases and confrontations and insights that will affect all readers.
There are several books written by therapists about their cases-Yalom’s work, for example, comes to mind. And there are some first-person accounts of individuals who have struggled with various emotional issues in which therapy has a prominent place in the narrative. But no book has as accurately captured the pace, focus, and words of actual therapeutic sessions nor the immediacy and power of a therapeutic relationship. In fact, the book that comes closest to the feel of “truthfulness” that is inherent in Ms. Wise’s book is the now out-of-print best-selling novel, “August.”
This is a book that is certain to be appreciated (and used) by therapists and academics; it is very easy to imagine therapists telling their patients that they must read this book. But a wider public will also take to this poignant and emotionally rich tale-one does not have to be a patient nor therapist to regard this work as enriching and memorable.
Barry Farber, Ph.D., Professor, Director of Clinical Training
Chair, Department of Counseling & Clinical Psychology
Columbia University, Teachers College
