Therapy Guidebooks

Years ago we took a family trip to Yellowstone. A couple months before the trip I stopped by the public library and checked out a park guide written by an experienced Yellowstone traveler. This book led me to the best hiking paths for families with young kids, the least crowded time of day to visit Old Faithful, and unearthed a whole list of “can’t miss sights.” It also helped me think of everything we could possibly need to be prepared for unpredictable weather, snack crises and bear emergencies. Not surprisingly, this turned out to be one of our most enjoyable family vacations.

My before-hand preparations were key. Some surprises can be fun, but typically not when traveling! Going on a journey without knowing what to expect can make for a miserable experience.

The same is true for therapy. A lot of people put off making the call to a therapist because they simply don’t know what to expect. And who wants to go on a trip without knowing what’s ahead?

We all know the best guidebooks are written by people who have walked the paths before us, and these three books were written by therapists who have sat on both sides of the couch. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own therapy journey, check out these books from experts who can help you understand the process and what to expect before you embark on your own life-changing adventure.

• Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed, by Lori Gottlieb. Lori Gottlieb is a gifted writer and therapist who wrote this book about her own therapy experience while continuing to care for her clients. If you would like a glimpse inside your therapist’s mind, and would like to be reminded that we all have work to do, this is a great read. Pro tip: If you want to find a really great therapist, find one who isn’t afraid to tell you that they have also been in therapy, because everyone needs to do their work—even (especially) therapists.
• Letters to a Young Therapist, by Mary Pipher. Dr. Pipher is a psychologist and a writer who says she has earned a “Ph.D. in human suffering.” She writes simply and beautifully about the process of therapy and explains how therapists manage to listen to problems all day while remaining human and connected to their clients. Although this book was written in the form of letters to one of Dr. Pipher’s favorite grad students, there is a wealth of wisdom there for how to get the most out of your own therapy journey.
• The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients, by Irvin Yalom. Dr. Yalom is a psychiatrist and writer and many therapists and clients have gained life-changing insights from his no-nonsense style. Dr. Yalom shares real case studies to give you a glimpse of what happens inside the therapy office and sets the bar high for therapists. His words of wisdom will help you prepare for your therapy adventure.

If you are ready to embark on your own therapy adventure, give us a call at 317-743-8202 or email [email protected]. We have offices in Greenwood and northwest Indianapolis, and we also offer video sessions to individuals located in Illinois and Indiana.

Happy Traveling!