Review: The Talking Cure: Normal people, their hidden struggles and the life-changing power of therapy

The Talking Cure: Normal people, their hidden struggles and the life-changing power of therapy by Gillian Straker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Acknowledging limits, and learning to negotiate them, is one of the primary goals of psychotherapy.'

What a brilliant book this turned out to be!

The workings of the mind absolutely fascinate me, and this book delves into the realm from two sides - not only do we see through the case stories how problematic behaviours can stem from unacknowledged history, we also learn the process of the therapist in unravelling the issues.

The cases themselves are fictional accounts built from numerous similar, real life accounts, lending credibility to the problems that arise and how these are addressed. It's quite interesting to consider that, while every person's problems may be unique, the similar manifesting behaviour is an expression of similar pain. It makes the cases easy to relate to, and there's likely to be times during reading that you'll discover greater insight into some of your own behaviours.

The format is this: an overview of a problematic thought pattern or behaviour is given, then the case story that represents it is summarised. We learn the scenario, and a little more about the specific issue that the client hopes to resolve through therapy. Then we are given the therapist's insight, where she discusses her own thoughts and feelings, and how these help her gain greater understanding of the client. They allow for deeper exploration of the issue, and the case turns towards productive strategies to help negotiate the issues. Concluding each case story is further information and a checklist to help readers identify these issues in themselves or others.

I really enjoyed reading the process, and I appreciate that there's no quick fix for these stories. The workings of the mind are complex, so it's naive to think a handful of sessions with a therapist is going to 'fix' you. I also appreciated that there is never actually the suggestion that someone needs to be 'fixed'; it's simply about addressing troublesome thoughts and behaviours and attempting to understand these to relieve some of the pressure they may cause.

'This whole book ... is about how we can accept that our actions are often driven by factors beyond our conscious control and yet strive to expand our choices so that we are always in the process of becoming.'

I think therapy is often demonised in popular culture, meaning that so many people are afraid to seek help because of the fear that seeing a therapist means admitting there's something 'wrong' with them. This book works hard to demonstrate the value of talking through one's problems, and provides logic for choosing a trained professional as the sounding board. Seeing a therapist doesn't mean you're 'messed up' or 'broken' or any of the ridiculous ideas that seem to be associated with the clientele of this profession. Seeing a therapist demonstrates a desire to better understand the workings of your own mind so that you can better negotiate the world around you. That sounds pretty intelligent to me.

I have so much respect for people who can unravel the mysteries of the mind as comprehensively as these authors. What an asset to society they are, and we are fools not to take greater advantage of their skill.

This is such a fantastic, accessible book for people to develop a greater appreciation for the power of talking. For professionals, for carers, for people who just want greater insight into how the mind works - this book is an incredible tool. I highly recommend it and hope it achieves its goal of helping more people to appreciate the benefits of therapy.

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