The April Book Club Read Of The Month

“Maybe You Should Talk To Someone” By Lori Gottilieb

Picture it. You’re in a part of your life where you’re stagnant. You don’t have a good choice to make, but you can’t stay in the situation you’re in. It’s time to see a therapist.

But what if you found out something about your therapist? What if you found out your therapist is going through something, and they’re seeing a therapist, too? Would you want to keep seeing them, or would you prefer to find someone who’s more together than the person in front of you?

I asked myself these same questions as I read Lori Gottlieb’s Maybe You Should Talk To Someone. By the time I finished the book, I couldn’t answer the question, but I didn’t mind.

What Is The Book About?

Lori Gottlieb is a therapist in Los Angeles. Before she began writing the book, she had a loving fiance and son. When her fiance tells her he doesn’t want to live with a kid anymore, breaking up the marriage, Gottilieb finds herself needing therapy.

Enter Wendell, her therapist. He becomes the person she needs to help her get through her breakup and get herself where she needs to be.

Gottlieb doesn’t stay at her story but gets permission from her clients to talk about their stories. Her clients were my favorite part of the book, as they helped humanize therapy.

Gottlieb Told About How She Went Got Into The Field

As I mentioned, Gottlieb doesn’t stick to meeting Wendell and how the sessions helped her move past her breakup. She tells her clients’ stories and how she became a therapist.

I already knew some things about being a therapist. I knew you needed an internship and couldn’t prescribe medication unless you became a psychotherapist. But I didn’t know therapists needed to go through therapy so they could be on the patient’s side of the office.

I did have to research medical school. I read the book under the impression all therapists needed to go through medical school but learned only some therapists do it. It depends on what field you chose with therapy.

The one thing I wish she would’ve covered is the difference between therapy and social work. I know from doing some occasional counseling that some social workers can take clients like a therapist can, but I’ve never understood the difference between the two. The most I can think of is training, but that’s it. (Gottlieb was never a social worker, though, so it wouldn’t have made sense to explain it. At least that’s what I tell myself.)

What I Wish I Heard From My Book Club

I didn’t mention it at the beginning of this article, but I didn’t get to go to April’s Book Club. I had to do a mandatory Grad School Meeting. I was bummed I had to miss Book Club, but I don’t want to start Grad School on a bad note.

I think I missed out on a fantastic conversation about therapy. I would’ve heard stories about therapy and how people felt about it.

But the main thing I wish I would’ve learned was who everyone’s favorite client was. Was it the TV writer whose sleep problems were something more than what he said? Was it the terminal cancer patient who didn’t want some asinine catchphrases before she died? Was it the elderly woman who wanted to give herself one more chance at living life?

Gottlieb had so many interesting clients. My favorites were the elderly woman and the terminal patient. I loved how both of these women grew into their own and lived their lives.

Therapy Isn’t Meant For You To Keep Going To Someone Forever

I’ll admit, I always thought when you started therapy you were stuck there forever. The way Gottlieb writes, it sounds like only bad therapists want you with them forever.

I can’t speak for you, but I never thought about what a proper leaving procedure is when it’s time to leave therapy. Sometimes, people abruptly leave. Other times, people talk about it but don’t go into detail about what happens when you think it’s time.

Gottlieb has a procedure. It usually takes some time while she works with her clients about exiting her care. I don’t remember if it was two weeks or a month, but she was thorough in making sure the clients were ready before leaving therapy.

Things like leaving procedures are things people who slam therapy need to understand. Therapists aren’t meant to stay with you forever. They’re there to help show you the tools you need so you can move on with your life. I wish more people understood it’s not a scam but necessary when you’re going through something tough.

If we could get through everything in life, mental health care and therapy wouldn’t exist. They’d be alien concepts.

Final Thoughts

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone is the book that makes me wish I’d made it to Book Club that day. The conversation around therapy would’ve been thought-provoking, and the book’s insights would’ve been fascinating.

Thankfully, I went to May’s Book Club, so I’ll have some thoughts on it. Though I can’t promise I’ll make it to the rest of the year I’ll try. I got a part in a musical and have Grad school coming up, so we’ll see how it goes.

For an all-access pass to my work, please click on the link below to join Medium. I mostly write about books but dip my toes in travel and other topics, too. If you’re already a member and enjoy my work, you can subscribe to get my articles emailed to you every time I publish one!

Your support helps small writers like me fulfill they’re dreams, and we’re all thankful to you for that.