Group

How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

By: Christie Tate

Narrated by: Christie Tate

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

A Reese's Book Club Pick * New York Times Best Seller

The refreshingly original and “startlingly hopeful” (Lisa Taddeo) debut memoir of an over-achieving young lawyer who reluctantly agrees to group therapy and gets psychologically and emotionally naked in a room of six complete strangers - and finds human connection, and herself.

Christie Tate had just been named the top student in her law school class and finally had her eating disorder under control. Why then was she driving through Chicago fantasizing about her own death? Why was she envisioning putting an end to the isolation and sadness that still plagued her despite her achievements?

Enter Dr. Rosen, a therapist who calmly assures her that if she joins one of his psychotherapy groups, he can transform her life. All she has to do is show up and be honest. About everything - her eating habits, childhood, sexual history, etc. Christie is skeptical, insisting that that she is defective, beyond cure. But Dr. Rosen issues a nine-word prescription that will change everything: “You don’t need a cure. You need a witness.”

So begins her entry into the strange, terrifying, and ultimately life-changing world of group therapy. Christie is initially put off by Dr. Rosen’s outlandish directives, but as her defenses break down and she comes to trust Dr. Rosen and to depend on the sessions and the prescribed nightly phone calls with various group members, she begins to understand what it means to connect.

“Often hilarious, and ultimately very touching” (People), Group is “a wild ride” (The Boston Globe), and with Christie as our guide, we are given a front row seat to the daring, exhilarating, painful, and hilarious journey that is group therapy - an under-explored process that breaks you down, and then reassembles you so that all the pieces finally fit.

©2020 Christie Tate. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Not bad. Give it time.

I see a lot of negative reviews for the book. I didn't think the book was bad. If you give it time, you'll enjoy the story and will be interested in the characters. I will say that if you are interested in this topic, Maybe You Should Talk To Someone is a better book with a better narrator.

As a group therapist myself

Christ captures how profound relationships can be in and out of therapy, greatly facilitated by a group. Too bad it is a fading art form even among therapists and resisted by many patients. I admire Christie’s willingness to share her shame and secrets with the anonymous, often judgemental public.

Empowering!

She was honest and open with us, which is difficult to do. Very brave of her and empowering to us, the readers.

Gritty, honest, absorbing and hopeful

I’m happy to report that the numerous negative reviews I read before buying the book were, (in my view) unfounded.

The subject matter is at times raw and graphic, but is essential to properly convey the depth of psychological pain experienced. The honesty and vulnerability of the book are the best proof that commitment to mental health and healing may not be easy but so worth the effort.

Yes!

I loved everything about this book. I cried, I laughed, I was angry, ashamed, embarrassed, happy and just about every other emotion you could have while listening to this book. I am so glad I went out on a limb and purchased this book.

Engrossing story of one woman’s journey to the life she wanted

This memoir is well-written and gripping. It made me cheer the author through all of her struggles to overcome her trauma and addiction as she sought the life she wanted. If you’ve ever been to therapy, you’ll know that some of her psychiatrist’s methods are unconventional at best. Confidentiality is not “secret keeping” and is a valued part of therapeutic relationships. There were times when I wondered whether the author’s descriptions were accurate, and if so, how her therapist still has a license. Nonetheless, by halfway through the book it was difficult to put down. If you’re a trauma survivor, in recovery, or seeking a healthier emotional life, much of the author’s experiences will ring true—grief, loneliness, frustration, fear of emotional intimacy and change, learning navigate a new, healthier “normal” are universal experiences. High praise for Christie Tate putting her journey on paper!

Very raunchy!

This book was very raunchy. Definitely not what I would expect from a top-notch attorney. Some of her descriptions made me cringe, but I enjoyed the journey ovearll.

Stick to Writing

The story is good enough, but the author needs to stick with writing and let someone else do the performing. It was painful enough that I couldn’t stay with it.

Be aware

I’ve never been to group therapy, & I have no idea if this is typical of all group therapy. I enjoyed the story but be aware that there is a LOT of explicit sex and bad language in this book, which didn’t appeal to the members of my retirees book group.

Entertaining and good for my mental health

I was completely entertained and engaged in every chapter. In addition, I learned more from this memoir about myself than in many psychologies and self-improvement books.
Christie comes across as so real and approachable, you feel that you are having dinner with her and she is sharing with you the most intimate details of her life, I felt her presence on every page.