Linda Chou

I have never written a book review before but I feel like I needed to get on here and remind people of the impact that books have and can have on its readers. I feel like the Author, Baek Sehee, is a sweet and deeply honest person who wrote her book in such a way where she is trying her very best to be honest about herself, understand herself and her feelings which is very heartwarming and relatable. However, with that said, I really thoroughly did not at all like the Therapist that was supposedly treating her. As someone who has gone through multiple therapists, I can say, from my own personal experience, that the way a therapist talks, their own belief systems, life experiences, their level of self awareness, emotional availability can greatly impact their ability to hold space for their vulnerable clients. If they do not do this well, their lack of understanding and reassurance can severely impact their patients in a very negative way, especially so for people who are already mentally fragile by the time they get to a therapist's office. Throughout the whole book I constantly found myself angry and frustrated that the therapist continued to use logic and practicality, to treat Baek Sehee's emotional vulnerabilities, the constant disconnect was so frustrating to read and I literally had to put the book down. It felt like Baek Sehee's struggle, on a deep level, was still not truly acknowledged and understood even by her own therapist and that was rage inducing. Hahaha. The constant micro level of miscommunication and misunderstanding in the book made me want to rip my hair out, literally. I had to stop reading it as it was also very triggering for myself, as I have also dealt with therapists who did this and charged me 400$each session which is a complete robbery if you go into therapy hoping too meet someone who can help, and make you feel better, instead you leave feeling much worse about yourself. I feel like this book reminds readers that even therapist themselves, are humans, have their own traumas, their own issues, and as such, they should never be the end all and be all of who we go to for support and help. The lack of sensitivity from the therapist in her book was really upsetting to read and showed the tunnel vision the therapist had when it came to addressing Sehee's life issues. I think in conclusion, I would not really recommend this book, unless people want to know what not to do as a therapist. Im sure her therapist was also only offering the support in the best way that he/she could from their own level of awareness and consciousness... but my goodness. It was a rough and difficult read. 2/5 stars for me, personally.