The author, Lori Gottlestep, was a stranger to me, and I bought the book out of trust in the author, Dr. Zhang, and curiosity about the title.

Over 400 pages, with the exception of some lingering paragraphs at the end, the overall reading experience is both fascinating and beneficial. It is both story-telling, interesting, professional and instructive.

If compared with similar works, I think this book in the story and professional, are more than Okuda’s psychotherapy novels; More professional than Owen. Aronne’s “Growing Closer” is richer, slightly less profound in its exploration of personal growth than his “Becoming Myself,” but more extensive. The story is not as free as that of “Lying in the Chair,” but it seems to be more realistic and intimate.

Aronne’s review at the bottom of the book is concise and to the point.

The author of this book is a master’s degree from Hollywood film and television who turned to psychological clinical practice. He has a very solid foundation in literature and medicine, which is perfectly reflected in the vividness and professionalism of the narrative.

Although the work introduces all aspects of psychotherapy in the form of case analysis, its narrative techniques are completely comparable to novels. The interspersion, cohesion and retrospection between the chapters are natural and smooth, without any sense of stiffness or crafty, which is also very friendly to ordinary readers without psychological background.

The author speaks, connecting the book with his own personal crisis and growth. In the book, she receives several visitors, respectively, suffered the loss of children but tried to cover up the pain, marriage happiness career just started but suffering from a terminal illness soon to die of academic elite, longing for love, lack of trust in the young woman addicted to alcohol, marriage failure and children turned against the guilt of the elderly artists and so on.

The author is both a therapist for her client and a client for another therapist. She has an accurate grasp and deep understanding of the mental journey of both the therapist and the client, allowing the reader to observe the whole process of psychotherapy from two perspectives.

I am not a very patient reader, and I have high requirements for the content and simplicity of the narrative, but this book has made me forget to eat and sleep.

The case of the transition, such as a drama affecting the heart. In the narration, the author’s sincerity, frankness, courage and professionalism are reflected everywhere. There is no pretentious feeling and no affectation, which makes people unable to help produce the desire to imitate and learn.

Ordinary readers, those who have psychological problems, and those who are learners and practitioners of psychological work will gain a lot from reading this book.