Christie TateGroup: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

This therapy group seemed completely unbounded and off-the-rails, and this book is sure to propel many readers to group therapy. I laughed out loud at the dialogue and fell a little in love with Dr. Rosen. I loved his idea that sharing anger is a form of intimacy and that confidentiality is just a way to “keep other’s shame”. I was in a group in Austin in the late 80s that wasn’t at all like this one. We didn’t discuss sex much and didn’t probe for details about another’s personal life. Confidentiality was mandatory due to the fact one member’s wife was escaping a cult. In fact, she screened all prospective new members to ensure they weren’t in the cult. Crazy but true.

Some people are going to love this book and some will hate it. I’m on the love it side of the equation. I liked the author’s writing style and appreciated how she share her deepest fears and insecurities. We all have them. I wasn’t shocked by Dr. Rosen’s methods or his commitment to radical honesty. It’s not for everyone but it worked for the author. I’m guessing that there are therapist who may not agree with the methods utilized in this story. At the end of the day I thought it was a good read and I applaud the author for baring her soul. I did think that it got a little repetitious by the end of the book and that the last chapter and epilogue felt a little rushed.

The book in a few words; honest, raw, vulnerable, fascinating. Christie Tate provides vivid insights into the hard work of group therapy and how her group friends lifted her up, saw her through the worst, and ultimately the best.She does a fabulous job of encouraging us to seek help when needed and be okay with leaning on others, but also avoids being heavy- handed in delivering that important message.One note: if you prefer not to read about sex, at points you may feel uncomfortable – as the author honestly shares the entirety of what she’s struggling with.This book was selected for Reese’s book club this month- a huge coup for a debut author- and I see that it’s totally merited! Such an important topic and absorbing memoir.

I stayed up til 3am reading this book. Christie Tate had my attention from the first page. She writes beautifully, for one thing, and she tells a great story. This story is her own, and she tells it like she’s talking to an old friend. It’s full of love and honesty, seeking and finding. It’s about the self and community and love. I can’t wait to read her next work.

Fascinating insights into one style of group therapy, and the situation that drove this author to depend on it as a literal lifeline. Her talent of making the reader feel the other “characters’l personalities and moods is noteworthy. Wish we knew more about how her family and upbringing affected her illness-it’s referred to often, but, beyond loving through a horrific accident, it’s not really laid out-and should have been. “No secrets in therapy” seems to not apply to her book or to protecting her parents-?-just am insight.I did enjoy the book, but I can’t stand the author. I just don’t like her. She’s judgmental, needy, flippant, whiny. All mental health issues considered, I have disdain for her. It colored how I felt about her at the end, so I didn’t feel like fist-pumping for her when things turned out how they did, but I was definitely able to see her talents as a writer and consider and empathize with her human experience.

I was a little uncomfortable with this at the beginning, I wasn’t a fan of the main character but she grew on me with a vengeance. Such a full story, unlike anything I’ve read before. Interesting in so many ways, filling to the soul I guess you could say. I couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you for such a written treasure and for the wonderful gripping of my heart I felt upon completing this perfect novel.

I found this book to be enlightening. As someone who has tried (and failed, many many times) to go to therapy, it gives me a little better understanding of how I should be approaching appointments. It also helped me see that maybe the issues I struggle with, which at times have me immensely stressed out and feeling alone, are more common than my brain allows me to understand in those moments.I rated this 3.75 stars because there were times I was just, bored. I had to remind myself that this is a work of nonfiction, someone’s actual life, and that life isn’t always super exciting, or even mildly exciting. There was much repetition in the story as well, relationship after relationship of the same actions, same feelings, I just wanted to shake her and say “can’t you see you’re making the same mistakes?” But unfortunately that’s not always how life works. Dr Rosen seemed to understand that and it was intriguing to see his direction for Christie while she navigated her life.Christie goes through years and years of inability to accept love; with an endless need to be loved and to find “the one”. What a combination am I right? Through therapy she’s able to break down many barriers that she created, but it doesn’t happen overnight and it certainly isn’t instantaneous. I appreciate that this memoir was able to shine a light on therapy and healing in a way movies and tv shows don’t—it felt real because it was.

This book was one of the highlights of my year.read this book! I haven’t experienced the things the author experienced but I felt so much healing, resolve and the ability to make better boundaries in my own life. My husband and I both read it in a week.Transparency: there is a lot of sex talk. This could make some people feel uncomfortable. If you hang with it you’ll see that it’s all apart of showing you the changes that take place in Christie’s ability to have intimacy in all of her relationships.