Edited by Serge Prengel
Reviewed by Nancy Eichhorn
Seven therapists, different as can be but connected by their years as therapists, use their skills for observation and self-reflection to dive into their lives and explore the experiences that brought them to where they are, who they are, and why they are here today. Each shares a deeply personal reflection of self and others, their initial wounds in childhood, and the continual assaults that resulted from self and others. They are vulnerable and intimate. There’s a sense of expansion as each writer breathes life into words landing on the page. The stories reached out, touched the essence of my being as experiences resonated with what’s happened in my life. Some spoke directly to me; some challenged me to stay present and read through from start to finish to understand their perspectives. It wasn’t about simply resonating, not about connecting with what was familiar. It was more about learning from these colleagues who took the time to share their personal essays about themselves and how they make sense of their experiences as unique human beings (Pregel, pg. 5).
In the Foreword, Serge Prengle explains why the book exists. It’s the outcome of conversations with therapists about the specifics that give them a sense of meaning and purpose and keeps them going through crises (pg. 5). He is clear that this is not a therapy book or a self-help book; it’s simply a collection of personal essays by therapists writing about themselves to perhaps trigger readers to consider what sustains them.
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