Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb Summary
Overview of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Ever wondered what happens when a therapist needs therapy? With nearly two million copies sold, Lori Gottlieb's candid memoir reveals both sides of the couch, earning praise from Arianna Huffington and Katie Couric while transforming how we view mental health conversations.
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When the Healer Needs Healing
Imagine being the person everyone turns to for emotional support, then suddenly finding yourself sobbing uncontrollably on a therapist's couch. This is precisely what happened to Lori Gottlieb when her seemingly perfect relationship imploded without warning. Her boyfriend - the man she believed was "the one" - suddenly announced he couldn't commit to raising her young son. Despite her professional training as a therapist, Lori found herself utterly unable to apply her therapeutic wisdom to her own crisis. She couldn't sleep, eat, or focus on her patients. Her friends offered well-meaning but unhelpful advice: "Just move on," "There are plenty of fish in the sea." But this wasn't just heartbreak - it was an existential crisis about her future, identity, and deepest fears. Finding a therapist when you are one presents unique challenges. Lori approached the task with professional knowledge but personal reluctance, worried about running into colleagues or patients and dreading the vulnerability required. Her search led her to Wendell, whose casual demeanor and direct questions challenged her expectations. During their first session, Lori tried controlling the narrative, presenting herself as a composed professional temporarily derailed by a breakup. But Wendell saw through her defenses, asking simply, "What is it you want me to say?" This question marked the beginning of her real therapeutic journey. She realized she didn't just want comfort; she wanted understanding. She employed all the classic avoidance techniques she recognized in her own patients: intellectualizing, deflecting with humor, focusing on surface issues rather than deeper patterns.
Four Lives in Crisis
The Magic of Therapeutic Connection
Patterns That Keep Us Stuck
Navigating Grief and Loss
Finding Meaning Through Vulnerability
The Journey Never Truly Ends
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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