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

I loved this book despite having severe reservations about the methods of this therapist. It seemed to work for Tate, whose goal, unfortunately, seemed to be finding a good husband. I hope her marriage lasts - I came to like and empathize with her despite her willingness to go along with the crazy radical honesty policy of the therapist.

I was horrified, however, first that the therapist agreed to have himself and his groups revealed to the world in this book; second, that his policies insist that experiences between members of different (or the same) groups be shared with with the respective groups; and third, that he seemed to be quite controlling of Tate's life, and most likely others' as well.

Boundaries. In my experience one goes to show more therapy to learn about them. not how to violate them. show less

Full of promise, with a newly minted law degree and her whole future ahead of her, Christie Tate was experiencing a crisis. Despite all her advantages, she felt desperate, with suicidal ideation and the looming ghost of a preexisting eating disorder threatening to return. This is where Tate begins her memoir, Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life. Facing what she perceives as unabating desperation and devastating loneliness, Christie decides to meet with a therapist recommended by a friend. Following an interview, Dr. Rosen invites her to attend a weekly group therapy session to work on her issues. She has some experience with groups due to her experience with a bulimia 12-step program, but still feels show more apprehensive about Dr. Rosen and his unconventional approach. The book follows the author through a series of catastrophically failed relationships, temper tantrums and bouts of serious instability. Soon Dr. Rosen asks her to add two more groups to her weekly schedule. Many of the fellow group members attend multiple groups and have been involved for many years. The confessional nature of Rosen’s group allows no boundaries, no secrets, and no taboo topics, and the doctor seems to be revered to almost cult-like status by his clients. Every detail of Christie’s sex life is discussed and dissected, including some liaisons with fellow group members. Crosstalk and gossip, inappropriate contact outside of group, and cross-transference seem to be accepted in ways that would likely be considered ethical breaches according to professional standards. It is apparent that Christie unfortunately equates ultimate success with finding a soul mate, disregarding any of her other achievements. Her own portrayal of herself comes across as overly histrionic and self-centered, whining and entitled. Tate’s unremitting inclination toward poor choices and over-dependence on Dr. Rosen (and the others) make it difficult for the reader to truly celebrate the attainment of her goals. She takes pride in the fact that she is still reliant on the Dr. Rosen even ten years later. Her story could be disheartening for those who approach therapy as a credible tool with an endpoint culminating in long-term stability and independence. Group is a brutally honest, deprecatingly humorous, wincingly graphic, and ultimately sad depiction of someone torn between building internal self-esteem and compulsively seeking the approval of others. As such, it is tale that many will recognize—a too-common reflection of the pressures faced by many young people, especially women, today.

Thanks to the author and Avid Reader Press (Simon & Schuster) for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. show less

As someone who has had therapy as a part of my life for as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by what it is like for other people. I am so grateful that especially during this last decade mental health and therapy have been normalized so much.

I started attending therapy when I was just a child during my parent's tumultuous and quite painful divorce. While it was something that was monumental in my ability to process many hard encounters and feelings, it was also a very isolating experience, because, in the 90s, NO ONE talked about therapy. I don't think I told my friends I went to therapy even when I was in college in the early 2000s. There was a taboo about it for so long, and in some ways there definitely still is. show more

Group dives in and gives you a deeply personal look at Christie Tate's experiences with a fairly unconventional style of group therapy Told through memoir style, Tate writes openly and honestly and the balance of humor and heartbreak made this one engrossing from the very beginning.

I loved how Tate shares that therapy of any kind is not a linear path and often things feel harder before they feel easier. This book made me uncomfortable at times due to the lack of ethics (many there are no requirements for confidentiality among members) but it was also a great reminder for me to address my own discomforts about the spectrum of therapy and supports that are available. There isn't a one size fits all answer and Group is a wonderful example of just that.

Books like this are so important and if you loved Good Morning, Monster, or Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, this will be right up your reading alley!

Thank you to Avid Reader Press for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. My full review will be posted on my website, genthebookworm.com, on Group's publication date, October 27th, 2020. show less

I am teetering between a high 3 and low 4 for the rating of this. I really enjoyed Christie’s writing, and finished the book over the course of just 3 days. But I was frustrated to see that the conclusion to a woman’s 275-page struggle to find self-love, self-trust, and strength in the discomfort of life was.... a man. Highly recommend this for book discussions.

Not sure how this got on my reading list. But once on, the book sunk its teeth in me and I had to finish. This is a memoir of Christie Tate who was a highly successful lawyer, but not as a successful in the world of intimacy. She joined a a group therapy group which one of the major rules was NO SECRETS!

Unconventional. Let's see where this goes. There is a confidentiality between a therapist and their client. But in this therapy group, the other group members are free to listen and share, share with anyone outside of the group.

The book actually reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw and Sex and the City, though set in Chicago. There's a lot of sex. There's a steady stream of suitors for Christie with all kinds of baggage. Christie comes with a show more lot of emotional baggage as well. Part of me feels kind of gross after reading this book because I don't need a world of conversation with no secrets.

Her therapist, Dr. Rosen, and his methods .... are they for real? There just seems so much room for mistakes. Something is bound to blow up in his face. show less

The amount of self-disclosure was its best and worst characteristic. She bared all. So I read all about her journey. I'm a discerning reader and don't finish books that aren't compelling. Something about her story and honesty kept me reading to the very last page. Even though sometimes there was too much information and it felt like she was STUCK !!!

This book has been on my TBR list for a long time, and sometimes I expect too much and am disappointed when I finally read a book from the list. I am a supporter of therapy and understand how valuable it can be, I just didn't find listening to someone retelling their whole group therapy story all that interesting. However, I can see how it would be helpful to others (I did a lot of reading about grief when I experienced a big loss). I listened to the audio version of this book.