The Talking Cure

Normal people, their hidden struggles and the life-changing power of therapy

By: Gillian Straker, Jacqui Winship

Narrated by: Gillian Straker, Jacqui Winship

'Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.' Carl Jung

The essence of successful therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the patient, a dance of growing trust and understanding. It is an intimate, messy, often surprising and sometimes confusing business -but when it works, it's life-changing.

In The Talking Cure, psychotherapists Gill Straker and Jacqui Winship bring us nine inspiring stories of transformation.

They introduce us to their clients, fictional amalgams of real-life cases, and reveal how the art of talking and listening helps us to understand deep-seated issues that profoundly influence who we are in the world and how we see ourselves in relation to others. We come to understand that the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship can be replicated in our everyday lives by the simple practice of paying attention and being present with those we love.

Whether you have experienced therapy (or are tempted to try it), or you are just intrigued by the possibilities of a little-understood but transformative process, this wise and compassionate book will deepen your sense of what it is to be open to connection - and your appreciation that to be human is to be a little bit mad.

Everyone has issues

A wonderful book that promotes self compassion and understanding of everyday psychological struggles. It allows us to peek into the lives of others and common relationship difficulties as a way of both understanding and transforming ourselves.

Mesmerizing , multi layered, brilliant masterpiece

This is an easily accessible and mesmerising entry into being human, connecting and understanding who we are, and what goes on in other peoples minds and emotions. An absolute MUST for every Psychology student or psychologist or anyone interested in the layers underneath what is immediately apparent. Every sub- story can be read alone yet all fit into each other as we gain deeper understanding.
I have read The Talking Cure three times and still find new gems with each reread.
Thanks Jeanine Beukes
Clin Psych.

Unravels Complex Issues

This book helped me to make sense of some troubles I've been having in my own life. The variety of Case Stories helped me to put my own story into a context. I highly recommend this book to anyone living in this age of therapy,