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maysbookjournal 's review for:
Good Morning, Monster
by Catherine Gildiner
As someone working in the therapeutic world, I want to start by saying: huge trigger warnings for this book!!!. I’ve worked with people who’ve experienced very difficult things, and I’d like to think I’m fairly desensitised to trauma content … but even I had to put the book down at times to process the sheer horror of what some of the people in these stories endured. CSA and other forms of abuse are described in detail, so please be mindful if you choose to read it.
That said, I also feel this is essential reading for anyone who works in therapy or provides therapeutic support. While it doesn’t offer a perfect roadmap for trauma work, the case studies are deeply insightful. They show just how complex trauma is, how it can manifest, and the vital importance of the therapeutic relationship in helping someone rebuild.
One of the strengths of the book is its honesty: the author herself admits she doesn’t always get it right. And honestly? No therapist does. Therapy isn’t perfect because therapists are human. We all miss things sometimes, or jump ahead too quickly. That nuance is important, and I appreciated that it came through.
That said, I did feel uncomfortable at points, there were moments where the author seemed to feel she knew exactly what a client needed, sometimes even pushing beyond what I’d consider within one’s clinical competence, and not feeling at all collaborative. I felt this tension particularly because, in the UK, we place a lot of emphasis on working within our competence, supervision, and ethical guidelines, and collaboratively with our clients. This book is based in America, and things are obviously different there, but it still raised some concerns for me.
There’s also a broader issue this book touches on (perhaps unintentionally): the danger of under-trained / unregulated therapists doing harm rather than good. Especially now, when anyone can call themselves a “psychologist” in some contexts, I think this book is a reminder of how important good training and supervision are.
Despite all that, Good Morning, Monster is deeply powerful. The stories are painful, often harrowing, but also incredibly empowering. You read them and think, “How did they survive that? How did they heal?” It reminds you why this work matters.. and how easy it is for our own stuff to show up in the therapy room if we’re not careful.
If you’re a therapist or someone training to become one, I would recommend this book, with care. It’s not easy to read, but it’s rich in reflection and learning. M
That said, I also feel this is essential reading for anyone who works in therapy or provides therapeutic support. While it doesn’t offer a perfect roadmap for trauma work, the case studies are deeply insightful. They show just how complex trauma is, how it can manifest, and the vital importance of the therapeutic relationship in helping someone rebuild.
One of the strengths of the book is its honesty: the author herself admits she doesn’t always get it right. And honestly? No therapist does. Therapy isn’t perfect because therapists are human. We all miss things sometimes, or jump ahead too quickly. That nuance is important, and I appreciated that it came through.
That said, I did feel uncomfortable at points, there were moments where the author seemed to feel she knew exactly what a client needed, sometimes even pushing beyond what I’d consider within one’s clinical competence, and not feeling at all collaborative. I felt this tension particularly because, in the UK, we place a lot of emphasis on working within our competence, supervision, and ethical guidelines, and collaboratively with our clients. This book is based in America, and things are obviously different there, but it still raised some concerns for me.
There’s also a broader issue this book touches on (perhaps unintentionally): the danger of under-trained / unregulated therapists doing harm rather than good. Especially now, when anyone can call themselves a “psychologist” in some contexts, I think this book is a reminder of how important good training and supervision are.
Despite all that, Good Morning, Monster is deeply powerful. The stories are painful, often harrowing, but also incredibly empowering. You read them and think, “How did they survive that? How did they heal?” It reminds you why this work matters.. and how easy it is for our own stuff to show up in the therapy room if we’re not careful.
If you’re a therapist or someone training to become one, I would recommend this book, with care. It’s not easy to read, but it’s rich in reflection and learning. M