The Day I Went Missing

by Jennifer Miller

It’s happened to all of us at one falling victim to someone who says the words we want to hear. It usually ends with a wounded heart or lost love. But in one woman’s case, it took a deadly turn.

Jennifer Miller, an Emmy-nominated TV writer, was a highly functioning member of the Hollywood scene who had everything going for great contacts, great work, and the promise of an even greater future. But what Jennifer did not have was a happy life, or even the ability to understand what happy meant. A single woman who did not know what it was like to have a love relationship, she was haunted by a deepening despair. She toyed with therapy, but Jennifer, the daughter of a shrink, was convinced that she was beyond help. Then she met Dr. David Cohen, and discovered something worse than depression.

Believing she had finally found someone to trust completely, Jennifer allowed herself to get sucked into Dr. Cohen’s world. What followed is a chilling tale of fraudulent therapy that is enthralling and horrifying from its skillful beginning to its shocking conclusion.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, True Crime, Psychology, Thriller, Crime, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Jennifer Miller is a longtime television writer. She was nominated for an Emmy for "Roseanne," for which she wrote under her pen name, Jennifer Heath. Miller is also a stand-up comedian, actress, and painter. "The Day I Went Missing" is her first published work. She lives in Southern California.

Reviews

[AM · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible journey into the effects of psychotherapy with Dr. David Cohen. Miss Miller writes very simply about her experience in search for a therapist that turned into the "family" she had always wanted as a child, as an adult, and as a human being. At what price did that "family" come at?

Jennifer Miller is perfect example of cognitive dissonance theory, in conflict with the basic theory of self-concept. You can see the inner conflict Jennifer has with Dr. Cohen, she wanted to have faith in him, she wanted to count on him, and she wanted her spirit back which in turn made her ignore her own instincts, her gut feelings and her unsettled feelings about Dr. Cohen.

I read this book in two sittings. I was completely drawn into Jennifer's loneliness, her vulnerability, sadness, desolation, but mostly her depression at her sense of self. I was angry at the disregard her parents had for her, as a child, as an adult. I wanted to cry for her when she couldn't cry for herself.

Through therapy Jennifer started painting and in the description of her paintings you can feel the cleansing it gave her. I'm now quite curious to see them. I wonder how Jennifer is doing now? The last page of the book has an editor's note dated August 1999, what has happened since? I'm curious and wondering and worrying about Jennifer. She IS a warrior, so she must be well. I would love to see a follow-up or part two - when she is no longer "missing".

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would get so mad reading this book and how this woman fell for this man's lies. I suppose that anyone in that position would believe someone who was supposed to be your therapist...yet for as LONG as she went to him, something along the way should have seemed odd..which I know it did in the book...but seriously!!! It goes to show that you can't trust everyone...especially those who are extra nice to you. Especially if you have low self-esteem and have a need to feel accepted.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a little weird & scary. Weird bc it was written like it was true but some things didn't ring true like the police's lack of involvement, the author never talking to the friend that referred her to the therapist after she started therapy & that the author seemed really intelligent but didn't question the therapist's methods.

But scary bc many things seemed just true enough & if true, very scary that there are people out there taking advantage emotionally & financially of people like the author.

I did a brief google search but couldn't find anything new. Seems like if this was true there'd be a 48 Hours or Dateline episode.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often I'll read a book like this and immediately think, "Good Lord, what a moron," and then it immediately falls from my mind. I don't know whether you can chalk it up to Miller's excellent writing or David Cohen's powers of manipulation or both, but this time I think I thought, "Good Lord, what a moron, but, you know, I could see how a certain type of person, in a certain situation......," so see how I've evolved to become so tolerant of the weaknesses of humanity? =)

Miller IS an excellent writer, and I don't want to spoil anything, because the book is well worth seeking out and reading (I can tell you the exact moment when he would have lost me, though, no matter how good he was....if you've read the book, message me and I'll tell you), and this book is an incredible spiral, especially because it's all true. Interested in both self-examination and suspense? Here's a good one for you, and it's an incredibly quick read (I know all this seems very vague, but there's simply too much to give away in a longer review).

[Sara Schreck · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book because I didn't like it. I was expecting something different than where it was going and it moved too slow for me. The topic was interesting and you can see how she got to the point where the therapist is believable. He helped her yet was still a fraud. I chose to stop reading this book (which I rarely do) because are too many books I want to read over this one.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was just weird. It's a true story and the title caught my eye. I thought it was a kidnapped story but it's not. It's a story about a woman who has a crazy therapist. Made me go wait what?
Just a weird book.

[Gaurav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a read

[Kelsey Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow, I thought it would he about a kidnapping but it didn't go anywhere near where I thought it was going to.
The ending is freaky though.

[Aly P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the most wild story I've ever come across.

[Eesha Acharya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Annoying. Very very annoying. I mean seriously, she could have at least met a lady. And wanting to get money out of the way? What a doctor (if we can even call him that)!! I still can't imagine someone can be so gullible to fall for something like that!

Also, call me sensitive, but one thing that I can't seem to stop thinking about in the book is what the doctor mentions in one of his letters/notes to the author - that Namaste is a Japanese word. IT IS NOT!!!! It is a Hindi word. Get your facts right!

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cautionary tale that poses interesting questions. The author enters therapy to deal with issues of isolation, trust and intimacy. The therapist is a con artist who gains her complete trust, strips her of thousands of dollars, then mysteriously dies. The irony is that the whole horrific experience has the desired effect of making her more open, self-accepting and willing to show vulnerability. Extremely well written and hard to put down.

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just didn't do it for me. I was highly confused with what was going on half the time, and had to re-read a lot of things over just to see where I was at and who was who. I didn't even realize half the time what part we were in. I have up about a quarter of the way through. It didn't hold my attention, although the title is very catchy and so is the summary, which made me want to read it but I was highly disappointed.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book infuriated me throughout it, however, the ending brought insane goosebumps and chills, as well as tears to my eyes. The unknown is terrifying.

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story told by the victim herself. The author, a successful Hollywood screenwriter, is conned by her psychologist over a period of about a year. She hands over $160,000 all because she trusts and loves the wrong man. In the end, she learns a valuable lesson about the dangers of trusting when your instinct tells you not to and begins to piece her world back together.

Somewhat verbose and very confusing. She repeats all the garbage that he tells her without provisions for its error and even in the end, the reader wonders whether she has enough closure to truly move on. That being said, it is an amazing story and worth a (skeptical) read.

[Felicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad rating this low, especially because it's someone story. But I hope that her writing this book was the true therapy she needed in order to release some of this trauma and move forward.

I felt like the pace was very slow. I often times wondered why we were giving so much backstory, but also figured it was important in some way. I completely mistook what this book was supposed to be about- I was 1000% convinced it was going to be a kidnapping story- spoiler alert: it's 100% NOT.

I do think the ending leaves an air of mystery, which if this was a thriller- I would absolutely obsess over.

Overall, just not a fan though.

[Kay Castaneda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author writes about undergoing psychotherapy with a doctor who doesn't have her best interests at heart. She becomes attached to him until she begins to suspect he's not who he says he is. It was hard to believe that she didn't have any warnings about this man until she found herself in danger for her sanity and her life. An unusual story.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read and a crazy story. From the title and synopsis of the book, I thought she was kidnapped by her therapist but that is not at all what happened.
I didn't like the stand-up comedy inserted into the book. I get that it was supposed to be self-deprecating and how she responded to emotions at the time but it didn't work for me.

[Maggie Wooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the book was so frustrating to me I thought about not finishing it. I'm so glad I did though because the second half was so much better! People are crazy, that's all I can say.

[Tabbitha Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this crazy true story. This is a story about Jennifer Miller who got sucked into fraudulent therapy that is completely horrifying. I couldn't put it down. 🌞🌞🌞🌞 (4/5 Stars)

[Mandy Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book a month ago and still think about it.

[Emily Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story- the beginning half and some of the second half got a little repetitive and could have used a good editor. But once things get weird, it’s a page turner for sure.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tremendously creepy. Ending is … unfulfilling, which often happens with books based on facts. But yikes. Grist for the nightmare mill. Read with caution. Finish during daylight.

[Natalie Stearns Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!!! Even more so since it’s a true story!! Even though I knew what was happening the whole time, I couldn’t put it down!

[Eric McCully · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read that will keep you annoyed through most of the book. A cautionary tale to some, but for most of us this is going to be unbelievable to read.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of what happens when you put your complete trust into one person and that person isn't who you think he is. I would definitely pick up a sequel if she ever writes one!

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a bizarre story which I am surprised wasn’t made into a lifetime movie

[Allison Renner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Miller was a relatively successful writer in Hollywood, writing for sitcoms, editing screenplays, and developing her own pilot. But her parents were neglectful, and her childhood had been lacking love, which left her empty as an adult. A friend recommended a therapist to her, so she began seeing David Cohen a few times a week. Then more often, and finally seeing or talking to him every single day. He had pulled her from her shell, made her feel emotions, but he was using her. He made her utterly dependent on him, and then he started to take advantage of her - not sexually, but financially. Though Miller knew her therapist only eighteen months, she gave him over one hundred thousand dollars - and then he disappeared. The book opens with the phone call Miller gets telling her that David is dead, but I wish it hadn't been that way - I wish it had come as a shock to the reader the way it did for Miller herself. There were also points in the book where you think she's ridiculous for how easily she forked over money, how she bent over backward to not anger him. But at the end of the book, Miller makes a point about how vulnerable she was, how she was previously always on guard, but believing someone could love her made her break down her walls. After all that build up, the last page is absolutely chilling.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bravery alone that had to go into to telling this story is enough to earn the book a 5-star rating. Especially because very few people who haven't experienced deceit can understand how others fall for it. To be able to tell the world about your shortcomings and faults is the ultimate example of showing up and owning your story.

Besides the aspect of vulnerability and honesty, the writing was great. The story was very well-written and it held my attention the whole time. I know this has become a cliche, but the author did a great job of showing instead of telling. She refrained from obviously pointing out anything that was foreshadowing, and trusted the readers to pick up on red flags and clues. It was nice to not be handed everything in an obvious way. She brilliantly built suspense and curiosity.

A great, quick, and chilling read.

[Soren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written in a slightly annoying, detached style, but the story it tells is so insane (since it's true) that I couldn't put it down.

It's interesting how there seems to be some kind of con-artist syndrome where people do the exact same things - if you've seen the movie Catfish, the similarities are all over the place.

and I NEED to know if more ever happened with this story. It's driving me crazy!

[garfunkelgrass · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was insufferable. Look, I also had a fucked up childhood and low self esteem. I have had many men take advantage of me, and I've fallen for a lot of stupid shit. The part that got me was the money. I guess as a LA Hollywood writer maybe $100,000 is not much. But no matter how stupid I am, I would never pay for services I hadn't already received. And even after having paid for a "lifetime of therapy", he still managed to get an extra $12,000 out of her...