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In Therapy: The Unfolding Story
Worldwide, an increasingly diverse and growing number of people are seeking therapy. We go to address past traumas, to break patterns of behaviour, to confront eating disorders or addiction, to talk about relationships, or simply because we want to find out more about ourselves. Susie Orbach has been a psychotherapist for over forty years. Also a million-copy bestselling author, The New York Times called her the 'most famous psychotherapist to have set up couch in Britain since Sigmund Freud'. Here, she explores what goes on in the process of therapy through a series of dramatized case studies. Insightful and honest about a process often necessarily shrouded in secrecy, In The Unfolding Story is an essential read for those curious about, or considering entering, therapy. This complete edition takes us deeper into the world of therapy, with 13 further sessions and a new introduction.
304 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2019
88 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
About the author
Susie Orbach
49 books214 followersDr. Susie Orbach - the therapist who treated Diana, Princess of Wales, for her eating disorders; the founder of the Women's Therapy Center of London; a former columnist for The Guardian; a visiting professor at the London School of Economics; and the author of 1978 best-seller Fat is a Feminist Issue - is, aside from Sigmund Freud, probably the most famous psychotherapist to have ever set up couch in Britain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 3, 2022
“The work of therapy is hidden and often invisible. People wonder what goes on in the room.”
Susie Orbach’s In Therapy: The Unfolding Story follows the story of ten different cases in need of psychological support and demonstrates how the process of therapy works in the safe, confined space of the therapeutic environment whilst bringing the reader as a participating observer. The cases, while being dramatised, manage to paint an accurate representation of the individual struggles we tend to encounter as we go through our daily lives and what may happen if we choose to leave them unattended.
”The fact of being heard and of hearing one’s words in a space in which they aren’t necessarily interrupted or soothed but just hang, means they can reverberate.”
Ranging from themes such as the struggle for truth, the inevitability of transition and change, the ignored and forgotten past, the desire to understand the meaning of life, and the problem of internal alienation, Susie Orbach diligently and tactfully displays the specialist work of a psychotherapist in the consulting room by unpicking the issues at hand and showing what is so fascinating and potentially life-changing about the process, while aiming to apply the insights of therapy to the wider world.
However, perhaps due to the nature of the dramatised cases, the general issue of the case, or perhaps even the formatting of the text, some of the cases seemed to lack substance and depth to them making the reading process quite strenuous. Without this subtle background, some characters appeared rather dry, and hard to relate and empathise with. Furthermore, additional analysis after each session I believe would have made this a far more enjoyable read as it may have compensated for the lack of proper closure, as well as to avoid the what seemed to be abrupt endings to some of them.
Nonetheless, Orbach’s discourse analysis as the therapeutic session goes on is greatly educational and allows for the reader to be a part of the psychoanalytical process, while also opening the possibility for learning from it. As an admirer of the psychoanalytical approach to psychotherapy and a want-to-be future practitioner myself, this was a valuable read and has surely enhanced my awareness and increased my knowledge of the delicate nature of therapy.
Recommend to anyone interested in people’s internal struggles, the process of psychotherapy, and the specialist work of a psychotherapist.
Susie Orbach’s In Therapy: The Unfolding Story follows the story of ten different cases in need of psychological support and demonstrates how the process of therapy works in the safe, confined space of the therapeutic environment whilst bringing the reader as a participating observer. The cases, while being dramatised, manage to paint an accurate representation of the individual struggles we tend to encounter as we go through our daily lives and what may happen if we choose to leave them unattended.
”The fact of being heard and of hearing one’s words in a space in which they aren’t necessarily interrupted or soothed but just hang, means they can reverberate.”
Ranging from themes such as the struggle for truth, the inevitability of transition and change, the ignored and forgotten past, the desire to understand the meaning of life, and the problem of internal alienation, Susie Orbach diligently and tactfully displays the specialist work of a psychotherapist in the consulting room by unpicking the issues at hand and showing what is so fascinating and potentially life-changing about the process, while aiming to apply the insights of therapy to the wider world.
However, perhaps due to the nature of the dramatised cases, the general issue of the case, or perhaps even the formatting of the text, some of the cases seemed to lack substance and depth to them making the reading process quite strenuous. Without this subtle background, some characters appeared rather dry, and hard to relate and empathise with. Furthermore, additional analysis after each session I believe would have made this a far more enjoyable read as it may have compensated for the lack of proper closure, as well as to avoid the what seemed to be abrupt endings to some of them.
Nonetheless, Orbach’s discourse analysis as the therapeutic session goes on is greatly educational and allows for the reader to be a part of the psychoanalytical process, while also opening the possibility for learning from it. As an admirer of the psychoanalytical approach to psychotherapy and a want-to-be future practitioner myself, this was a valuable read and has surely enhanced my awareness and increased my knowledge of the delicate nature of therapy.
Recommend to anyone interested in people’s internal struggles, the process of psychotherapy, and the specialist work of a psychotherapist.
August 18, 2019
was hard to give this book a ‘rating’, as certain case studies were really interesting, however Susie (the therapist) handles other cases quite unbiblicaly- like how could an affair be mature?? i did learn more about psychotherapy though which was my aim
August 27, 2022
Was torn between 3 & 4 stars.
Liked the paired-down script-like format, interspersed by little explanations for the reader - created a lovely flow and made for a quick, engaging read.
I would’ve liked more sessions with each client/pair of clients, even if this meant focusing on fewer clients. I also found Susie’s way of talking/writing - during the sessions and the explanations - a bit hard to understand/follow. To some extent, this is probably to do with the way that therapists and therapy sessions almost have/develop a language of their own.
Was interested by Susie’s therapy style. She seemed to have quite strong ideas about what was going on with each client, psychologically, and I thought that therapists - even psychoanalytic ones like Susie - are supposed
to be more hesitant to form and state their own opinion than Susie was, but I reckon this is a product of her experience and expertise, and of the fact that we only saw a snapshot of her work with each client. Besides, it often felt as if Susie’s ‘diagnoses’ were correct and that she had seen right through people’s confusion to the crux of the problem like some kind of clairvoyant!
Liked the paired-down script-like format, interspersed by little explanations for the reader - created a lovely flow and made for a quick, engaging read.
I would’ve liked more sessions with each client/pair of clients, even if this meant focusing on fewer clients. I also found Susie’s way of talking/writing - during the sessions and the explanations - a bit hard to understand/follow. To some extent, this is probably to do with the way that therapists and therapy sessions almost have/develop a language of their own.
Was interested by Susie’s therapy style. She seemed to have quite strong ideas about what was going on with each client, psychologically, and I thought that therapists - even psychoanalytic ones like Susie - are supposed
to be more hesitant to form and state their own opinion than Susie was, but I reckon this is a product of her experience and expertise, and of the fact that we only saw a snapshot of her work with each client. Besides, it often felt as if Susie’s ‘diagnoses’ were correct and that she had seen right through people’s confusion to the crux of the problem like some kind of clairvoyant!
February 14, 2022
A very interesting insight into the mind of a psychotherapist during a session. It was fascinating to read about the choosing of direction when a client brings up multiple strands, or the interpretation of what is said when so much is brought to the table. Great to read into the insight behind what is said, and how that is navigated through both connection and therapeutic knowledge.
November 29, 2018
Interesting from an academic point of view, didn't listen to the radio series, but don't think the conversations translated as naturally as they may have come across on the show. Would have enjoyed more in depth on one or two cases or more in depth analysis.
October 18, 2020
Was quite disappointed in this book, didn’t enjoy the monologue style at all, made it unnecessarily long and the writing / sentence structure wasn’t very skilled so to be honest was hard to get into it
August 21, 2018
I really enjoyed the transcript sections but struggled to get through the chunks of writing at the end of them- I didn't like her writing but I enjoyed the book overall.
August 27, 2020
Quite the 101 of psychotherapy. Susie Orbach gives insight into how a session works through many examples, with explanations each time of what she was looking for asking this and that question or why she didn’t pursue this line of questioning. It was interesting but definitely lack depth and attachment to any “character” because it was very succinct. It probably was more aimed to be read by young psychologist, I don’t know.
Read
March 13, 2025Several salient common grace insights, but overall a disheartening, pulled-back-curtain look at the methods of psychotherapy. Stands in stark contrast to biblical, Gospel ministry in a one-on-one context. Praise God, we can offer our fellow man far greater hope than this book would suggest— and that hope is found in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
July 26, 2025
a very insightful and moving look into how people react to situations and the therapy environment
August 5, 2025
I’ve read so many therapy books I’m now fully qualified as a psychologist.
October 28, 2019
A privilege to get an insight like this into the therepeutic relationship
December 3, 2018
Great book. The stories cover so many interesting and common points of everyday living. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and understand how a therapist approaches the different people they work with and how what is visible on the surface is linked to a much deeper level we are not very well equipped to explore on our own.
And I find interesting the point of view of the author that therapy is not for everyone but that a general, deeper understanding of our emotional intelligence would benefit individuals and society as a whole. I couldn't agree more with that.
And I find interesting the point of view of the author that therapy is not for everyone but that a general, deeper understanding of our emotional intelligence would benefit individuals and society as a whole. I couldn't agree more with that.
May 8, 2018
interesting peak into the world of therapy from the therapist's perspective.
consists of honest and complicated, sometimes rapidly shifting conversations, intermingled with insightful and interesting commentary from Susie Orbach on what she perceived, did wrong, tried to understand, or was trying to do.
consists of honest and complicated, sometimes rapidly shifting conversations, intermingled with insightful and interesting commentary from Susie Orbach on what she perceived, did wrong, tried to understand, or was trying to do.
January 1, 2023
I loved sitting in on Susie’s therapy sessions.
Susie’s foresights, connections and empathies serve to hold and assist her clients through their turmoil to a higher understanding and acceptance of themselves or situation felt like a privilege to have had shared with the reader.
Susie’s foresights, connections and empathies serve to hold and assist her clients through their turmoil to a higher understanding and acceptance of themselves or situation felt like a privilege to have had shared with the reader.
May 8, 2018
Interesting rather than fascinating.
Best bit -the line 'If you are heard, you can hear yourself.'
Best bit -the line 'If you are heard, you can hear yourself.'
January 6, 2022
Perhaps the most insightful book into how therapeutic relationships occur and emerge and transform people’s lives through transference but not limited. I used the book as I am a UX practicioner who needs to spend a fair amount of time conducting user interviews and making sure I select the right type of information from what my user complains about. Choosing the right angle to develop further is a very tricky business but this book has brilliant potential to inform that process as Susie’s comments on how to manage the experience and expectation of her patients in the therapy room have priceless and timeless value. She brings an incredible amount of details to why she chooses to go a certain way and why she abandons certain emotions that are shared with her. The way she “picks her battles” is extremely refined and subtle and offer great guidance on to how people can conduct their own introspection.
Secondarily, the book has a series of selected relatable stories of people who are going through transformation in therapy and that’s therapeutic in itself to read. It doesn’t eliminate the need to go through the process itself but it’s a good sneak peak into it.
Secondarily, the book has a series of selected relatable stories of people who are going through transformation in therapy and that’s therapeutic in itself to read. It doesn’t eliminate the need to go through the process itself but it’s a good sneak peak into it.
February 24, 2025
So all this made me almost certain that I wouldn’t want the author as my therapist…
But the biggest plot twist was that all the patients were actually actors and none of that was real. It really took away any insights that might’ve been drawn from this book. While reading, I was often curious how they got permission to write about the characters, but actors were definitely not in my list. The whole book is fiction then.
And I understand the usual approach of the therapist still remains, learning about this set up only intensified my first feeling of inauthenticity of the whole thing and ego of the author so big that it overshadows everything else.
Admittedly, it had some interesting storylines, but not enough to rank the book higher.
For anyone who’s been in therapy or knows anything about it - I don’t think this book can be of any interest.
But the biggest plot twist was that all the patients were actually actors and none of that was real. It really took away any insights that might’ve been drawn from this book. While reading, I was often curious how they got permission to write about the characters, but actors were definitely not in my list. The whole book is fiction then.
And I understand the usual approach of the therapist still remains, learning about this set up only intensified my first feeling of inauthenticity of the whole thing and ego of the author so big that it overshadows everything else.
Admittedly, it had some interesting storylines, but not enough to rank the book higher.
For anyone who’s been in therapy or knows anything about it - I don’t think this book can be of any interest.
February 16, 2020
Very good read on what goes on in psychotherapy. A diverse group of clients for Ms. Orbach, as she works with single, married, divorced, widowed, troubled, etc. I liked the insights. At times I wanted more from Orbach instead of just the "uh-huh" and "I see" and "umm" ... which I found amusing, but a lot of counselors are like that. She picks her spots to talk, which is good, I guess. At times I saw obvious stuff she should've addressed and didn't ... oh well, no counselor is perfect.
At the end of each session, we're not sure which way the clients are going, which is real life. I would've liked to have found out if therapy worked for these people.
Nevertheless, a good read about what happens in a counseling session.
At the end of each session, we're not sure which way the clients are going, which is real life. I would've liked to have found out if therapy worked for these people.
Nevertheless, a good read about what happens in a counseling session.
February 14, 2023
I wanted to love this as the format itself was exactly what I was looking for: actual therapy sessions interspersed with sections describing what Susie Orbach was doing and how therapy was being delivered.
However, the resulting dialogue felt inauthentic to me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right and, when I reached the afterword and discovered these clients were played by actors who were improvising, I figured out what had bothered me: I've only been a therapist for going on 3 years now, but what I read in this book is rarely what I've experienced myself.
I understand it's different for everyone, but I wanted a more authentic experience and a deeper dive into the lives of these people and I don't feel I got that here.
However, the resulting dialogue felt inauthentic to me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right and, when I reached the afterword and discovered these clients were played by actors who were improvising, I figured out what had bothered me: I've only been a therapist for going on 3 years now, but what I read in this book is rarely what I've experienced myself.
I understand it's different for everyone, but I wanted a more authentic experience and a deeper dive into the lives of these people and I don't feel I got that here.
October 26, 2025
Worthwhile introduction to the workings of the therapeutic process. However, all the "sessions" were acted by actors, and consequently, some of the people do feel like they were acting on stereotypes of what people would describe in a therapy session. The most interesting parts were the author's analysis and description of the psychoanalytic process, not the actual conversations going on between client and therapist, in my opinion. The sessions also got to be repetitive and boring by the 8th, 9th, 10th session. It was difficult for me to finish the book because of this. Honestly, would recommend reading a few sessions that seem of interest, the introduction, afterword, and the author's analysis in between the speaking bits, and you will get almost all of the key information.
March 24, 2020
Each chapter introduces a client/s, presenting with various difficulties and the reader is given a transcript of the session, interspersed with Orbach’s own thoughts and reflections on what the client is going through. There is very little heavy psychoanalytic theory; the writing is relatively straightforward and accessible.
I think I must have added this to my TBR list after hearing the BBC Radio 4 programmes in which Orbach and skilled actors recreated psychotherapy sessions. Unfortunately, the nuanced and dynamic radio episodes just do not translate well into print. The subtlety and interplay between the client and Orbach is lost.
I think I must have added this to my TBR list after hearing the BBC Radio 4 programmes in which Orbach and skilled actors recreated psychotherapy sessions. Unfortunately, the nuanced and dynamic radio episodes just do not translate well into print. The subtlety and interplay between the client and Orbach is lost.
August 21, 2024
It's always insightful reading client stories. You learn a lot from how other counselors handle different situations and in the process you have a few 'a-ha moments' yourself through the clients' stories or (in this instance) Susie's analysis.
I must admit I was skeptical about certain approaches that made the book a less enjoyable read but I did learn a few new things and for that I am grateful.
I must admit I was skeptical about certain approaches that made the book a less enjoyable read but I did learn a few new things and for that I am grateful.
March 22, 2025
I didn’t realise these stories were taken from a radio show, which makes sense now because they felt like transcriptions that would be easier to listen to than to read. There were big time jumps between one session to the next which raptured the storyline and restricted bonding with both the therapist and the client. I really wanted to learn from this book and wish there were more in-depth analyses of one or two stories accompanied by explanations of her techniques.
January 28, 2021
I really connected with some parts of the book such as when the "clients" had similar presenting issues to my clients, or when I related to Susie's thoughts. However, finding out the conversations were not authentic was hugely disappointing. I struggled to engage as I had the thought "this isn't real" in the back of my mind.
May 5, 2022
I love it! Te ayuda a comprender la psicoterapia, de que se trata, cómo se desenvuelve, cómo ayuda a cada individuo.
Está lleno de información muy valiosa para personas que no tienen idea de que es ir a terapia y quieran tener saber más de con qué podrían encontrarse.
Muy buenas historias, muy buenos ejemplos.
Definitivamente lo recomiendo un montón.
Está lleno de información muy valiosa para personas que no tienen idea de que es ir a terapia y quieran tener saber más de con qué podrían encontrarse.
Muy buenas historias, muy buenos ejemplos.
Definitivamente lo recomiendo un montón.
May 8, 2022
Can’t quite believe that the therapy sessions in this book are improvised by actors. I found out at the end when reading through the Afterword and it put a bit of a damper on the whole thing.
Prior to the above revelation, I would have given the book four stars and I’ve tried to not let what took place after reading the sessions spoil what I got out of them. So four stars it is.
Prior to the above revelation, I would have given the book four stars and I’ve tried to not let what took place after reading the sessions spoil what I got out of them. So four stars it is.
March 3, 2023
I enjoyed the read but wanted more. This isn’t really the authors fault, as the actual conversations took place over the radio and this book isn’t actually the “full picture.”
I feel a little dismayed by the strong Freudian appreciation Orbach has. She references him a lot, and believes a woman ( her client) who didn’t have a father figure might look to fill that gap t by dating older men. I don’t ( for now- I don’t have my own Phd yet) agree with this classic Freudian thinking. Psychotherapists often argue about Freud and his ideas, so it’s not like it was a shocking discovery that ruined the book. Regardless, I learned a lot and Orbach found an interesting way for us to peak behind the veil. I look forward to re reading this once I’ve completed my studies.
I feel a little dismayed by the strong Freudian appreciation Orbach has. She references him a lot, and believes a woman ( her client) who didn’t have a father figure might look to fill that gap t by dating older men. I don’t ( for now- I don’t have my own Phd yet) agree with this classic Freudian thinking. Psychotherapists often argue about Freud and his ideas, so it’s not like it was a shocking discovery that ruined the book. Regardless, I learned a lot and Orbach found an interesting way for us to peak behind the veil. I look forward to re reading this once I’ve completed my studies.
July 26, 2024
I was curious about how therapists deal with couples therapy or clients falling in love with them. And this is the book that answers those questions. I lacked some depth and more details in the cases, as I have years of experience in therapy. But the targeted audience seemed to be people that never tried therapy so I think it's a perfect book to break the myth that therapy is scary
July 8, 2019
I found this really fascinating, but definitely need to dip in and out of it (after reading it through) in order to really grasp Orbach's process and such. I'm also very keen to hear the original radio series now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews