Someone To Talk To: What Really Happens in Therapy and How it Can Work for You

by Joyce Houser

Therapy is a process, not a "one-and-done" event. Someone To Talk To reveals what happens in therapy and shows how real people



Learn to understand and communicate emotions

Identify behaviors that get in the way

Recover from painful situations

Face new challenges successfully

Find the hope and courage to make positive changes at home, at work, in relationships, and in life.





"Seeing a therapist is giving yourself the gift of a better life. It is a profound decision that shifts the way your story unfolds. Joyce Houser does a wonderful job of clarifying the whole process." Jonathan Young, PhD, psychologist, Director, Center for Story and Symbol

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

I wrote my first book, Someone To Talk To; What Really Happens in Therapy and How it Can Work for You, because I believe deeply in the power of therapy for everyone. We have come a long way in understanding the importance of emotional health, but many people are still hesitant to take that first step. I hope to make that step easier. Therapy can provide you with a vocabulary for feelings, and help you to get through painful and difficult situations. I encourage you to read my book and get an inside look at the process.
I wrote my second book, Age Your Own Way; Navigating Changes, Emotions and Stereotypes, because as I get older I am experiencing the challenges that the years bring. Unfortunately our culture tends to marginalize and stereotype older people, and most books focus only on ways to stay younger through diet and exercise. While those are important, we need more. My book defines the changes that happen, provides emotional guidance thought the hard parts, and re-direction toward the positive aspects that can be missed if we don't name and appreciate them.
I am a psychotherapist and have been in private practice for over 35 years in Santa Monica, California. I specialize in the areas of relationships, career stresses, addictions recovery and the creative arts.
Visit my website at: www.joycehouser.com

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone To Talk To: What Really Happens in Therapy and How it Can Work for You by Joyce Houser offers an encouraging introduction to the therapeutic process, presenting therapy not as a single conversation that instantly resolves every difficulty, but as an ongoing journey toward greater self-understanding and meaningful change.

One of the book’s most valuable ideas is that personal growth begins with learning to recognize and communicate our emotions. Understanding what we feel, why certain behaviors keep repeating, and how past experiences influence our present choices can help us approach life’s challenges with greater awareness. By focusing on these practical aspects of therapy, Houser makes the subject relevant to readers seeking healthier relationships, improved communication, and a more constructive response to difficult experiences.

The book’s emphasis on patience is especially important. Change often requires time, reflection, and the willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. Rather than presenting personal development as an effortless transformation, the book’s central message recognizes that progress is a process—one that can help people recover from painful situations, face unfamiliar challenges, and discover the courage to make positive changes.

Houser’s approach also helps address the uncertainty that can surround therapy. For someone considering professional support for the first time, understanding what the process involves may make the experience feel less intimidating. For others, the book’s focus on emotional awareness and behavioral patterns may offer a useful framework for reflecting on their own experiences.

Ultimately, Someone To Talk To presents therapy as an opportunity to understand oneself more deeply and make more intentional choices. Its message is hopeful without suggesting that growth happens overnight: with patience, support, and honest reflection, people can begin to shape a healthier and more fulfilling future.

[Tina Wotherspoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good informative

This book explains a lot in an easy to read format it covers so much about therapy givrs examples and gives hope for being able to resolve ones various issues