Similar in vein to "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone", "Good Morning, Monster" gives voice to the experience of both client and clinician, along with the blurry lines between the two. I appreciated the five vignettes and found myself growing bored at times. I don't know if this had more to do with the writing or the detail of each story. Because it was not fiction and instead real life, there is also the possibility that I was looking for character development akin to a narrative story. I would still recommend for folks interested in a peek behind the curtain of therapeutic work.

As someone who has sat on both sides of the therapy table, this one was truly fascinating, heartwrenching, and inspiring. I loved how we got a peek inside several therapy patients' lives and their journeys to better themselves.

This was an eye-opening, moving book with such a strong yet kind voice it moved me to tears on multiple occasions. I had to keep reminding myself that these were true stories and not fiction because they felt so intense. I felt like I learned a lot about human psychology and how people's minds work. It was inspiring.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, which has not altered my opinion of this book.

This was such an interesting book to read and in probably the best way. I love books where I am reading about someone else's life and I end up learning something about myself. This book was just that, for me it was also a little of of its own therapy since it was so intense and so in depth and the reactions by the client and the therapist were so unique and interesting in their own way.

This book is not for the faint of heart or for those easily triggered. There are multiple trigger warnings I can list here including: abuse, death, suicide, depression, anxiety, and quite a few more. This is a story about real people and the things they went through.

I did enjoy the fact that this showed how each person will heal differently from others and that there isn't one set way to heal emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or physically. I also appreciate the fact that the author admitted to not being perfect and talked about how her own life affected her decisions with her clients. It really is an eye-opening book and I believe it is important to read.

Overall, I am giving this five out of five and highly recommend it if you have any interest in the human mind.

I'm a big fan of books that revolve around therapy and mental health. I adored Lori Gottlieb's memoir, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, so when I heard this one talked about on the Sarah's Bookshelves podcast I was sold. This one is much different but a great complement to the former. While Gottlieb's included stories from her patients, it also had a just as significant focus on her own experience of her own time in therapy. Gildiner's book focuses solely on the stories of her patients, their (quite traumatic) childhoods, and how they attempted to heal and live their adult lives.

Dr. Catherine Gildiner is a retired clinical psychologist who, in her book, "Good Morning Monster," recounts the harrowing stories of Laura, Peter, Danny, Alana, and Madeline (their identities are disguised to protect their privacy), all of whom have a history of physical and/or emotional abuse. Gildiner draws upon her long career treating patients who lack the necessary coping skills to live joyous, productive, and fulfilling lives. Despite having been humiliated, neglected, and rejected as youngsters, these individuals eventually learn to acknowledge and deal with their insecurity, fear, rage, and anxiety.

Laura Wilkes and her two siblings were abandoned by their ne'er-do-well father when they were very young. Before their father left, their mother died under mysterious circumstances. Instead of reporting the situation to the authorities, Laura shoplifted groceries and clothing for her younger sister and brother, and pretended that everything was normal at home. Now Laura is twenty-six, and she is distressed because her lying and cheating boyfriend gave her an STD and, in addition, her boss is a slacker who expects her to put in extra hours to complete her tasks and his. Why does Laura allow these self-serving men to exploit her?

Gildiner recounts the fascinating cases of people who do not realize that their dysfunctional childhoods deprived them of the solid foundation they needed in order feel cherished and safe. This heartbreaking book is not for the faint-of-heart. It is distressing to read that when Peter was a little boy, his single mother locked him in the attic while she ran her restaurant; that Danny, whose wife and child were killed in a tragic accident, is unable express his feelings of grief and loss; that Alana's sadistic and predatory father began assaulting her when she was four; and that Madeline's mom was a cruel narcissist who belittled her daughter and was unable to offer her even a modicum of love and kindness. Gildiner takes a long and painful journey with these courageous men and women. With her help, they reexamine their faulty assumptions; establish boundaries to prevent toxic relatives, colleagues, and friends from taking advantage of them; and ultimately acquire a sense of self-worth. "Good Morning Monster" is an intriguing and engrossing work of non-fiction about a dedicated therapist and five patients who, because their parents failed to nurture and protect them, developed a distorted view of their place in the world.

This non-fiction journey of one therapist and five of her clients is encouraging and enlightening. I appreciated the insights Gildiner has, both of herself and about her clients. The narrative isn't bogged down, and while there are a few instances where I think Gildiner tries to overcompensate (esp with Danny and the cultural difference/experiences), overall the narrative flows and feels honest.

I would recommend for anyone who might be considering therapy, who needs to hear stories of people who have overcome hardships, or just anyone interested in the human mind and it's workings.

So good! We all need a way to reach out with our emotions and come to terms with them. These 5 unique stories really helped me and I think they will help others as well.

Good Morning, Monster was a tough read but also a brilliant one. I can't imagine what these patients went through. Very thought provoking and moving.

I finally finished this book and while I enjoyed it, I think I still prefer Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb. I just didn't connect with this author or her patients -- this book felt more clinical than it should have for a memoir.

Catherine Gildiner does a great job at explaining her patients reason for coming to therapy and how those circumstances are connected to their past. It's very interesting to see how something we go through as adults, that seemingly isn't connected to our childhoods actually create that behavior/issue.

I will note that the book was pretty slow to start, at least to me. But, I'm glad I kept going. Definitely keep going if you find it slow.

As someone who has been in therapy for 10+ years I find the experiences of other people who have sought help for mental health issues or trauma fascinating and encouraging. I found this book to be an interesting, compassionate and respectful account of five people with severe cases of trauma and difficult life circumstances. While in parts the book is emotionally hard to read because of what these people endured it's ultimately a hopeful, optimistic book because through therapy all 5 were able to work through these experiences and go on to have remarkably meaningful lives. Would recommend.

I really love reading books of this genre and find that learning about another's healing often helps to begin the process in myself. I found this to be well written and it contained interesting stories about the journeys of the therapist's patients. I would definitely recommend this to friends who are also interested in mental health.

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

Wow, I did not expect to love this as much as I did. The book is really five short stories, which each detail one of the author's (a psychologist) most interesting cases. Each of the five patients overcame intense adversity to be successful and thriving humans. While it was inspiring and interesting to learn about these patients and their paths through treatment, I was equally enthralled by the author's discussion of the mistakes she made along the way and the thought process behind her treatment. I had never really thought about the fact that of course psychologists make mistakes - they're human after all, It was a great peak behind the curtain to hear about things as well.

Highly recommend to anyone who has even a passing interest in psychology, the human condition, or just human perseverance.

Trigger warnings: all of them. I will recommend this book to anyone who appreciated Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, with the caveat that it reminded me of Educated, but made that father seem like Mr Rogers. All that to say, I love this book.

I recently read Catherine Gildiner’s book "Good Morning Monster". A Psychologist, her book shares the stories of five of her patients & documents their healing & insights after going through very difficult experiences. I appreciated Gildiner’s open & honest reflections as well as tracking the progress of each patient. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, because it showcases the stories of people along with well written, compelling story telling. It’s heart wrenching yet hopeful.

Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fantastic. It took me a while to read I had to step away half way through because the stories are so traumatic and harrowing. However there is also a lot of hope instilled and I loved reading from the therapists perspective especially when she talked about mistakes she realized she made during her sessions.

I loved this book in so many ways, I don’t know if all the words in the English alphabet could sum it up. Catherine Gildiner was able to perfectly encapsulate the fears and anxieties of therapy and also share what the progresses people make along the way. She showed her readers what therapy is without the stigma and how healing is messy and scary, but heroic all at the same time. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an extremely inspiring read, and I loved every second of it. The author, a psychologist, captures these stories in a way that didn't take away from the person, it wasn't superficial. You can tell that Dr. G. loves their patient as the compassion and love is reflected through their writing.

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read on therapy, and I’ve read a lot. The author is a successful and famous author and deservedly so.
The series of long-term case histories are examples of how people with terrible pasts can overcome them by confronting their past with a guide and the wish to be cured. And without depending on drugs the rest of their lives. In the end, the author sums it all up with a. Wonderful statement. “Finally, these heroes inspire us by showing that all self-examination is brave”.
I got this book through NetGalley, but bought another copy for a person who has relied on medication all their life. I think reading it not only is a form of therapy, but is a source of happiness and optimism about the human spirit.