Friday I went to therapy, Saturday I went crazy

This book takes the reader through the author’s personal experiences in psychotherapy with a variety of therapists and approaches. She starts with her Danbury psychiatrist, an analyst, describing all her thoughts and feelings and fantasies and ends that process in a psychotic state. Prior to this experience, although in therapy in her twenties, she had never been on medication. After this therapy with this analytically oriented psychiatrist, she became disorganized, being treated with a variety of medications which only added to her problems and a devastating affect on her psyche and self-esteem. The cause of her deterioration was the fact that the therapist lost control and got involved with Jean emotionally, so that Jean could never figure out what was real, her feelings or the therapist’s. she finally escaped from this therapy, and she discusses the other work she did with a variety of therapists. She describes her life as a victim of sexual abuse, family relationships and how she eventually overcome her pain and suffering. Jean emerged as a strong, effective and compassionate therapist working with abused women and she tells her poignant story of survival. She coined the word “Musband”, a mother-husband, a fantasy person that motivated part of her life. The book also talks to the issue of the dangers of the psychotherapy process and what to be aware of.