Sometimes Therapy Is Awkward

A Collection of Life-Changing Insights for the Modern Clinician

By: Nicole Arzt

Narrated by: Sara Gordon

Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

From Nicole Arzt, licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Psychotherapy Memes - a global community of more than 80,000 followers - comes a dynamic approach to understanding the therapist career.

Sometimes therapy is awkward. And sometimes it's also painful, messy, and downright confusing. Yet, very few books capture what it's truly like to engage in this work.

In its much-anticipated release, this guide chronicles the strange nuances of working in mental health in the modern world. Sometimes Therapy Is Awkward provides refreshingly candid insight into what it takes to feel more confident and prepared to help others. This guide offers stories, jokes, and action-based solutions for:

• Coping with excruciating insecurities
• Improving clinical skills
• Navigating the workplace
• Setting healthy and effective boundaries
• Managing burnout and compassion fatigue
• Understanding mental health treatment in the modern world

Using introspection and humor, Arzt offers a practical road map for aspiring therapists, new therapists, and any therapist who identifies with feeling afraid or uncomfortable in their work.

©2020 Nicole Arzt (P)2020 Nicole Arzt

Helpful for new therapists. The narrator is ok...was hard to follow )

I enjoyed the content of the book Considering a lot of good information provided to the new therapists. Unfortunately, the narrator made it boring to follow the material.

Good book for new therapists

The author describes some of the challenges of being a therapist in a very relatable way. Some chapters felt very raw and vulnerable, while others felt like a little bit of a drag or ramble. The narrator made it very difficult to stay engaged. I almost didn’t finish the book because her robotic cadence made it so distracting. I honestly think I would’ve enjoyed the book more had I just read it instead.

Not worth it

This book was a big disappointment. There were no new insights from previous new therapist books. And all of the information given by the author can be found on her instagram page. The humor and snarkiness of social media didn’t work in at all in this book. The worst part was the narrator. She was truly terrible.

Couldn't get past the intro

Narrator was so annoying I couldn't keep listening. I forwarded to first chapter and couldn't take it anymore. Her voice was not reflecting the words and it sounded like she was unfamiliar with the material. I don't know it just struck me the wrong way. I'm sure others might find it just fine. I cannot speak for the story itself. I could not take the book seriously enough to keep going.

Must read for any beginning therapist!

This book changed my whole experience as a clinical mental health counseling intern. It is an extremely relatable and validating read that normalizes the challenges associated with navigating the adjustment/learning process as you begin your career. Could not recommend this book more!!

I appreciated this, even as a seasoned Therapist

This is a book I wish I had almost 20 years ago when I Began my journey. Younger generations are lucky to have it

Very basic info with no new insights

I learned nothing new from this book. Very basic info that may be of use only to a brand new grad student.

Really enjoyed this Book!

I am completing a therapy internship as I complete a Masters in Social Work. I found this book helpful and inspiring. This book led me to listen to Dr Puder’s lecture on transference which was valuable. Thanks!

If you’re a therapist, this book is a must!

As a therapist, this book was so validating!! One of the best books that I’ve read/listened to about our profession. Thank you for humanizing us and making me not feel so alone!

Therapist to therapist…. Thank you!

I appreciate your insight, story, and vulnerability. This book came along my path at the time I needed it most. Replenished my soul and has helped me see the benefit and struggles moving forward in this career.

It has everything

This book has everything at whatever stage of the counselling process you are in. I am training and I found the start and middle of the book really useful. The end wasn’t helpful now but I can understand how I can come back to it in a few years time.
There is a wonderful mix of heart, common sense and tangible structures.

Not worth it

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with this book.

It was lacking depth or nuance of some kind and could have probably been written with half the pages. I think I would have preferred if some parts would have been less autobiographical (I do this and that) and more general.

It feels like pretty standard advice, some parts are so obvious that I would be seriously worried if a therapist would have not already considered some of these things.

I didnt enjoy the Narrator either and listened to it on speed 1.45 as it was so slow

Nevertheless, Nicole has obviously good intentions to make therapists feel less lonely, there were a few useful things in there and perhaps if you are having a rough time, this could be uplifting. I strongly feel this is for people in the beginning of their career.

I would recommend reading Lori Gottliebs “Maybe you should talk to someone” instead as I find the way of writing much more skilled and wholesome.

Slightly patronising

Probably more targeted at the person who has never worked. Some gems of useful insight but unfortunately not for me

Good listen

As a trainee counsellor, I found this a lighthearted and honest recording of the authors experiences. Raised questions and ethical responses but not an academic style. I can see why experienced therapists may not find it deep enough, or useful at that point in their journey.

Not for me

This might be a good book if you’re completely new to therapy however for someone who already has some work experience in this field, lots of the topics covered in this book felt very basic.
Additionally, the author spends lots of time talking about topics that are only relevant if you’re in America (e.g salary, business strategy, training etc) so be aware of that if you’re anywhere else in the world.
Also, I didn’t like the narration but I’m aware that’s probably a personal preference!