The Skeleton Cupboard

By: Tanya Byron

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Tanya Byron shares powerful stories inspired by her years of training as a clinical psychologist. The Skeleton Cupboard is professor Tanya Byron's account of her years of training as a clinical psychologist, when trainees find themselves in the toughest placements of their careers.

Through the eyes of her naive and inexperienced younger self, Tanya shares remarkable stories inspired by the people she had the privilege to treat. Gripping, poignant, and full of daring black humour, this book reveals the frightening and challenging induction faced by all mental health staff and highlights their incredible commitment to their patients.

Powerfully moving and beautifully written, The Skeleton Cupboard shares the tales of ordinary people with an amazing resilience to the challenges of life.

©2014 Tanya Byron (P)2014 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Interesting and insightful

I have always respected the work of Tanya Byron so was very pleased to see that she had written this book about her years as a trainee clinical psychologist. It is an honest and interesting book that gives a real insight into the work of psychologists. Tanya Byron narrates the introduction and I really wish she had narrated the whole book as she narrates with real intelligence, warmth and humanity. Although Imogen Church's narration is listenable she does struggle to voice the male clients and does not convey the warmth or humanity of the author.

6 people found this helpful

Fascinating

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, a truly fascinating insight into the role and training of clinical psychologists.

Any additional comments?

Entertaining, educational and enlightening. A well written story and interesting audiobook to listen to.

2 people found this helpful

Fabulous

If you could sum up The Skeleton Cupboard in three words, what would they be?

Fascinating, insightful, gripping.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The author, Tanya, because this is her honest account of her journey to become a clinical psychologist.

What does Imogen Church bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I liked the way that Imogen's voice very closely matched Tanya's, she also added great character to Tanya's clients/patients.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Being a counsellor in training there were points where I laughed because Tanya's emotions and experience of her supervisor reflected my own. I laughed out loud on several occasions.

Any additional comments?

This is a really interesting book for a trainee counsellor like myself because Tanya goes through her thoughts about her 'clients/patients' [none are real per se but devised from people she's seen over the years], how she works out their narrative and how she seeks to help them. I also found the fact that she had included her experience of the supervisor/supervisee relationship really useful too. I loved this book, listened to it in a few days during dog walks and after a knee op! As my first Audible book it has set the bar very high. I would recommend.

2 people found this helpful

Great book (I imagine) Dreadful narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No - and simply because of the narration

What did you like best about this story?

Wish I had a chance to hear more - I am an admirer of Tanya Byron and enjoy how she writes elsewhere. This was all paid for and I waited for release with great interest. However, the narration is beyond irritating so as to distract from what is being said.

What didn’t you like about Imogen Church’s performance?

Silly, unconvincing voices which add nothing to a story and are beyond cliche.I really feel a good narrator could just have spoken - I feel fairly sure that when Tanya Byron gives an example of her work with clients she does not affect a a silly offensive voice to match. As listeners I feel confident we would be able to discern who was saying what. So disappointed and will now order a tangible version of this book as a to read for myself - hopefully I will have thrown off the terrible voices by then.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, the opening chapter spoken beautifully by Tanya Byron

Any additional comments?

This is the first review I have ever left in years of Audible membership - I felt compelled and hope it stops others from wasting their money on it until such time as it is recorded well.

6 people found this helpful

A Fascinating Insight

Although the author describes the characters in this book as 'constructs', each of the cases that she describes have a thoroughly authentic feel. The book is rooted in the authors experience and this comes across. The insights into the struggles of those coping with mental illness are valuable. Equally, the description of the role of the practitioner and the struggle to maintain professional detachment while remaining deeply affected by the patients' suffering is impressive.
I enjoyed this book and the narration and developed a better understanding of mental illness and its treatment as a result.

1 person found this helpful

well done Tanya

Any additional comments?

I advise all my Psychology A level students to read this book, and if they are going on to Uni to do Psychology it a MUST.

2 people found this helpful

Fantastic story

I found this gripping and informative as a counsellor working with adults, children and adolescents. I realised the work we do isn’t that different although there always seems a divide between counsellors and psychologists. It was fascinating to get to know the varied and interesting characters and the performance brought the whole book to life. The raw honesty and reflections of Tanya Byron adds to her credibility and expertise as a Psychologist.Highly Recommended.

Brilliant book

Loved this book from the very beginning right up to the end. Wonderful narrator who conveyed different characters wonderfully.

Not that good.

Interesting because the author effortlessly and successfully feeds in a lot of psychological theory into the narrative, but many of the stories themselves were a bit too exaggerated, too sensational. And as a result, a bit cliched. I got bored half way through and didn’t finish it.

Excellent!

An insight into the world of clinical psychology, fascinating and thought provoking. I would highly recommend it.