Author: Judith A. Goren, PhD
ISBN: 0-595-32494-0

The following review was contributed by: Jim  Curtiss. Click Here To Read More Of Jim’s Reviews


Because they work in the mysterious environment of the mind,
psychotherapists who write memoirs frequently provide us with engaging
reading, and Sharing the Journey, a collection of essays written by
Judith Goren, is a good example of this genre. Equal parts reflection on
her long career as a humanistic psychologist and primer on the daily
practicalities of her profession, Sharing the Journey provides an
entertaining glimpse into the normally off-limits areas of the
psychotherapist's mind.

The book begins with a compelling prologue discussing psychotherapy and
the paradoxes involved with it. Goren writes: "Psychotherapy can involve
communication at the deepest level of human intimacy. But. the intimacy
is one way. The client reveals all to the therapist, but the therapist
does not respond in kind. If she did, the work would risk becoming
non-therapeutic. Work: that is yet another irony. This interchange is
both spiritual and commercial. The very soul of the client is being
exposed, touched, healed. The client enters a dark labyrinth, and the
therapist is there at every step, holding up a light. But the work ends
after 50 minutes and a check is written, or an insurance company is
billed."

These are indeed paradoxes, and throughout the book Goren uses her
professional insight to discuss them - not just by presenting her
opinions, but by fairly exploring both sides of the issue at hand. But
here's another paradox: while Sharing the Journey can at times be
compelling, at other times Goren fails to reel the reader in. An example
might be the opening paragraph of Part 1: "It is a quarter to one. I am
sitting at my desk eating a sandwich I prepared this morning, turkey
with honey mustard dressing on fresh Jewish bakery rye bread. I have ten
minutes before the next session begins. The phone rings."

Once the reader makes it through the informative but less than rapturous
first two portions of the book, however, the rewards are many. Parts
III, IV and V are filled with essays that illustrate the intricacies of
Goren's field and keep the reader engaged by presenting vivid stories of
patients she's worked with, psychotherapeutic techniques and issues that
have intrigued her, and finally how she disengaged from it all and
retired from practice.

Goren, employing a writing style that is clear and flowing, nicely
portrays the career of a psychotherapist from start to finish. And
though memoirs of this type all too frequently contain off-putting
pedantic rants, Sharing the Journey is refreshingly free of such
baggage. For those who desire a peek behind the veil of psychotherapy,
Sharing the Journey is the book for you.