Catherine Gildiner’s Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery is a deeply moving and unforgettable exploration of resilience, trauma, and the transformative power of therapy. With over 60,000 Goodreads ratings and a stunning 4.45 average, this book stands out as one of the most heartfelt and insightful works in the genre of psychological memoir.
Drawing on her decades of experience as a clinical psychologist, Gildiner introduces readers to five of her most remarkable patients Laura, Peter, Danny, Alanna, and Madeleine each of whom faced unimaginable childhood trauma and emerged from years of therapy with a newfound sense of self. The title, Good Morning, Monster, comes from one patient’s mother’s cruel greeting each morning, and it encapsulates the emotional depth and heartbreak that define these stories. Yet, despite the pain, the book is ultimately a testament to human strength and recovery.
Each section focuses on a single patient’s story, told from the first session to the conclusion of therapy. This structure allows readers to witness the slow, intricate process of healing how buried pain surfaces, how coping mechanisms are dismantled, and how trust between therapist and patient becomes the foundation for transformation. Unlike many clinical or overly detached psychological accounts, Gildiner’s writing feels intimate and compassionate. She is refreshingly honest about her own missteps and moments of doubt, allowing readers to see therapy as both an art and a partnership.
Reviewer Regina called the book “a five-part journey of heroism,” noting how each patient’s story shows “how the process of therapy can heal even the most unimaginable wounds.” Regina also praised Gildiner’s candor in sharing both her successes and her failures, something that makes this book not only instructive but profoundly human.
Christine, another reader, described the book as “phenomenal” and “gold,” calling it one of her best reads of the year. She was particularly touched by how Gildiner provided “decades-later” updates on her patients, showing how their growth endured beyond therapy. For Christine, these stories didn’t just inspire empathy they also offered lessons about her own life. “My eyes welled up at the end simply because the book was done,” she wrote, capturing how emotionally connected readers become to these five resilient individuals.
Nina’s review adds an essential perspective: while Good Morning, Monster is heartbreaking, it is also hopeful. She reminds readers that the book may be triggering for those who have experienced trauma, as Gildiner does not shy away from describing abuse, neglect, and abandonment in painful detail. Yet, every story ends with renewal and strength. “It can help create this little bit of hope that you might need to go on,” Nina writes. “You could actually be like the success stories written about by Dr. Gildiner.”
This duality pain and hope is what makes Good Morning, Monster so special. It does not sugarcoat trauma, but it also refuses to let darkness have the final word. Instead, it shows how courage, persistence, and the right support can bring even the most broken souls back to life.
Final Thoughts:
Good Morning, Monster is a rare book that manages to be both devastating and uplifting. Through Gildiner’s compassionate storytelling, we see how therapy can be a lifeline and how even the deepest wounds can heal with time, honesty, and care. If you loved Lori Gottlieb’s Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, you will find this book equally inspiring perhaps even more so. It’s a tribute to the quiet heroism of those who face their pain and emerge stronger.
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