The Talking Cure, Transformation and Being a Little Bit Mad with Professor Gillian Straker & Dr Jacqui Winship

What do you know about therapy? Did the producers of The Sopranos get it right? And are we all a little bit mad? The answer is 'yes' according to my guests today, both highly experienced Sydney-based psychotherapists and clinical psychologists. Professor Gillian Straker and Dr Jacqui Winship join me to talk about their new book, 'The Talking Cure: Normal people, their hidden struggles and the life-changing power of therapy' in which they introduce us first to relational psychotherapy through its depiction in The Sopranos, and then to their clients, fictional amalgams of real-life cases. They explain the relationship between the therapist and the patient as the essence of successful therapy and reveal how the art of talking and listening helps us to understand deep-seated issues that profoundly influence who we are in the world. In this fascinating conversation we explore: •Psychotherapy - What is it? And how does it differ from other forms of therapy or counselling? •Why being human is to be a little bit mad - and why that's okay. •How common childhood experiences can lead to struggles later in life. •Our role as parents. Should we be worried about 'screwing up' our kids later in life? •The role of diagnosis in mental health. Are we medicalising normal humanness? And what does this mean for happiness and wellbeing? This episode will leave you intrigued by the possibilities of the little understood but transformative process of psychotherapy and how we relate to each other. For a full transcript, guest profile, expert tips and the resources mentioned in this episode, visit potential.com.au/podcast or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/potentialpsychology/message