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  • Good Morning, Monster

  • Five Heroic Journeys to Recovery
  • By: Catherine Gildiner
  • Narrated by: Deborah Burgess
  • Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (44 ratings)

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Good Morning, Monster

By: Catherine Gildiner
Narrated by: Deborah Burgess
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Publisher's Summary

A therapist creates moving portraits of five of her most memorable patients, men and women she considers psychological heroes.

Catherine Gildiner is a best-selling memoirist, a novelist, and a psychologist in private practice for 25 years. In Good Morning, Monster, she focuses on five patients who overcame enormous trauma - people she considers heroes. With a novelist's storytelling gift, Gildiner recounts the details of their struggles, their paths to recovery, and her own tale of growth as a therapist.

The five cases include a successful but lonely musician suffering sexual dysfunction; a young woman whose father abandoned her and her siblings in a rural cottage; an Indigenous man who'd endured great trauma at a residential school; a young woman whose abuse at the hands of her father led to a severe personality disorder; and a glamorous workaholic whose negligent mother had greeted her each morning with "Good morning, Monster." 

Each patient presents a mystery, one that will only be unpacked over years. They seek Gildiner's help to overcome an immediate challenge in their lives, but discover that the source of their suffering has been long buried. It will take courage to face those realities, and creativity and resourcefulness from their therapist. 

Each patient embodies self-reflection, stoicism, perseverance, and forgiveness as they work unflinchingly to face the truth. Gildiner's account of her journeys with them is moving, insightful, and sometimes humorous. It offers a behind-the-scenes look into the therapist's office and explains how the process can heal even the most unimaginable wounds.

©2019 Catherine Gildiner (P)2019 Viking

Critic Reviews

“These compelling, heart-in-throat stories prove no one is 'damaged goods'. I'm in awe of the five patients and of Gildiner’s exceptional creativity as she guides each one toward emotional freedom.” (Rona Maynard, author of My Mother’s Daughter and former editor)

What listeners say about Good Morning, Monster

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Can not get enough

I truly could not get enough of this book. I have started it again straight after finishing it.
Incredible insight into a therapist/patient relationship.
I feel like this book would reach a large range of people and help guide them through whatever it is they are tackling.

As an aspiring councillor, this gets me very excited for the future.
Thank you.

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Highly recommend

These are the kinds of stories I like to listen to, real world stuff. As hard as their stories are to listen to, it's so great to heae them overcome that trauma enough to live good lives ❤️

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Really enjoyed this

Enjoyed all of this audiobook, very interesting insights into therapy from the therapist perspective.
Would recommend!

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Such an amazing book!!

I enjoyed this book with all my heart. You will have the most wonderful time by listening this audiobook

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Captivating, Authentic and Brilliantly Read

I have to say the narrator Deborah Burgess did a superb job with this book. Absolutely superb.
The book itself is very powerful and every clinical psychologist should read it. There are fascinating and hugely helpful insights from the author, presented in clear, readily understood language that is not “dumbed down” in any way. The case studies are fascinating and the book is so well-written as to be almost unputdownable. I hope there’ll be a second book.

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Aha's all over the place

This book was gifted to me by a colleague and friend who also works in the emotional trauma segment of health and wellbeing, but not for clients, for my own story. Every story was harrowing to listen to, and I would recommend if you're an empath or sensitive you protect your energy before putting your headset in, there are potential trigger elements. However, the way Dr Gildiner added the psychology as to why and also how her patients evolved was great to read and validating for the processes I'd developed in my own practice organically.

Give yourself breaks as you need and have a drink of water handy to keep you hydrated through the harrowing parts.

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Amazing read

So well read. Interesting stories. Amazing to see the transformation of broken individuals through counselling.

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Amazing

This book was excellent- I couldn’t stop listening! I definitely recommend it for anyone interested in mental health & trauma.

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Riveting and wise

A rare insight into the hard work involved in tackling difficult childhood issues and complex family dynamics with the help of a therapist, and the amazing growth that can happen as a result. Beautifully told by a wonderful writer. Excellent narration too.

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Engaging, emotional stories from a therapists POV

I couldn't stop listening to this book! Every bit of free time I had, I'd play the book. Narration was fantastic and the stories of each client were thought provoking and I felt such strong empathy & compassion for them.

For other childhood trauma survivors reading this, be forewarned that there's some brutal descriptions of horrific child abuse that could be triggering. Dr Gildiner aptly named the book - I'm not sure there's a word strong enough to describe some of the villains in these people's lives, but Monster is probably the best we have in English.

What I loved most about the book is hearing about each person's journey to healing (as much as one can) - I felt hopeful for my own healing journey. I also admired how Dr Gildiner took responsibility when she made mistakes & researched/collaborated with others to get the best possible outcomes for her clients. My favourite was helping her indigenous client connect back to his cultural roots by researching and reaching out to other indigenous community members. The world needs more therapists like her!

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.