The Therapist

With special guest:

• Dr Hugh Mackay AO
  … in conversation with Bill Kable

This is a rare chance to peek inside a Psychotherapist’s office.

Hugh Mackay has a wealth of experience to draw on after so many years working in the community as a social psychologist surveying what we think of ourselves and our issues. After listening intently to so many people’s stories he has distilled for us some fascinating characters facing some modern day challenges. There are therapists who have major personal issues, there are some moral issues to resolve and all this is before we get to the clients and the assistance they need.

The Therapist is very topical with Hugh telling us that a third of the qualified Psychologists in Australia have closed their books to new clients because of the overwhelming demand. Hugh believes that we all need to take some time out for serious reflection on our own life, our relationships, our dreams, the source of our happiness and disappointments, in fact, how are we doing in general.

Of particular relevance to our listeners is that there are some modern paternity issues raised in this story. We enter the world of IVF from sperm donors and the decisions that need to be made. There are also some eternal husband/father relationships that have unexpected consequences.

We get to ask whether Hugh likes any of his characters and he tells us that in the course of writing about them they almost take on a life of their own. They can even surprise the author in the way they respond in some situations but Hugh feels he would recognise the main character Martha if he saw her in the street. Martha is definitely one he would admire.

In this book we get to meet and understand a number of different people. We learn some unconventional ways to treat personal problems and the professional aspects are accompanied by empathy, tenderness and hope.

Dr Hugh Mackay AO

Hugh Mackay Is a social psychologist and bestselling author. The Therapist is his ninth novel. His non-fiction writing covers social and cultural analysis, psychology, communication and ethics. Hugh is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of New South Wales, and was appointed an Officer of the Order Of Australia in 2015.

Song selection by our guest: All You Need Is Love by The Beatles

Podcast (mp3)