Undressing

"In O Neill's book - at once a case-history, a novella, and something more than either - we have a remarkable story of what two people can do for each other if they can experiment with trust. Adam PhillipsWhen therapist-in-training James O Neill starts his placement at a therapy centre in west London, his first referral is Abraham, a silent and frightened young man in a tightly-zipped, hooded anorak.For the majority of their initial sessions, Abraham hardly speaks. But O Neill gradually gains his trust and learns of the abuse and violence Abraham was subjected to as a child that caused him to hide away from the world - barely sleeping, too afraid to get undressed even in the shower.Over the many years they meet, Abraham s unfolding story and bravery inspire O Neill to confront his own complicated past. Together they achieve something radical, as Abraham creates his own kind of therapy and teaches O Neill to do the same.

“What a privilege for a therapist to be given permission to share such a journey. It provoked so many thoughts and byways of the heart and mind... I loved and admired it.”

A brave and moving book which demystifies what it is to be a good and generous therapist. --
I read this extraordinary short story of a psychotherapist and his patient in a single sitting... A powerful testament, not only to therapy, but of the healing that trust, empathy and love can engender in all of us.
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James O'Neill is a psychotherapist with an independent practice in south London. Born in Toronto, he moved to London in 1977 where he taught history before starting therapy training. He is a member of the Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis. This is his first book.

When therapist-in-training, James O'Neill, starts his placement at a therapy centre in West London, his first referral is Abraham, a silent and frightened young man in a tightly zipped, hooded anorak. After spending the majority of their initial sessions in silence, O'Neill gradually gains Abraham's trust and learns of the abuse and violence he was subjected to as a child that caused him to hide away from the world - barely sleeping, too frightened to get undressed and shower, anything that might make him that vulnerable. Over the many years they meet, Abraham's unfolding story and bravery inspires O'Neill to confront his own complicated past. Abraham creates his own kind of therapy, having the courage to stand up to his fears, becoming intimate with fear, he develops fearlessness and teaches O'Neill to do the same. Undressing is at once a case-history, a novella, and something more than either: a remarkable story of two people drawn to each other for different reasons, discovering through trust what they can do for each other.

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