Same Time Next Week

In any given year, one in four Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental illnessand yet there is still a significant stigma attached to being labeled as mentally ill. We hear about worst-case scenarios, but in manymaybe even mostcases, there is much room for hope. These frank, often intimate stories reflect the writers struggles to overcomeboth as professionals and as individuals, as current therapists and as former patientsthe challenges presented by depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, and other mental disorders. These dramatic narratives communicate clearly the rewards of helping patients move forward with their lives, often through a combination of medication, talk therapy, and common sense. Collectively, these true stories highlight the need for empathy and compassion between therapist and patient, and argue for a system that encourages human connection rather than diagnosis by checklist.