Relationship difficulties, anxiety and depression are common triggers for men and women to seek counselling. Amanda Stuart describes how for many clients it becomes clear in counselling that old wounds — neglect, hurt and anger — are at the heart of the presenting problem, often decades later. She decided to write The Longest Journey to highlight the effect of buried pain, which often links to childhood. The author interviewed a number of ex-clients to understand what had changed in their lives as a result of counselling. Their experiences include sensitive issues — abuse and the suicide of a parent — topics still taboo in our society. Clients were aware of significant change. Relationships were easier and they felt happier. Reading his story, a man in his thirties said: “I’m blown away. Looking back on my time in counselling, I can see how much I’ve changed. Others have seen it in me too.” “The Longest Journey takes the reader into the intimate space of counselling and psychotherapy. The author’s clients describe how their lives were explored, pain experienced, insights gained and the way new and more positive pathways became possible in their lives. Anyone considering therapy will find this book beneficial, as will psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers”. — Dr Coral Brown, Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society, Assistant Director, The Cairnmillar Institute “I read this book with surprise and delight. It is written in clear elegant prose without the heaviness of professional jargon and psychological concepts. And its great centrepiece is the author’s clients, describing in their own words the experience of counselling and the changes they were empowered to make in their troubled lives.” —Bob Sharples, Psychologist “...highlights the struggles of real people and illustrates the healing power of therapy” —Judith Siegel, Associate Professor, New York University