In this hauntingly tender and psychologically rich collection, Dr. CJ—a practicing psychologist writing under a pen name—takes readers deep into the therapy room and deeper still into the soul.

From couples on the verge of silence, to children misunderstood by the system, to survivors navigating the ruins of memory, these seven fictional therapy-inspired stories peel back the layers of the human psyche. Each chapter explores a unique psychological challenge—dissociation, ADHD, grief, eating disorders, burnout, dementia—without turning people into pathologies.

Instead, these are stories of resilience, emotional honesty, and the quiet courage of healing.

Written with the insight of a clinician and the empathy of a storyteller, this collection is a literary companion for anyone who has ever broken quietly—and needed to be seen whole again.