Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an Advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was not what I expected and I felt at times that I was listening in to patient sessions rather than reading a self-help book. Still an enjoyable read, rather than a self-help book.

Martin Wells has worked, possibly is still working, for the NHS. If so, his approach certainly seems to have a better end in view than reinforcing the idea that there must be something wrong with us.

The form of counselling he describes here sounds at the outset somewhat Rogerian - non-judgemental listening - but this goes further and into territory that is deeply mystical. For the basic premise Martin sets out here is that the people who come to him, whether or not traumatised, depressed or anxious or lost, at core are not broken, nor need fixing, No need to follow any path to completeness. These, according to Martin, are all functions of the ego, the part of us that has ideas about itself. This ego creates 'stories,' a narrative that comes to define us well beyond the periods of trauma or loss that might have led to the need for these fictions. This book follows the conversations and life histories of some of Martin's patients, or clients.

One of the most interesting of these studies was that of the psychopath, of whom Martin admits to having been terrified of in the beginning. This individual does begin to thaw during his sessions with Martin, finally able to relinquish this stance upon recognition that his psychopathy was simply a way of coping with a brutal and vicious upbringing.

In the second part of the book, Martin describes his work with group sessions, which show how interconnected most of us really are. He relates how sharing and describing dreams can demonstrate this, dreams somehow speaking to each participant beyond any need to be right or discriminatory.

The basic premise that there is nothing wrong with us at base is an attractive one indeed, possibly one that is normally one very difficult to put into prsctise. Martin makes it all seem easy, though it probably isn't. An interesting and hopeful read, though

Sitting in the Stillness by Martin Wells
Book Review by Dawn Thomas

168 Pages
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing Ltd / Mantra Books
Release Date: February 28, 2020

Health, Mind & Body, Self-Help

This book is a series of therapy sessions that Martin has with different patients. Martin is a psychotherapist. The patients vary from individuals to groups. I found I could identify with several of the sessions and found insight into different scenarios I have dealt with in the past. This might not be a book for everyone. Some of the sessions could be too personal.

This book can certainly be described as interesting! I can see why its not everyone's thing but I did get it and understood the premise.

If your interested in finding freedom within and the practise of mindfulness then this can certainly help and guide you, Definitely worth a read if you feel drawn to it.

Thank you John Hunt Publishing and NetGalley.

This has an excellent premise -- finding freedom within, partly by realizing that you are not your story. I wish everyone knew this and could practice it at all times, myself included. While they did not for me, I'm sure these stories and session summaries will resonate with many readers, and hopefully be helpful or inspirational. The author is on to something, and I wish him huge success in helping as many people as possible.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

I didn't like this book at all. I did try to read most of it but it felt like he was sharing conversations with his patients more than what they did to work on themselves.

I did not finish this one. This book is a collection of short anecdotes of patients in therapy. The episodes (the first few, which is all I got to) were isolated, full of jargon and didn’t really impart any coherent advise or overall narrative.