Notes from Your Therapist

If you’ve spent any time on Instagram, you’ve probably seen the account Notes From Your Therapist pop up on your Explore page. Therapist Allyson Dinneen, who runs the account, posts photos of handwritten messages that reflect on trauma, grief, boundaries, and emotional health. The book Notes From Your Therapist collects some of these photos into a small volume that would make a good gift for a friend in need of some affirmation and support.

The handwritten messages make for a reading experience that feels personal and intimate. Photos of these messages are interspersed with more structured musings from Dinneen on topics such as grief, self-worth, and relationships. Though Dinneen certainly dispenses some insights throughout the book, the messages soon enough begin to feel repetitive. Some of the notes feel like merely rephrased versions of previous messages rather than new concepts, and the book would have connected more if it touched on a broader array of ideas. Nonetheless, this is a collection that many will find enjoyment, thoughtfulness, and wisdom in.