In Conversation: Journalist Robin Goudsmit Talks with Lena Bril about Her New Book 'In Therapy'

Why do so many people seek help from a therapist or coach? What happens behind the closed doors of treatment rooms? Is therapy the solution to the mental health crisis, or part of the problem? Journalist and philosopher Lena Bril, who has been in and out of treatment with a psychologist and psychiatrist for ten years, immersed herself in the world of coaching and therapy for a year. She shadowed a burnout coach, observed equine therapy, participated in family constellations, underwent psychedelic therapy, and joined a circle for women with ADHD. Through an empathetic lens and a critical mind, she describes these different therapeutic realms, portraying a country grappling with mental health issues and hoping therapy will lead to recovery. Along the way, the question arises: how does Bril herself navigate her mental challenges? LENA BRIL (1992) is a journalist and philosopher who has quickly become one of the sharpest thinkers of her generation, writing essays and reports for Volkskrant and De Groene Amsterdammer. She offers biweekly advice on modern life issues in Trouw. ROBIN GOUDSMIT (1992) entered journalism through a career switch. She studied International Relations and Philosophy at the University of Groningen before pursuing a Research Master's in Cultural Analysis at the University of Amsterdam. She interned at De Groene Amsterdammer and was hired as a journalist at Trouw in January 2020.