Untangling

With the drama of a novel, Untangling: A Memoir of Psychoanalysis tells the story of a turbulent and transformative psychoanalysis in this first ever in-depth patient's account. Joan K. Peters’s story lays bare the inner workings of this complex treatment, which takes place behind closed doors, is rarely spoken about, and is largely unknown outside of professional circles. A polished, poetic, and often funny writer, Peters's willingness to expose her own demons brings psychoanalysis to life, from the intense strife to the fierce love that can develop between patient and analyst. Joan’s first analyst, Lane, helped Joan alleviate tormenting and recurring nightmares and to find herself by discovering her family’s secret past. Her second analyst, Kristi, guided her through the frightening depths of that past to a yearned-for freedom. In another first, Kristi writes an afterword about the challenge of analyzing Peters. Unique in its reach, Untangling reveals the mysteries that lurk beneath the surface of our psyches.

Joan K. Peters is professor emeritus of literature and writing at California State University at Channel Islands. She has published a novel, Manny and Rose, two books on the psychology and politics of working mothers, When Mothers Work and Not Your Mother’s Life, as well as stories and literary criticism. As a feminist spokesperson, she’s appeared on Dr. Phil, The View, Good Morning America, CNN, CNBC, NBC Weekend News, and was writer and host for Working Mothers: Balance without Guilt, CPTV, Connecticut PBS (1999). She lives with her husband, dogs, and chickens in California.