Stories from the Couch: A Psychologist’s Book Club (A Human History of Emotion by Richard Firth-Godbehere)

What if our emotions are shaped not only by biology, but also by history, culture, and the societies we live in? 

Join us for a monthly therapist-led book club where psychology, literature, and lived experience come together, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and professional connection.

📚 What

A space for psychologists and therapists to discuss books that challenge, inspire, and deepen our understanding of human suffering, healing, and therapeutic practice.

September's Book: A Human History of Emotion by Richard Firth-Godbehere

👥 Who

Open to psychologists, therapists, counsellors, coaches, and mental health professionals in the It's Complicated community who are interested in thoughtful, clinically grounded conversation.

🎙️ Facilitated by

Giulia Germanier, psychologist, bringing mental health professionals together monthly to explore the psychological, relational, and human dimensions of our work.

📍 Where

Online, live room on the It's Complicated platform

💬 Why attend?

In A Human History of Emotion, historian Richard Firth-Godbehere takes readers on a fascinating journey through the ways emotions have been understood across different cultures and historical periods. Challenging the assumption that emotions are fixed, universal experiences, he argues that our feelings are shaped not only by biology but also by language, religion, politics, and the social norms of the societies in which we live.

Drawing on examples from Ancient Greece to the modern world, the book explores how concepts such as anger, shame, love, fear, and happiness have evolved over time, and what these changing perspectives can teach us about ourselves today. Blending psychology, history, philosophy, and anthropology, A Human History of Emotion invites us to reconsider some of our most fundamental assumptions about what it means to feel.

💬 Want to keep updated?

Join our WhatsApp group to hear about upcoming events and connect with fellow therapists.

This is a monthly event, featuring a different book each month.