Are u ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health by Kati Morton

Are u ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health by Kati Morton

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Perseus Books, Da Capo Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Taking care of your mental health sounds scary, but it’s important to take care of yourself and Kati Morton breaks down the what and why of mental health and therapy. She also takes a bit of the fear out of going to therapy. I know I’ve been on the fence about seeing a therapist and she took a lot of the fear out of that with her book, which is, in part, why this book exists.

Everyone struggles with mental health issues and there’s a societal stigma against taking care of our mental health compared to our physical health. Morton talks a bit about this and why it’s important to take care of our mental health. Not only is it a part of us and our body, but it can also physically affect us depending on what’s going on. She also explains the different parts of treating mental health and what each practitioner in the field does, such as the different between a therapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist.

One of the things that I like about the book is that it helps take some of the unknown out of seeking treatment. What does a first appointment with a therapist generally look like? What should one look for in a therapist? How does one look for a therapist? There’s explanations and answers to questions that I didn’t even think about, such as deciding on what to look for in a therapist based on one’s comfort level and how to figure out what type of person one wants to see. The information she shared will help others know what to expect and what to look for.

I found Morton to have a very positive personality through her writing, which makes it easier to digest the information she shares and take some of the fear out of imagining what a therapist might be like. It took me back to college because it was a combination of important information as well as relatable information and examples. I felt like I was sitting through a lecture with a cool professor with my text book propped open next to my notebook. It wasn’t scary, the information is valuable and useful, and there’s some technical information.

All in all, I highly recommend this book for people who want to learn a little more about treating mental health and for people who are on the fence about seeking treatment. Morton shares so much information in a way that isn’t overwhelming while also making her readers feel comfortable. There’s a lot of fear around mental health as well as seeking treatment, especially when one doesn’t know what seeking treatment will look like or has no idea what seeing a therapist or anyone in the field will look like because it’s just not talked about most of the time. This is a book I’ll refer back to as I step out of my comfort zone and seek a therapist and I think it can help many people whether or not they read it for themselves or someone else.