BOOK REVIEWS
Reviews of A Very Narrow Bridge: Reflections of a Psychologist
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BOOK
Reviews of a Very Narrow Bridge
An account of life stresses suffered by psychotherapy clients intertwined with echoes of pain in their therapist.
Dr. Rickey Miller’s memoir, A Very Narrow Bridge: Reflections of a Psychologist, hearkens us to the reality that we are all vulnerable creatures who must cross “narrow bridges”.
Dr Miller’s book gives a clear voice to her pains including her divorce, conflict with her disabled son’s teachers, and her mother’s serious illnesses. She bids us to understand that suffering is pervasive and can yield strength.
The book is not a technical account of treatment theory or technique, but instead gives sensitive illustrations of Dr. Miller’s ‘active attention’ to her clients’ life events. She illustrates her work with effective comments made to clients in therapy sessions. Her work is the type of humane connection typical of giants in the field, for example, Carl Rogers’ non-directive approach and Victor Frankl’s logotherapy. One sees Dr. Miller’s gentle and caring attention to clients’ words and her strength in her work with patients as well as in her interactions with others when challenged in her own life.
Dr. Miller has created a tapestry that knits personal experiences of the client and the doctor with therapeutic techniques and personality theory. Dr. Miller’s book is written with the finesse of an experienced psychologist and author whose sophisticated style readily captures her readers. As a clinical psychologist myself I can prescribe it to everyone.
- Richard Steffy, Ph.D, C.Psych., Emeritus Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, January 23, 2025
Exceptional clinical and personal memoir from a highly accomplished psychologist
Dr. Rickey Miller’s A Very Narrow Bridge is a wonderful exploration of suffering, resilience and healing, in which she brilliantly interweaves her patients’ stories with her own journey through many challenges. The book is extremely engaging and readable, providing a window into the mind of an exceptionally skilled psychologist whose compassion and empathy shines through every story.
I would highly recommend this fascinating book to clinicians and the general public alike. It was hard to put down.
- Anonymous Amazon Reviewer, December 4, 2024
It kept me up past my bedtime. Too engaging to put down
I just finished this book. Here is a warning: It might keep you up past your bedtime. I usually read for an hour before going to sleep. My wife said more than once, "It's almost midnight. How much longer are you going to read?" That's how engaging the story is. I had trouble putting it down. My wife has now claimed it for her bedside table.
Dr. Miller has written a brave and generous account of her life. The book is about her journey and the people she loved and cared about. I will recommend it to my friend Alice for her book club.
- Dr. Paul Kelly, Toronto, Ontario, December 29, 2025
This book inspires and encourages
I read Dr. Miller’s memoir in almost a single sitting and found it to be a remarkable achievement. She shares her life story, its major challenges, disappointments, and painful losses, with startling vulnerability.
When she describes her work with clients it feels like being in the room with them. Clearly having the skills and insight to help others does not spare clinicians from their own life struggles, but Dr. Miller makes this human and understandable as she interweaves their stories with her own.
This is a courageous book and one that offers encouragement and inspiration for our own life journeys.
- Anonymous Amazon Canada Reviewer, January 1, 2025
A very unique memoir
Dr Miller has written a very unique book. As an experienced psychologist, she offers expert psychological tips for dealing with the challenges of life. But she also gives us a behind the scenes look at how she herself navigated her own personal challenges.
As a result, her perspectives feel authentic, reflecting a depth of wisdom and a compassion and understanding for all of us as we struggle to cope with life ourselves. A very compelling read!
- Dr. Jonathan Quek, Toronto, Ontario, January 2, 2025
Very insightful look into the human condition
I found this book exceptionally engaging and thought provoking. Dr. Miller’s ability to weave her patients’ stories with her own challenges shows a deep understanding of the human condition. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand the traumas we carry from our childhoods and generations past and how we can grow from them.
- Anonymous Amazon Canada Reviewer, December 14, 2025
Psychologist recounts how she taught AND learned about resilience from both family and clients
If you think every psychologist must have it 'totally together' in their personal life, read this book! In this brave memoir, psychologist Rickey Miller recounts how the many challenges she has faced in her family, personal, and professional lives intertwine with those faced by her clients, and how she, her family members, and her clients were able to learn to face those challenges and to be resilient. There is a lot of heartbreak in this book, but also a lot of joy and strength to be celebrated.
The stories of Miller's immigrant father's family; her parents' marriage; and how these played out in her own upbringing are particularly fascinating. Miller's mother, Faye, is truly inspiring, as is Miller's tenacity in her efforts to support her children through their own challenges, and to navigate a very difficult divorce process.
This is Rickey Miller's 'coming of age' story, but it goes all the way from her grandparents to her recent retirement from her psychological practice. This book reminds the reader that one must always continue to learn and adapt.
- Anonymous Amazon Canada Reviewer, Amazon February 14, 2025
A book that sparks human connection
While our lives are all unique, we can all feel an emotional connection to one or more of the heartfelt stories in this book where we personally have had to deal with a death, divorce, medical emergency, loss of a job or family crisis. These stories challenge us to evaluate how our emotions and actions have shaped our lives, and forces us to evaluate from a new perspective the impact of our negative and positive responses, with the hope that it will help us make the best choices in a future situation.
Dr. Rickey Miller, creates content that resonates with readers on a deep level, and you cannot help feel that you are having an intimate conversation with the author.
- Paula Mandel, Toronto, Ontario, January 23, 2025