Gildiner's first ever patient, whose assertive and straightforward nature introduces many of the book's central themes, as she navigates understanding and setting boundaries.

A polite and softspoken Chinese American man who learns to reframe past experiences and reshape his relationships by addressing the generational trauma he has faced.

A member of the Cree nation who slowly learns to process his emotions and reconnect with his heritage, showcasing the complexities of trauma intersecting with culture and identity.

A 35-year-old lesbian dealing with severe physical symptoms tied to trauma, whose therapy becomes one of Gildiner's most significant cases and involves understanding her multiple personalities.

A successful business owner from a wealthy family, whose outward confidence belies her struggles with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder stemming from familial emotional abuse.