Dr. Jonathan Rosen is Christie’s therapist, who leads multiple groups in which she participates. He is by turns a mentor figure and an antagonist. His decisions to act or refrain from acting are key to Christie’s progress. Reflecting on the breakup with Reed, Tate observes, “[Dr. Rosen] watched me make one questionable choice after another, patiently waiting for me to come to my God-given senses. If I would have killed myself over this, surely he would have found himself before a licensing board. But he trusted himself—and he trusted me” (217). In deciding not to impose a boundary on Reed and Christie, Dr. Rosen let them make their own decisions.

Unorthodoxy is a key aspect of Dr. Rosen’s character and his approach to treatment. His prescriptions run the gamut from typical affirmation phone calls to henna tattoos and even eating a burger during a 12-step meeting for people recovering from eating disorders. Another key trait is his equanimity. He accepts all the negative words Christie and others fling at him. One day in group, Christie says, “Fuck you, Dr. Rosen” (69). In response, “Dr. Rosen rubbed his heart with his palm, a gesture [Christie] had seen before. He’d once explained that when someone shared their anger with him directly, it was a sign of love that he folded into his heart as a blessing” (69). Dr. Rosen does this throughout the text as Christie develops a habit of expressing her anger at him. His choice to receive and honor those emotions helps him remain calm and focus on his patients.

Because Christie is so isolated when she is first treated by Dr. Rosen, her first group is key to helping her move past the difficulty of making connections. It’s hard for Christie at first: “The room was a fishbowl. There was nowhere to hide from the six pairs of eyes around the circle. They could read my body. Make assessments. Draw conclusions. They could see me” (29-30). Christie is not used to the vulnerability required for connection and wants to protect herself. As the group members encourage her not to do this, she learns how to be in group, which is key for her progress throughout the memoir.

As she begins to trust the group, she becomes capable of making connections with them. She reports her eating to Rory and calls Marty for an affirmation every day. Dr. Rosen even has her report taking a bath to Patrice, which is difficult for Christie. Eventually, Christie says, “Carlos from group was my first male best friend” (90), showing that she is able to emotionally connect with a man without the complication or expectation of sex. The skills she develops in this platonic relationship are transferable to her romantic relationships. However, it is also indicative of the dynamics of this first group. All of these people are willing to support Christie and help her move from stranger to core group member. Their kindness, receptiveness, and inclusion demonstrate The Importance and Difficulty of Making Connections. As Christie feels the support of this group, she is able to invest in herself and her therapy more fully.

Christie’s second group, which is all female, is passionate and volatile in a way that empowers her. At first, Christie is intimidated by this group, especially when Marnie and Nan get into an argument in the first session. Marnie and Nan are not just talking; they’re gesticulating and punctuating their expressions with spit. This is more intense than Christie’s previous relationships in and out of group, and she finds it “menacing” (106) at first. The physical, deep-seated expression of emotions is unique to this group.

This dynamic pushes Christie to be more expressive. During one session, Christie pulls out her hair out of frustration that Jeremy won’t sleep with her. This is a key moment in Christie moving from silence to expression of her wants and needs. This only happens because she has the example and support of these group members. In this group, it is okay to scream and be violent. In fact, Nan rushes to Christie’s side to comfort her after her hair pulling. There are, of course, other members of this group, but the intense emotional tone set and supported by Marnie and Nan is key to Christie’s overall progress.