Funny poignant and carrying a profound message regarding humanity's treatment of animals, this delightful, 'factional' story centres on Moo, psychotherapist Pete Shepherd's cat. Moo has a mission to educate Pete about the threatened state of the animal kingdom due to humanity's cruelty. This is one not to miss ~ Cygnus, Issue 07

This is one of the best books I have read for a long time. After the death of her cat Moo, the author received a strong message that she had to use Moo to write a book about animal evolution from the cat's perspective. It was important for the message to be in fictional form as it would engage the heart of the reader more easily. The message was basically that we jeopardise our own evolution by our mistreatment of animals. This book will stir your imagination and if you like to follow fresh ideas you will be fascinated. The book also makes some provocative statements, as uncompromising as cats can be, about our treatment of animals and our own emotional health in relationship to the natural world. ~ Albamone(high priestess), Amazon.co.uk

I absolutely loved this book. It captivated me from the very beginning. So much so that I want more. Can't wait for the follow-up to be published. It is so beautifully written with both humour and sensitivity. You really feel like you know the characters personally because it is so well written. Thank you for writing this beautiful book.- ~ Louise, Amazon.uk

MLN Review- Drawing upon her experience as a psychosynthetic therapist, Stephanie Sorrell creates a charming novel that explores themes such as spiritual transcendence and awareness, human-animal relationships, and indeed humanity's propensity for mistreating other creatures - all set against the backdrop of the life of a protagonist with bipolar disorder, working as a psychotherapist. When his girlfriend, Emmie, brings home a cat at random, Peter Shepherd is initially horrified. As his relationship with his Emmie passively disintegrates, however, his connection with Moo the cat becomes deeper... Upon learning that he can directly communicate with Moo, Pete finds himself on a journey towards "the Portal" - a place of perfect enlightenment and peace, where all the creatures of our world are equal. Moo educates Pete on how to access this sacred place - but has an underlying reason for doing so. She highlights to him the plight of the animal race at the hands of humanity, and teaches him the measures he can take and promote to defend those with "The Fur" (humanity's biggest flaw being, according to Moo, its lack of fur). Moo also starkly advises Pete that our race is being watched from within by - and already being affected by - another species, its initial purpose similar to her's. But without human redemption, might its focus morph into one of revenge? Is their hope left for humanity? It's a cleverly constructed tale. On the face of it, it's 'just' an entertaining, often amusing story of a therapist, his cat, their bizarre relationship and eventually the chronicles of a 'boy-meets-girl'. Yet it serves ably as a moral not just to Pete, but to us - the whole of the human race. We are invited to consider whether, in the lives of many of us as rat-racers, in our need to satisfy so many external aspects of our lives - have we forgotten how to just be? Can't we be comfortable within our own minds, and allow ourselves the simplicity of time devoted to the self? Further, where does humanity's superiority complex come from, and why is it just? Cats in the real world don't speak like Moo does to Pete - but I defy you to watch one and claim that it doesn't have a soul, one rife with the ability to speak in ways we don't (and can't). Isn't it time, the book quite reasonably asks, that we recognise animals for the intelligent, feeling beings that they are, and treat them accordingly? The Therapist's Cat weaves themes into it that eclipse genres. Sorrell employs her experience as a therapist in not just Pete's interactions with his clients, but in the story as a whole, and has thus used her first novel to explore some of the most quietly important issues facing humanity in the 21st century. Lest anyone be put off by the depth of the book, though, it is also in many ways 'just' a heart-warming, funny story - a layered, multi-faceted novel. Whatever you take from it, you're going to enjoy it. --- -Longer Review- I'd better commence this article with a confession. I'm a nerd. A fully-fledged science fiction nerd, whose favourite series of all time is set on a space station...and who's turning into a Trekker. Sorry about that. I am also a mental health service user, with a nigh obsessive need to investigate psychiatric conditions (which, in my own case, apparently include either psychotic bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder), medications and, most importantly, psychotherapies. If I'm not gawking at a Star Trek episode, I'll probably have my head buried in my laptop, studying the finer points of, say, psychodynamic therapy. I did not imagine it possible that this twain of interests would ever meet. And they haven't - not quite. The Therapist's Cat is not so much a sci-fi/mental health crossover as it is a fantasy/mental health crossover...but, y'know, close enough. It's hard to specifically pin a genre on it, but what counts is that it's in many ways a surreal book, one that most of us, I'd wager, never expected to read. Yet in spite of - or possibly because of - the unusual tale that unfolds in the book, you'll find it charming, with a warm and engaging narrative. I think the first thing that struck me, before the novel got to its main thrust, was that Sorrell has forbidden herself to patronise the reader. She doesn't waste time trying to explain the idiosyncratic nuances of therapy, the nature of the protagonist's bipolar disorder, the effects of medication, psychiatric hospitalisation and so on. She assumes, refreshingly, that you already know - or at least that you'll work it out. That said, this is not a text that will alienate lay people in any way; with the benefit of context and a little commitment, you'll find it beautifully accessible. So then, what's the book about? It follows the life of psychotherapist Peter Shepherd, himself weighed down by a mental illness that he controls primarily through medication (a treatment that he sums up as normalising, but a "...violat[ion] of [his] autonomy." I am certain that I'm not alone in finding this one of the most accurate and succinct descriptions of these drugs I've ever come across). Although he finds his job satisfying - and one of the delightful aspects of the novel is Peter's interactions with his clients, drawn no doubt from Sorrell's own experience as a therapist - when Peter learns that he has developed cancer, he longs for something more in life. Through his disillusionment - or calling, we might say - the author capably examines the human need for spirituality of some form, whether that is derived from religion for some, or being at one with nature for others. The transcendence that Peter seeks, successfully as it transpires, ends up presenting itself in a somewhat peculiar form. When his girlfriend, Emmie, brings home a cat at random, he is initially horrified. As his relationship with his Emmie passively disintegrates, however, his connection with Moo the cat becomes deeper...and deeper...and deeper. There is no way to unspoiler this, I fear. Moo can talk. Well, that is to say, she can talk to Peter, and he can talk to her. Are you raising an eyebrow here? You might well be; I know I was. Given his bipolar disorder - a condition that can sometimes present with psychotic symptoms - my initial supposition was that Peter was hallucinating. I think that people either forget or simply don't realise that not all hallucinations are malevolent or persecutory - voices, visions, these things can sometimes be positives in a person's life. Perhaps this is part of the reason that some people dislike "pathologising" mental health conditions. But I digress. As the story progresses, we learn that Peter is not hallucinating. Whilst he recognises his and Moo's ability to mutually understand each other as unusual, he knows that she is not simply a 'flawed' perception. Her voice, although silently heard in his own head, is real - and in his life for a reason. Over time, we begin to learn the nature of that reason, the point behind the two sharing this most unusual of connections. In simple terms, the development of the "sexless marriage", as Peter once puts it, is due to his need for what one might call a spiritual guide (as manifested by Moo). That sounds twee, perhaps, but that is not the presentation of the relationship nor the dialogue. The idea is that Moo is more than a cat. (Or is she? If, like me, you own a cat, you'll already know that it thinks it's the most perfect being in creation. In Moo's defence, she does acknowledge her own flaws from time to time - though, it must be said, she's more skilled in pointing out Peter's!). She has access to a "Portal" where all living creatures are truly at one with each other, nature, and even creation itself. Her purpose in entering Peter's life is to educate him about this other plane of existence and to show him how it can be accessed despite living an ordinary life in the humdrum world that he - and all the rest of us - already know(s). But is that all? Just why does Peter need this enlightenment? Yes, it's about his own development as a person - but there's a darker side to Moo's presence alongside him. It is a truth with which we can't argue that humanity has mistreated animals relentlessly throughout history - and whilst things have improved in modern times, they are far from perfect (purrfect..? Sorry.). The most crucial part of Peter's education is awareness-raising of the plight of the animal kingdom and what measures he can take and promote to defend those with "The Fur". Moreover, our race is being watched from within by - and already affected by - another species, its initial purpose similar to Moo's. But without human redemption, might their focus morph into one of revenge? It's a cleverly constructed tale. On the face of it, it's 'just' an entertaining, often amusing story of a therapist, his cat, their bizarre relationship and eventually the chronicles of a 'boy-meets-girl'. Yet it serves ably as a moral not just to Pete, but to us - the whole of the human race - on a number of levels. The transcendence issue may sound 'new-agey' to some reading this review, but let's not forget that Stephanie Sorrell is a practitioner of psychosynthetic therapy, its central premise being the finding and building of a 'true self'. To put it another way: in the lives of many of us as rat-racers, in our need to satisfy so many external aspects of our lives, have we forgotten how to satisfy our own internal requirements? Don't we know any more how to just be? Can't we be comfortable within our own minds, and allow ourselves the simple pleasures relaxation and time devoted to the self? Further obviously, Moo - and Sorrell herself - want us to think about how we treat the other creatures of this world, many of whom were here long, long before we were. Where does humanity's superiority complex actually come from, and why is it just? Is it because we can speak, unlike 'mere' animals? If so, then perhaps this novel highlights the particular arrogance of that line of thinking. Of course cats in the real world don't speak like Moo does to Pete - but I defy you to watch one and claim that it doesn't have a soul, one rife with the ability to speak in ways we don't (and can't). Ditto countless other species. Isn't it time, the book quite reasonably asks, that we recognise animals for the intelligent, feeling beings that they are, and treat them accordingly? In summation, The Therapist's Cat weaves themes into it that, as I noted above, eclipse genres. Sorrell employs her experience as a therapist in not just Pete's interactions with his clients, but in the story as a whole, and has thus used her first novel (she has published non-fiction in the area previously) to explore some of the most quietly important issues facing humanity in the 21st century. But, lest anyone be put off by the depth of the book, it is also in many ways just a heart-warming, funny story - a layered, multi-faceted novel. Whatever you take from it, you're going to enjoy it. (NB. The only reason the novel doesn't get five stars is because I'm really rather picky - only my absolute favourite books of all time receive that honour. This book's four stars marks it out as really good.) ~ Karen Bester, for Madness and Litertaure network

What a wonderful book. I couldn't put it down and have been left with 'I want more' feelings. This is a well written and intelligent book which, although emotional at times, is never twee. I initially didn't find the 'therapist' a very likable character but his journey towards some sort of enlightenment coached by the wonderful Moo, eventually enamoured him to me. Not an easy book for anyone who has suffered from depression or behavioural problems or has lived with someone whose life has been affected .please, please Miss Sorrell, can I have some more? ~ colette Brown, author for John Hunt publishing

What a wonderful book. I couldn't put it down and have been left with 'I want more' feelings. This is a well written and intelligent book which, although emotional at times, is never twee. I initially didn't find the 'therapist' a very likable character but his journey towards some sort of enlightenment coached by the wonderful Moo, eventually enamoured him to me. Not an easy book for anyone who has suffered from depression or behavioural problems or has lived with someone whose life has been affected .please, please Miss Sorrell, can I have some more? ~ colette Brown, Amazon.com

When I first began reading this book, I wondered if it was going to be `my cup of tea'; something I would enjoy or put down after a chapter or two. I'm happy to say that I did really enjoy this book because it has a very interesting story line and an even more interesting sub-story line. The blurb on the back cover told me this: "Psychotherapist, Pete Shepherd's life is changed dramatically when his new girlfriend, Emmie, presents him with a kitten called Moo. Not particularly fond of cats he is about to take Moo into an animal rescue centre when he discovers that she can both speak his language and read his thoughts. Moo has a mission: to educate Pete about the very dire state of the animal kingdom due to humanity's mistreatment and mishandling of animals." Michelle Lovric, author of `Cats and their slaves' says this of The Therapist's Cat: "A warm and clever tale of a man who fuses psychotherapy with ailurophilia and comes out wiser as a result." Having read the blurb and the endorsements, I have to admit to feeling a little anxious as I opened the book to the first chapter. I wasn't sure that I would like a book about a psychotherapist but I was in for a real treat. This is a poignant, charming and amusing fiction story that raises very moral questions about our interaction with animals and how this may impact on us at a later date. Pete Shepherd is a man who, like most of us, has his good days and his not so good days. He forms quite close bonds with his patients but when one of them decides not to continue with therapy, just as Pete feels they're on the cusp of discovery, he is thrown in to a deep depression. The one good thing to see him through his doubts and fears is his cat Moo, who, he discovers, can not only speak his language but read his thoughts as well. What follows is an exciting journey as Moo is on a specialist mission where she travels through the Portal at certain times in between educating Pete on animal evolution which is strange and disturbing. Apparently, a race of animal beings, known as the Nasym, have forced their way into the human evolutionary chain in order to escape the cruelty but even they have secrets to hide. "The violence that humans have inflicted on the animal kingdom will return to them through the Nasym. Or rather, is returning through the human children coming into incarnation ..." (The Gospel of Moo) Time is running out; mistreatment, neglect, abuse, and mishandling of animals is rampant and there aren't enough people wise enough to help. Can Moo single-pawedly bring about Man's enlightenment? Read the book to find out - it's a gripping read, one that I can thoroughly recommend. Peppered throughout the book are Mooisms; these are very succinct sayings of Moo (like the Tao) from The Gospel of Moo and she believes that God has fur. "Each life form sees God in their own image. You humans see God as a Super Human ... whereas we cats see God as a Super Cat. But I know for sure that God has Fur." I particularly liked: "When in doubt, follow the Fur ..." And another: "You see it's not a matter of you owning us, feeding and protecting us. In many ways, it's the other way around." (The Gospel of Moo) This has particular resonance with me: "Your greatest problem as a human being is that you are deluded by all the distractions you create for yourself in order to block the Purr out." I think that is very relevant to how society is in general today. "The Purr is an energetic force which underlies all life! (The Gospel of Moo) One thing I must share that happened to me while I was reading it was that my cat Ollie was particularly attentive. He would sit and gaze at me with his beautiful green eyes and it felt as if he could see right into my soul. Having read of Moo's capabilities and knowing that we can communicate telepathically with animals if we tried, I did wonder if Ollie and Sam are on the same mission as Moo. Perhaps they are trying to educate me to help stem the tide of abuse towards all animals that is so horrendously prevalent today. Read the book and decide if any of your cats look at you in a certain mesmerising way - as if they are trying to reach the depths of your soul! ~ Pauline Dewberry, www.thedailymews.com

A warm and clever tale of a man who fuses psychotherapy with ailurophilia and comes out wiser as a result. 

The Therapist's Cat is a life affirming, moving, very readable and amusing story.

I loved reading the tale of Pete's relationship with the extraordinary cat, Moo, and her fascinating therapeutic abilities. A richly rewarding and inspiring read!