“Open When” By Dr Julie Smith: Book Review

You’re having a terrible day and wish someone could just tell you what to do? Not in a bossy way, but like how a really good friend would sit you down with tea and say, “Okay, here’s what helped me when I felt like this.” That’s essentially what Dr Julie Smith has bottled up in “Open When,” and honestly, it’s kind of brilliant.

The Psychologist Who Gets It

First, let’s talk about Julie Smith herself, because she’s not your typical stuffy academic. Sure, she’s got the credentials — over a decade as a clinical psychologist — but she’s also the person with millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram who’s been breaking down therapy concepts in ways that actually make sense. You know those aha moments you get in therapy that cost you $200 an hour? She’s been giving those away for free on social media, which is probably why her first book became a massive bestseller in over 40 languages.

But here’s what makes her different: she talks about mental health like a real human being who’s lived through stuff, not like someone…