Emotional Health
The main theme of the book is emotional health, in that it is the common denominator between all of the characters. As a therapist, Lori offers help to her patients but is unable to offer help to herself, which is why she ultimately also seeks out therapy. The book shows the importance of addressing issues as they arise, so that they do not create other emotional issues or reactions later on. Each of the characters is suffering some form of emotional pain, sometimes knowing why, other times guessing and guessing incorrectly.
The book also shows that even an expert can judge her own emotions incorrectly as Wendell tells Lori that she is actually feeling depressed because of something other than the end of her relationship.
Depression
Lori and her patients all suffer from depression; however, within the theme there are as many different explanations and reasons for this depression as there are patients. Lori is depressed because her boyfriend has left her. John is depressed because of marital discord. Charlotte is depressed because her alcohol abuse has left her alone at the tender age of twenty. Each suffers from depression but each has a different reason for doing so.
Underlying Issues
Another theme of the book is the fact that most of Lori's patients are depressed but have unresolved underlying issues that are making this so. An example of this is Rita, who believes that she is depressed because she is estranged rom her children, but her depression actually stems from unresolved feelings about and anger over the abuse that she experienced within her marriage. Similarly, John feels that he is depressed because of marital issues but his underlying issue is that he once lost a child and has never really dealt with his emotions in that regard.
