With Gratitude - by Suhaila A Alshaali (Paperback)

About the Book

With Gratitude reveals the heart of psychiatry through letters from a doctor to the patients who shaped her journey.

Book Synopsis

With Gratitude is a moving and courageous collection of letters written by a psychiatrist who steps beyond the boundaries of clinical detachment to reveal the human heart of medicine.

Through these deeply personal reflections, Dr. Suhaila A. AlShaali invites readers into the often misunderstood world of psychiatry, where science meets soul, and compassion must coexist with complexity.

This is not a self-help book, nor a textbook filled with detailed medical jargon. Instead, With Gratitude is a mosaic of stories - each letter inspired by real encounters, written to patients who have left an indelible mark on the doctor who treated them. While details have been altered to protect identities, the emotional truth of these letters remains intact. They are, at their core, an act of empathy, a dialogue between healer and healed, and a testament to the shared humanity that exists in every consultation room.

In her introduction, Dr. Suhaila explains how her journey began not as a writer, but as a physician searching for understanding - of her patients, of her profession, and of herself. She writes candidly about the misconceptions surrounding mental disorder and the stigma that shadows both those who suffer and those who care for them. Psychiatry is often portrayed in the media as cold or clinical, reduced to caricatures of "soulless doctors" and "dangerous patients." Yet in her experience, the reality is far more nuanced. The psychiatrist is not a distant observer but a witness to pain, resilience, and transformation.

As she reflects, "I thought I was writing to heal myself from the heaviness of what I witnessed, but I was actually writing in the hopes that something I said would resonate with someone."

This realization forms the emotional backbone of With Gratitude. Each letter is both confession and catharsis - a space where the doctor's voice trembles with compassion, where stories once confined to memory find new life on the page.

More than just a collection of medical reflections, With Gratitude is a bridge - between doctors and patients, between expertise and empathy, between the clinical and the deeply personal. It humanizes the psychiatrist, revealing the emotional reciprocity that exists in every therapeutic relationship. It also challenges readers - especially those in healthcare - to reflect on their own perceptions of mental disorder, and to approach it with the same openness and humility that Dr. Suhaila aims to inspire.

Ultimately, With Gratitude is a celebration of what it means to be human - fragile, resilient, imperfect, and profoundly connected. It is a book that belongs to the hearts of anyone who believes that compassion is as vital to healing as medicine itself.

Review Quotes

The book's power lies in its honesty. Dr. Suhaila does not shy away from the rawness of her work - from the ethical uncertainties, the cultural challenges, or the emotional toll of caring for those in deep mental distress. Yet even amidst pain, there is profound beauty. Her writing is an invitation to witness the quiet heroism of patients who confront invisible battles, and the vulnerability of a psychiatrist who learns as much from them as they do from her.

The testimonial for With Gratitude captures this essence perfectly: that her words remind readers that psychiatry is not simply about curing disease; it is about connection. It is about understanding the stories that shape each mind and recognizing that healing often begins with being seen and heard.