Richard Hogan is a clinical director of Therapy Institute, the founder of a charity Embrace Badjao, and the author of several books including Parenting the Screenager and his new book Home Is Where The Start Is. In this book, Hogan offers insights on how to thrive in life by rebuilding and living a healthier and happier life. Hogan shares his personal story, where he talks about why he chose to become a family therapist.
At the age of 16, Hogan’s parents agreed that it would be good for him to see a psychiatrist because he was having trouble in school and was feeling low. Hogan had always acted out throughout his educational career, but his behavior was always punished instead of being understood. Hogan had the notion to talk to a trained professional who had penetrating insights into what was happening in his life.
As Hogan sat in the waiting room, his mother leaned into him and whispered, “Don’t tell him about Dad, because he knows him.” Hogan felt empty and utterly alone, and in that moment, responsibility for all the issues in his life was firmly located within him. Despite that, the meeting with the psychiatrist was nothing like Hogan imagined it would be, and the psychiatrist’s verdict was depression, which he responded to with Prozac that Hogan believes troubled him to this day.
Hogan lived in an insecure environment with his father, who was an abusive alcoholic. His depression deepened over the next few years as he discovered the extent of his father’s neglect and betrayals. Living with his father meant living in a constantly changing, unpredictable environment, and it was a challenging environment to grow up in.
Despite the challenges, Hogan never felt hopeless or powerless. He stood up to his father and never showed him that he was scared, but he was very soft, and he never wanted to hurt anyone in his life. Living in dysfunction changes the way a person thinks and sees the world, and it took Hogan a considerable amount of time to work out his experiences from childhood.
Hogan’s personal story is what led him to become a psychotherapist and use his experiences to help others. Hogan believes that too often, experts present themselves as perfect, but he is not perfect. He did not come from a perfect home, but rather a challenging and loving home. Family is messy, and people are very messy, and there is no such thing as perfection.
Hogan’s new book, Home Is Where The Start Is, offers real-life examples from real people dealing with real-life situations. The book is rooted in Hogan’s personal family experiences and the experiences of hundreds of families and individuals who have sat with Hogan and talked about their lives.
In conclusion, Hogan’s personal experiences led him to become a psychotherapist and help others navigate the challenges of life. He believes that family is crucial in our formation as a person, and his new book offers insights on how to rebuild ourselves and live healthier and happier lives. Hogan’s book is a testament to the fact that despite challenges and dysfunction, one can rise above and thrive in life.
