Christie Tate

Christie Tate is an American writer and essayist known for her memoirs Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life and B.F.F.: A Memoir of Friendship Lost and Found. Her work primarily explores mental health, personal relationships, and vulnerability, with a focus on themes drawn from her own life experiences. Group became a New York Times bestseller and was selected as a Reese’s Book Club pick in 2020.[1][2]

Early life and education

Christie Tate grew up in Texas. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in English at Texas A&M University and later obtained a Master’s in Humanities from the University of Chicago.[3] She graduated at the top of her class from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2003, where she served as an academic tutor and editor of the law journal.[4] Despite her academic and professional success, Tate struggled with personal issues, which led her to seek group therapy.

Career

Tate initially worked as a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and later at Epstein Becker & Green, focusing on employment law. She also served as an Assistant Regional Counsel for the Social Security Administration until 2021.[3] During this period, she began blogging about her experiences and later transitioned to writing professionally.[5]

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

Published in 2020, Group is a memoir that recounts Tate’s seven-year experience in an unconventional group therapy setting led by a therapist she names "Dr. Rosen." The book describes her journey from isolation and self-doubt to a deeper understanding of personal connection and self-acceptance. The memoir has been praised for its candor and humor, particularly in its exploration of group dynamics and mental health.[1][4][6][7][8][9][10]

B.F.F.: A Memoir of Friendship Lost and Found

In B.F.F. (2023), Tate examines the nuances of female friendships and the complexities of maintaining meaningful connections. She discusses her relationships, including one with her late friend Meredith, and challenges conventional ideals of friendship, arguing that relationships can be fluid and do not necessarily need to be lifelong to be significant.[5][11]

Personal life

Tate currently resides in Chicago with her family. She continues to write about personal growth, mental health, and relationships.[1][4]

References

1. Borrelli, Christopher (January 25, 2021). "Christie Tate tells even the private stuff about others in her therapy sessions in Group. What privacy are we owed?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
2. "Christie Tate's Group is Reese's October Book Club Pick". Reese's Book Club. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
3. "Christie Tate LinkedIn". Retrieved 2024-11-12.
4. "Alumni Profile: Christie Tate (JD '03)". Loyola University Chicago. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
5. "Artist Profile: Christie Tate on the Necessity of Female Friendships". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
6. Patrick, Bethanne (2020-11-06). "Christie Tate's 'Group' is a sometimes salacious look at the secrets of strangers". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
7. Olson, Elizabeth (2020-11-16). "Ex-Skadden Lawyer Recalls Emotional Struggles in New Memoir". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
8. Tribune, Heidi Stevens | Chicago (2021-01-17). "Maybe America needs group therapy?". The Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
9. Hayes, Martha (2020-11-01). "'Telling strangers my most intimate secrets saved me'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
10. Reviews of Group
    • Egan, Elisabeth (November 12, 2020). "Christie Tate Wrote a Best Seller About Group Therapy. Fellow Members Approved". The New York Times.
    • Tuttle, Kate (2020-10-25). "Christie Tate on what really happens in group therapy". The Boston Globe; Boston, Massachusetts. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
    • Stevens, Heidi (2021-01-17). "Maybe America needs group therapy?". Port Charlotte Sun; Port Charlotte, Florida. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
11. Reviews of B.F.F.
    • Davis, Lisa Selin (February 4, 2023). "How Hard Is It to Hang On to Friends?". The New York Times.
    • Stevens, Heidi (2023-02-05). "Tate delivers eulogy to friend in 'B.F.F.'". Chicago Tribune; Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
    • Gualtier, Christie (2023-03-05). "From friend to foe and back again". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2024-11-13.