The Model Patient
ListenIt is London in the early 1960s, a city shedding postwar restraint as fashion, art, and youth culture ignite the Swinging Sixties. Amid shifting sexual politics, women still face rigid expectations. Evelyn Westbrook, a young model trapped in a fragile marriage, begins psychoanalysis to regain stability while resisting her husband’s pressure to have children. The newly introduced contraceptive pill promises freedom but also invites secrecy, stigma, and fear. As Evelyn’s sessions intensify, the relationship with her therapist grows increasingly unsettling, blurring professional boundaries and leaving her uncertain whether her distress reflects illness or genuine danger. Drawing on personal experience, Lucy Ashe explores mental health, power, consent, and the dismissal of women’s intuition with striking authenticity and emotional depth throughout the novel. Ashe trained at the Royal Ballet School before changing course to study English Literature at Oxford University, where she graduated in 2010.
Trending Topics
Kathryn’s wide range of guests are experts and influencers in their respective fields, offering valuable insights and information. Click the links below to view more episodes within the specific topic.
- Related Episodes
Episode #1719Leah FisherAuthor“My Marriage Sabbatical: A Memoir of Solo Travel and Lasting Love ”Play
Episode #1422Karen HintonAuthor“ P*nis Politics: A Memoir of Women, Men and Power”Play
Episode #1395Florence Ann RomanoAuthor, Philanthropist“Florence Ann Romano”Play
