Philippa Perry has been a practising psychotherapist for 20 years but stopped seeing patients to concentrate on her writing

Published: 18 May, 2012
by AMY SMITH

THE wife of Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry spoke about her life as a psychotherapist at Union Chapel, Highbury, on Monday night.

Philippa Perry – whose husband is famous for his cross-dressing – talked about her book How to Stay Sane.

The couple live in Islington.

Ms Perry explained: “The book is not full of ‘tips’ or a list of instructions; instead it acts as a facilitator for someone to find their own way.”

The work is separated into four chapters: Self-observation; Relating to others; Stress and What’s the Story.

Ms Perry described these as “four different lenses through which to look at life, to maintain sanity".

She added: "That’s why the title is how to stay sane, not how to get sane.

"We’re very good at defining insanity but there’s no tick box way to define sanity.”

Ms Perry has been a practising psychotherapist for 20 years but stopped seeing patients to concentrate on her writing.

How to Stay Sane is her second book and has a regular column in Psychologies magazine.

When asked if she misses seeing patients, Ms Perry nodded: “I do a little bit, but I get to have a larger reach and bigger influence.”

As to whether there’s another book in the pipeline, she smiled broadly and joked: “I’ve got many more books in me, darling!”

The event was to launch a series of self-help books edited by philosopher Alain de Botton.

Other speakers discussed healthy attitudes to money, finding fulfilling work, changing the world and living in a digital age.