Emotional Ties: Psychotherapist and author Susie Orbach

Psychotherapist and author Susie Orbach

I bought this Romanian rug a few years ago. It was meant to be for my daughter [Lianna] but somehow has never left the house. Its craftsmanship and the way the pattern repeat isn’t exactly perfect makes it charming.

This clock, bought from the Museum of Modern Art in New York about ten years ago, sits in my consulting room. The way it is symmetrical but cut off perfectly represents my work as a psychotherapist – always dealing with the bits of us cut off and not fully integrated into the way we feel about ourselves. Even after 42 years, I’m still infinitely curious about people.

This photograph of my son [Luke] and his son copying his facial expression was taken about seven years ago. It reminds me of the way babies learn. I have two grandchildren – being a grandmother is delightful in a totally different way from motherhood.

Left: My former brother-in-law [from marriage to writer and therapist Joseph Schwartz] gave me this ceramic vase, shaped like a paper bag, many years ago. People are always giving me vases because I love flowers. They help to bring the outside in. Right: This Wedgwood coffee cup and saucer have absolutely no sentimental value but I think their form is perfect. They’re tiny, so I never overdose on coffee.

I inherited this plate, part of a late-19th-century dinner service, from my maternal grandmother. I remember her coming across the ocean from her home in New York to see us for holidays until I was about 13. I picture her as big and soft. She lived until she was 96.

I love being surrounded by books – these shelves are in an alcove off the main living area at home. I read quite widely – I couldn’t pick a favourite. A lot of my friends write, including my wife Jeannette Winterson – we married in 2015 – so in a way, it’s like always having them with me.

The film producer-turned-sculptor Caroline Pick gave me this sculpture – one of her first pieces – as a present. We met in the early 80s, while working on a Forty Minutes documentary. It keeps me intrigued because I can never quite work out what its form is.