Content Warning: This section includes references to violence and murder.

The setting of The Therapist significantly contributes to the novel’s atmosphere of unease and distrust. Emphasizing the difference between appearance and reality, the Circle is an environment where nothing is quite as it seems. Residents are attracted to the gated development as “a haven of calm and privilege, an oasis in the midst of a teeming, bustling city” (254). The Circle seems to offer the ideal combination of proximity to London while also providing the comforts of safety, security, and a close-knit community. However, beneath its pristine facade, the neighborhood harbors dark secrets and a murderer.

As a motif, the Circle highlights the theme of Trust and Betrayal. As the narrative progresses, Alice increasingly views the neighborhood as claustrophobic and menacing, reflecting her suspicion and paranoia. Windows are compared to intrusively staring eyes, while the circular layout of the development seems engineered to preclude personal privacy. Although designed to reassuringly keep intruders out, the security gates come to represent the residents’ imprisonment with an unknown killer.