Reviews (6)

comprehensive
Greating learning guide for clinicians and students. Provide good case illustrations and history of each approaches.

Overview of several couple therapies
This is a collection of chapters written about couple and marital therapy. The chapters are authored by recognized experts in the different therapies, and contain theoretical background, techniques, and case examples. It provides a general overview of the therapies, without going in great detail about any of them.

Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy, Third Edition
This book provides comprehensive couple therapy appraoches. However, the contents of some chapters, e,g cognitive-behavioral couple therapy contradit with each other. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Marital psychotherapy    3. Psychology    4. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    5. Counselling    6. Marriage    7. Psychology & Psychiatry / Family Therapy    8. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (6)

Excellent
A great resource book for everyone. Everyone can benefit something from using this book.

Help for Borderlines who really want help
This is an amazing workbook.The first time I looked through it, I thought is was over-simplified and would not be of much use to me.But I was wrong.It teaches readers how to understand where their emotions come from, how to identify emotions that seem to come out of nowhere, and how to control how we react to those overwhelming emotions.It's indispensible for anyone who has Borderline Personality Disorder and truly wants to get better.It's also great for anyone who has difficult controling extreme emotional feelings.The workbook format makes this very easy to read.The exercises are very helpful and informative.Heck, some of them are even fun!

Great for clients
I've found this to be a very user-friendly, readable workbook.Interesting,informative and normalizing w/o unnecessary jargon or psychobabble.I'm going through it with a client who's learning what it means to be "borderline".The DBT principles are beautifully woven in.It is a great introduction to her of what a DBT group could offer her and a very helpful adjunct to our individual therapy, especially now while a DBT group is not an option for her. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Behavior therapy    3. Dialectical behavior therapy    4. Emotions    5. Mood Disorders    6. Psychology    7. Self-Help    8. Self-realization    9. Popular psychology    10. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (7)

Of Little Substance
I bought this book thinking that the author would go through some cases, explaining how she does psychotherapy.Not exactly.This book is more of a survey of psychotherapy--basically telling you everything you pretty much already know about it.What's even more frustrating is that not only is it a waste of a book, it's a waste of money. Very frustrating. (I'm surprised too because everyone else gave it such high reviews....I'm not sure what they were smoking...)

Access into the literature
I think the most important use of this book and the others that Nancy Mcwilliams has written is the access they provide into the literature. The books she recommends and references (I've collected a few) are important for an understanding of modern psychoanalysis and (I think) human psychology. I would thoroughly recommendall of Nancy Mcwilliams' introductory text books on psychoanalytic psychotherapy for this reason. Also, Nancy Mcwilliams brings apostmodernist understanding (which seems ironically modern to me) to the study of psychoanalysis. I wouldn't know how to approach a complex tradition like psychoanalysis without such an approach. The personality theories handed down to us by previous generations frequently don't seem to fit together logically -- but they do seem to make sense phenomenologically -- they apply differently to differnt kinds of people. Psychoanaylsis is an important tradition and Nancy Mcwilliams demonstrates this in all of her books.

Our class loved this book!
Tonight as we handed in our "take home final exams" for a Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy class we all agreed that this book (a required text) was a good read. The author shared her experiences as a therapist in such a practical way, and gave us a taste of how to approach psychotherapy from a psychoanalytic perspective. Due to limited time this semester, I skimmed through a couple of the chapters (don't tell the prof)and actually look forward, during Christmas break, to more carefully reading each chapter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assessment, Testing & Measurement    2. Behavioral assessment    3. Case formulation    4. Interviewing in psychiatry    5. Movements - Psychoanalysis    6. Personality Assessment And Testing    7. Personality assessment    8. Psychiatric Diagnosis    9. Psychiatry    10. Psychiatry - General    11. Psychology    12. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory    13. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychoanalysis    14. Psychoanalysis   

Editorial Review

Trying to "change" negative thoughts through cognitive gymnastics is like trying to win a war single-handedly. Why waste a life trying the impossible? In Read more

Reviews (18)

Slow going, Poor Format
This is a slow, slow read, with too many exercies that do not lead you very far into understaning the authors aims.The book meanders, is excessively long, and all of what is said could fit into a smaller, better edited work.I kept thinking as I read--what is the point.

Potentially life-changing, but difficult
This book has changed how I live my life--more than CBT, more than reading books on Buddhism. You might think of it as a Buddhism-concepts workbook, but from a Western psychological perspective and oriented toward the practical rather than the religious.
UNFAIR
This new approach is interesting, from my perspective as a therapist.But the editorial review is quite misleading about cognitive-behavioral therapy.The editorial implies that CBT is difficult and unsuccessful.In fact,there is strong evidence for the effectiveness of CBT (unlike the approach presented in the book, which has preliminary evidence).As a therapist, I have seen it work wonders in some patients and be helpful for many more patients.For one type of anxiety, in which people are troubled by their excessive worries about real life problems or potential problems, CBT is not especially effective, and Acceptance based therapy maybe more helpful. For depression and many types of anxiety, CBT is a treatment of choice. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acceptance and commitment therapy    2. Mood Disorders    3. Psychology    4. Self-Help    5. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (17)

Great, well-written and deep introduction
This is an excellent book for both clients and therapists.It presents cognitive therapy concepts without jargon in a straightforward and practical manner.
Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond
I am a patient that got more help from reading part of this book than I have from 11 years of therapy

Cognitive therapy- a primer.
Excellent source of primary information on the techniques involving cognitive therapy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Behavior Therapy    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Cognitive Therapy    4. Psychology    5. Psychotherapy - General    6. methods    7. Cognition & cognitive psychology    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Cognitive Psychology    9. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (118)

Scary and sad
I bought this book because I do not want to hate Bush. As a recovering member of AA, I wanted to know more about him, because I doubt he has ever set foot into an AA meeting. If he had done so and truly grasped the concepts, he would not be doing the things he does.
Justin Frank on the Couch
Well, first off, I have to admit to not having read the book, but I heard this nitwit on The Randi Rhodes Show this afternoon, and within about a minute I nearly lost control of the car I was laughing so hard.Something about the young G.W. Bush getting off torturing small animals and shoving hot pieces of steel up their rectums.But he's a famous doctor - who am I to question his diagnoses?
Serious Work
This is not just your usual Bush bash - it is a serious work by a well respected professional. If you find The Toxic Texan's thoughts and actions inexplicable and want to make some sense of it all, read this book. This is probably the best book I have read on why/how this man operates. It explains why Bush cannot speak when talking about subjects requiring understanding or compassion - but he never gets it wrong when he's talkin' tough.
Read more

Subjects:  1. (George Walker),    2. 1946-    3. Bush, George W    4. Bush, George W.    5. General    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. Movements - Psychoanalysis    8. Political Process - Leadership    9. Political Science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Presidents & Heads of State    13. Psychology    14. Photographic reportage    15. Political Science / General    16. Political campaigning & advertising    17. USA   

Reviews (4)

Excellent introduction to the many psychotherapies
This book provides excellent introductions to a variety of psychotherapies, indeed the most popular methods today.There are over 400 different therapies, and as such this book can not cover them all.However, the book does provide adequate detail for an indepth overview of the therapies, and comes highly recommended to beginning students and graduate students alike.

Very informative
This book gives brief but thorough explanations of the various theories used in clinical practice. This book is dull, at times, but highly useful. A great addition to any knowledge base.

The psychotherapy book
I used this book as a student in my psychotherapy course. I never knew there were so many psychotherapeutic approaches. I was amazed. I enjoyed exploring all these schools analyzed so beautifully in this book. I finally got the chance to see what school of psychotherapy was closer to my needs. I recommend it to all those who have a blurry idea of psychotherapy, like I did. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Psychology    2. Psychotherapy - General    3. Psychology & Psychiatry / Counseling    4. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (6)

CBT rips off the Buddha
CBT theorists tend to present in a lucid fashion ideas that have been therapeutically effective for centuries, or in the case of Mindfulness, millennia.Unfortunately, the authors of this book, in fine CBT tradition, manage yet again to misappropriate the work of others and call it 'a new approach'.There is nothing new in what CBT does, other than to re-label as 'evidence-based' the ideas of other innovators after some dubious random-control trials.If the reader wishes to avoid supporting the political recycling of every other therapy ever created, he/ she would better serve patients, clients and self by reading original texts from, for example, Buddhism, which are more authentically authored than CBT's eclectic bag of techniques.However, as with any heavily funded political movement, I suspect that the CBT movement will continue selling old rope as new as long as we want knowledge served up as fast food. It's enough to make any self-respecting therapist relapse into depression!

Depression researcher
A fantastic book explaining the basics behind previous research and how we've come to arrive at the new mindfulness-based concept.Highly recommended for new clinicians wanting to further expand their understanding to a brief background of the cognitive aspect of relapse of depression as well as the direction future research appears to be heading.

Excellent Book Used in My Dialectical Behavior Therapy Class
We are using this book in my dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) class and it has been extremely helpful in understanding mindfulness. I highly recommend this as an addition to DBT for consumers of borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. Wonderful! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Cognitive Therapy    3. Depression    4. Depression, Mental    5. Emotions    6. Psychology    7. Psychopathology - General    8. Treatment    9. Cognition & cognitive psychology    10. Psychiatry    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychotherapy    12. Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Family Psychotherapy    2. Mental Disorders    3. Mental Illness    4. Psychology    5. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    6. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    7. Family & relationships    8. Psychiatry    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / Family Therapy    10. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (14)

A psychotherapy practice could be built on this book!
I have recommended this book to one client who found it extremely useful as a means of managing his fear of death. Yalom's idea that the fears associated with the existential concerns of isolation, freedom, death, and sense of purpose form part of our subconscious-conscious dynamics is brilliant and original. He makes the argument that the anxieties associated with these concerns form a very early part of our experience and that they're repressed when the newborn is taught that it is not OK to experience these fears because he/she is either "special" or protected by a higher power, such as God. He states that the existential crises challenge these defenses creating depression, panic attacks, and other disorders. He develops these and many other useful notions all throughout the book. It is a long but fairly easy and clear read. If you're stymied by the length of the book you could start with his "The Gift of Therapy". Enjoy!

Not morbid in the least
Yalom points out that people often use one of two opposite methods for quelling death-anxiety: the "myth of specialness" in which a person places themselves outside of humanity so as not to die, and the myth of an ultimate rescuer, where a person clings to the idea of a savior to whom they can be subjugated.Both are dysfunctional.Other than saying that love ameliorates but does not eliminate death-anxiety, Yalom fails to offer a construct for balancing inward and outward-directed methods of dealing with that most terrible of all prospects, one's personal annihilation.
From Literature to Science
My approach to Yalom came from literature. This is an interesting point of view of what our lives are supposed to be. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Existential psychotherapy    2. Mental Illness    3. Movements - Behaviorism    4. Psychology    5. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    6. Psychotherapy    7. Phenomenology & Existentialism   

Reviews (1)

Great CBT Tool for Working with Children
This is a great and easy to use workbook with a number of very helpful worksheets to present the concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Children.The authors have created a website that allows you to download the worksheets onto your computer to use in a clean and colorful format.If you work with children and use the concepts of CBT, this is a great tool to help children look at the connection between their thoughts and behaviors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Clinical Psychology    2. Pediatrics    3. Psychology    4. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    5. Behavioural theory (Behaviourism)    6. Children    7. Cognitive theory    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology    9. Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Behavior Therapy    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Cognitive Therapy    4. Encyclopedias    5. English    6. Psychology    7. Reference    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology    9. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (10)

Trauma and the Body
This book is very informative and draws on the work of many of the most well-known and learned persons in this field.As a graduate student writing a dissertation on child abuse and its effects on adult survivors this book has proven to be a rich source of information, data, resources, and references.

Essential reading in trauma work
To me this is one of the pioneering books of body-centered psychotherapy.Well-written, insightful with meaningful case examples.It shines, it teaches, and it directs therapist in their work in profound life-changing ways.I work with traumatized children and integrate animal assisted therapy - and this book has been re-read multiple times and applied in my work.
Must Read Material!!
I stumbled onto this book researching PTSD.My husband and I have been to a dozen doctors (literally) who clearly do not know the information in this book; information that I have watched manifest itself beneficially and adversely as explained herein.Modern psychology has gotten lazy in its treatments of the very treatable mental illnesses, and critically needed intervention is shunned as unsubstantiated because the truth behind knowledge,education and an educated support system threatens their "expertise."This book should 'light you on fire' to aggressively pursue intelligent, supportive, proactive physicians and, need be, therapists. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Healing    2. Mind and body therapies    3. Neuropsychology    4. Physical Illness (Psychiatric Aspects)    5. Physiological aspects    6. Post-traumatic stress disorder    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychology    9. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    10. Psychosomatic Medicine    11. Psychotherapy - General    12. Physiology    13. Psychotherapy    14. Trauma & shock   

Reviews (9)

Grate book for LD
A wonderful, funny, informative and helpful book. The magic is in the details, introducing first the strengths and then the weaknesses of each child, the names of the kids and dogs and the procedure for diagnosis and treatment. My son finally gained a vocabulary of the different kinds of minds, so now he can say I may have ADHD but I may also be as grate as "ever ready Eddie".

Self Disclosure
I am a psychologist that works with children and adults. I read Dr. Levine's self disclosure to on of my kids.It is important for people who are not classifyable within the Special Education system to get help before the bright star of learning burns out or explodes into anger.My experience over the past 28 years has caused me to develop a similar approach. I suggested to a psychologist friend who has ADD to read this. It wasn't me talking to him but a book. Dr. Levine writes for "Everyman." His target is not the professional but the customer. It is a way to become an informed motivated consumer of intervention for children and adults. I have been inspired to write my own book. Wonder if I can be half as effective?

This book was a lifesaver!
After 5 1/2 years of intensive phonics training, vision therapy, private tutoring and stress beyond belief, I picked up this book at the library.It was the answer to a prayer.Read more

Subjects:  1. Education (Elementary)    2. Education / Teaching    3. Juvenile literature    4. Learning disabilities    5. Learning disabled children    6. Movements - Psychoanalysis    7. Psychology    8. Special Education - General   

Reviews (5)

Practical emphasis on empirical validation
I teach those evil, mean behavioral and cognitive courses that all of you hate. Bwaaahahahahaaaaah.Even so...
Excellent reference book
Glen Gabbard does an excellent job making this difficult subject easier to understand from the psychoanalytic point of view. I typically find reading information about diagnoses dry and fairly meaningless. Gabbard is able to keep my attention and help me to understand a person's character structure from a less medical-model point of view.

Gabbard has done his homework!
this is a wonderful book. it is well-organized and puts the often elusive concept of psychodynamic theory into real, practical considerations and methods. it includes basic principles, information on defense mechanisms (very useful), and a great deal of information on various psychodynamic theoretical perspectives. the chapters on understanding and treating personality disorders were my favorite, and the author spent a great deal of time on cluster b personality disorders, probably the most often seen and difficult to treat of the personality disorders. i particularly liked the chapter on borderline personality disorder. throughout the book, the theory and concepts are easy to read and understand, and the interventions are practical and well-explained. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biological Psychiatry    2. Medical    3. Medical / Nursing    4. Mental Disorders    5. Movements - Psychoanalysis    6. Psychiatry - General    7. Psychoanalytic Therapy    8. Psychodynamic psychotherapy    9. therapy    10. Psychiatry   

Reviews (2)

A broad, contemporary approach
This book is easy to read, providing a broad overview of contemporary behaviour therapy issues.Having read it cover to cover, I would recommend this book be read in conjunction with further, more detailed texts to flush out the finer details as the authors cover a number of therapy and models generally without going into much depth.However as a general introductory text, the authors have in my opinion delivered a useful package with elements of behaviour therapy successfully complimented by real-life examples of case studies and useful end-of-chapter summaries.The textbook comes with an additional student resource materials/participation worksheet booklet which unfortunately I did not find useful.A good book for the undergraduate level.

A thorough journey through the buffet of modern practice
I just got through using this text along with Beck's "Cognitive Therapy - basics and beyond."This is an informative text and gives a very broad overview of the various techniques that come under the title "Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy."If you are looking for a broad view - this would be the text, if you are looking for specific advice to apply to practice, choose another book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Behavior Therapy    2. Movements - Behaviorism    3. Psychology    4. Psychotherapy - General    5. Behavioural theory (Behaviourism)    6. Psychology / Movements / Behaviorism    7. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (23)

The "master" speaks to grasshopper...

The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy
This is an excellent book for group counseling practice. It provides lots of cases with comments and reflections.

the Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy
A comprehensive text that is easy to read and comprehend.Very helpful for anyone planning to lead a group in therapy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Group Psychotherapy    2. Professional-Patient Relations    3. Psychology    4. Psychotherapy - Group    5. Psychotherapy, Group    6. Social Psychology    7. methods    8. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (4)

Theoretical Understanding
This book is a great resource for developing a theoretical understanding of narrative therapy. Specific techniques such as letter writing and certificates are described in detail. However, if you are looking for a how-to guide on narrative therapy, I would suggest "Playful approaches to serious problems: Narrative therapy with children and their families" by Freeman, J.,Epston, D., & Lobvits, D. (1997).

A left hand turn in therapy (for the better).
I was surprised to read the other negative reviews of this book. This book is, after all, the text which defined the philisophical underpinning of a new way of looking at expertise in therapy.Yes, much of the book, especially the discussion of Foucault's ideas, is hard going and at times requires a second or even third read.This is not a "how to" book.It is an invitation to a way of thinking about problems and their role in a life.It is a book about the transformative value of conversations, viewpoints and relationship.This book is not for sissies, but it is brilliant.Those who want a "narrative primer" should be able to find one elsewhere.However, they will be skipping the magic of transformative thought.Michael White and David Epston have unleased the power of alternatives for those oppressed by problems and by society.An amazing read!

A disappointment
I'm a professional psychotherapist. I got interested in this book after reading a recent article about how survivors of rape, torture and other violence in Sudan were being helped with brief narrative therapy. Learning about a fresh approach to a seemingly impossible therapeutic task inspired me. I decided to learn more about it. I'm afraid I didn't learn much from this book.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Letter writing    2. Psychiatry - General    3. Psychology    4. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    5. Psychotherapy    6. Psychotherapy - General    7. Therapeutic use   

Reviews (48)

Perfect for any one interested in psychology!!!
This book gives an honest opinion on the struggles and the victories in being a psychotherapist. I especially recommend it for those going into the field. It is reassuring to know that even the greatest of psychotherapist (Yalom) has difficulties he has to over come too.

Therapy is about relationships
Many of the reviewers have already discussed the details of the stories so I am going to keep my comments on Dr.Yalom's therapeutic approach. Being a psychiatrist myself, and having the luxury of receiving and giving therapy, I will say that Dr.Yalom's brutal honesty, his grasp of transference and countertransference, his humbleness in acknowledging his own blunders is simply breathtaking. He is a breath of fresh air as most psychotherapist, and analysts in particular have truly a hard time acknowledging their mistakes. You hear about their patients' transference but never about their own countertransference. Dr.Yalom bares it all. Reading him made me feel like I am back in supervision with an excellent teacher who truly knows what therapeutic relationship is. Most of us believe that it is our interpretation of patients fantasies and dreams that bring about change. The reality is most changes come about by the patients' own hard work and we only provide the safe environment for that to occur. Dr.Yalom humbly acknowledges that time and time again. His departure from fixed rigid rules, sometimes holding someone's hand, hugging someone, extending therapy session, reducing fee or not charging fee are all great examples of a therapist who is truly engaged with that particular patient and for every patient he creates a new therapeutic relationship. There is no cookie-cutter models, or algorithms for therapy.
Brilliant!
This is a must for anyone interested in Psychotherapy.Beautifully written, the tales are incredibly honest accounts of cases Yalom has dealt with.I have recommended the book to many of my friends and colleagues.A must! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Existential psychotherapy    3. Movements - Psychoanalysis    4. Psychiatry - General    5. Psychology    6. Psychology & Psychiatry Profession - General    7. Psychotherapy - General    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychotherapy   

Reviews (2)

A Must Read for Family Therapists
This book explains Bowen's Extended Family Therapy Theory.This is one of the most important family systems theories in the history of family therapy and it is still one of the most widely used theories for working with families.Anyone that is studying family therapy should read this book as it is the seminal work on Bowen Therapy.Essential ideas such as triangling, emotional fusion, and intergenerational transmission are well explained. Introduction to natural sytems
A rich introduction to Murray Bowen's natural systems theory.Explains relevance of the theory to clinical work with families, couples, and individuals.Also, briefly explores and contrasts the relationship ofBowen theory to sociobiology, evolutionary neurology, and analytic theory. Case illustrations are clear and helpful.Would recommend tosocialworkers, psychologist, biologists, and those interested in a naturalsystems approach to human behavior.Although strong on evaluation anddescriptions concerning emotional processes in human families and groups,there is less attention to therapy techiques.More of a book aboutthinking on relationships, than one of the clinical "how to" kindof presentations that have become standard fare in the family therapyfield.I have read through Dr. Kerr's text several times and have studiedits chapters separately.Each reread reveals additional applications andinsights into the theory.Surely, a book that can grow with you! Dr.Bowen's epilogue is an added jem in which he offers perhaps his lastwritten description of the development of the theory and his belief in therelevance of theory to the future.Personally, the book has influencedboth my private and professional life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1913-    2. Bowen, Murray,    3. Evaluation    4. Family    5. Family Psychotherapy    6. General    7. Problem families    8. Psychology    9. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    10. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    11. Bowen, Murray    12. Marriage, family & other relationships    13. Psychotherapy