Editorial Review

Today's responsible parents strive to raise children with healthy egos. But for a lot of adults, the word "ego" carries the negative connotation of "narcissism." Traditionally, the "good" child learned self-control, self-denial and placed parental needs and wishes first. If those needs were abusive to the child, there was no choice but to block the hurtful behavior in order to hold onto adults who were loved and needed.Miller recognized the link between certain emotional problems in adulthood and repressed childhood anguish. Her ideas in this pioneering study are a must-read for anyone seeking truth about the roots of suffering in childhood. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Frustrating But Extremely Valuable
It is unsurprising that Alice Miller's Drama of the Gifted Child has met with a certain amount of hostility from both the psychiatry and psychotherapy establishments. After all, she frowns both on the use of drugs and cognitive-behavioral techniques as treatments for anxiety--especially in children. She even suggests that those who would use such remedies may have unaddressed psychological problems of their own. What's worse, she appeals to no empirical studies (double-blind or not) in reaching these conclusions; in fact, a reader might be reluctant to conclude from this book that Miller would even be capable of assessing the value of a careful scientific study of this or that anti-anxiety treatment. So, as I've indicated above, this book is often very frustrating. But Miller's work is also quite valuable, at least in my opinion. Like Freud's contemporary Wilhelm Stekel, Miller may not be a systematic theoretician, but her extensive clinical experience has provided her with several important insights that I believe may be useful, particularly to parents of anxious children.
Beware
If you are like me:if you have a LOT of emotional baggage, and have only begun to scratch the surface of the damage done to your fragile psyche in early childhood, please take seriously this warning.
The core of much suffering
A book which goes straight to the essence of much of today's suffering...narcisistic disturbances as not one amongst many disturbances, but the one underlying them all.It is a book for everyone, and most especially for young parents, as the newborn child makes us live again all our unresolved stuff. This book should be recommended as educational material as it enlightens parents to choose not to repeat their own stories with their children. Excellent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Developmental Psychology    3. Movements - Psychoanalysis    4. Narcissism    5. Psychology    6. Psychology, Pathological    7. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    8. Self-esteem    9. Child & developmental psychology   

Subjects:  1. Infant Psychology    2. Movements - Psychoanalysis    3. Psychoanalysis    4. Psychology    5. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent   

Reviews (40)

This book saved my life.
I am trying not to cry while writing this review because of the incredible impact this great work of Judith Herman has had on my life.I first read the book 4 years ago (I was 19 at the time), at the suggestion of my therapist.Today it remains one of only two books on the topic that I have kept.I will never let go of this book.
Saved My Life
First let me say that this is NOT a "self-help" book and should not be purchased as such.As most of the other reviews here will attest, it is a wonderful book for therapists, clergy, or other professionals who work with survivors of trauma.It is also wonderful for anyone who is having difficulty understanding why a battered woman doesn't "just leave" her abuser (read about "Stockholm Syndrome" and traumatic bonding).It is a clear and easy read, but it is an educational book, not a self-help book.It was required reading in my college Crisis Intervention class, but it also helped me understand that I was not "crazy" for feeling the way I felt after living through an abusive relationship myself.I found that learning about the abuser/victim or captor/captive relationship was very empowering and normalizing for me and was an important step in my own recovery from captivity.I was amazed by the commonalities between domestic abuse, hostage situations, and living as a POW.If you are someone who helps people overcome this type of trauma, please read this book and teach them about the research that has been done.Help them realize that what they are going though is normal, that it was not due to their own personality flaws or weaknesses that they did not "just leave", and that, above all, they are not crazy.
A Reader's Review
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence-from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror by Judith Herman, M.D. is a book that puts together not only how victims of trauma have historically received care but also constructs a practical paradigm for providing care for the traumatized in today's world.
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Subjects:  1. Medical    2. Psychiatry    3. Psychotherapy    4. Social, group or collective psychology    5. Trauma & shock   

Subjects:  1. Physician-Patient Relations    2. Psychology    3. Psychotherapy    4. Psychotherapy - General    5. Reference    6. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (8)

Very Relevant
This is a great book for finding out how to bring people of differing race to an understanding. For instance, I remember one example where White students, approximately between the ages of thirteen and sixteen, were, as part of a therapeutic course, required to refer to all Black people in their environment as 'sir'.This simple sign of respect was a great way to dismantle racism.

Ethnicity and Family Therapy, third edition
This is one of the best psychology books I have ever read. Not only does it provide advice on how to treat people from certain cultures, it teaches the reader about the culture itself. This book is a marriage of cultural studies and psychology. While the book is large, the reader shouldn't be intimidated by its size. The book is broken up into several (50+) chapters and each chapter focuses on one culture. The book doesn't have to be read cover to cover. Each chapter is free standing.

A must read for all professionals working with families
This book is insightful as the author elaborates on different ethnic populations and the broad range of cultural influences that family therapists encounter in clinical practice. It is a must read for all professionals working in the field of family therapy, social work, psychotherapy and counselling who work with different ethnic populations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Sociology    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family Psychotherapy    4. Family relationships    5. Family/Marriage    6. General    7. Mental health services    8. Minorities    9. Psychology    10. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    11. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    12. United States    13. Psychiatry    14. Psychology & Psychiatry / Family Therapy    15. Psychotherapy    16. Social, group or collective psychology   

Reviews (2)

An excellent breakdown of cognitive techniques
McMullin does an excellent job of taking a fluid process such as therapy and breaking it down into its component parts.McMullin demystifies therapy by breaking the techniques down they are more easily applied in practice.For each technique there are real life examples and application, research and his personal thoughts on the effectiveness of the technique.McMullin also refuses to get lost in the technique and also describes the mechanism of faulty automatic thoughts in excellent detail.This book is designed for especially for professionals, students, but might also be useful to someone who is actively involved in psychology as a client or significant other to someone in therapy.After having read this book I felt much more confident that I would be able to handle situations in my private practice.

A useful and practical text on cognitive therapy
� The New Handbook of Cognitive Therapy Techniques by Rian E.McMullin, Ph.D. offers a wide assortment of cognitive therapy techniquesframed and explained by useful case illustrations. It is a practical textthat provides the mental health professional with a usable guide tocognitive therapy. Dr. McMullin integrates several decades of clinicalexperience with his mastery of cognitive theory and practice. Recommendedwithout reservation!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Behavior Therapy    2. Cognitive Psychology    3. Cognitive Therapy    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Psychology    6. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    7. Psychotherapy - General    8. Cognition & cognitive psychology    9. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (7)

Um�
Hey, I'm an archetype anyway you slice it. Prodigal, jester, shaman, wanderer-it's all in there. I have made millions of dollars from ideas that come to me in dreams. Jung would laugh at this book. Believe me. Look inside yourself. And laugh.

Woodman at her best
This book has gone a long way toward helping me bring some key issues in my life and dreams to consciousness.Having read a lot of Woodman's writings, I'd have to say this may be her key book. Loopy cubed
Jung is loopy. Jungian psychology is loopy. Jungian psychologists areloopy. It surprises me that people take this stuff as seriously as they do.Maybe there's a good Jungian explanation for that too. That said, Jung was,in my opinion, the Wagner of early psychology, and, like Wagnerian opera,there's a lot to be learned by mulling over some of the ideas presentedtherein. But remember, Jung was more of a Romantic philosopher than apsychologist. Colorful stuff. Just don't take it too seriously. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Health/Fitness    3. Jungian Psychology    4. Mental health    5. Perfection    6. Psychological aspects    7. Psychology    8. Psychology Of Women    9. Women    10. Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Mental Health    3. Psychology    4. Psychotherapy    5. Psychotherapy - Counseling    6. Psychotherapy - General    7. Reference    8. Counselling    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychotherapy   

Reviews (1)

Cutting edge information for counseling children.
Counseling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents, Third Edition has been a valuable addition to my personal llibrary. As a graduate student, I am constantly in search of state-of-the-art resources that I feel will enhance my skills once I begin to practice. Every grad. student/novice counselor needs to be aware of the major schools of thought as theory drives practice. This book offers the reader the chance to become familiar with the latest thinking and practice using the seven major approaches to counseling and psychotherapeutic interventions with children and adolescents. Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescent psychotherapy    2. Child psychotherapy    3. Children    4. Clinical Child Psychology    5. Counseling - General    6. Counseling of    7. Developmental - Adolescent    8. Education    9. Psychiatry - Child & Adolescent    10. Psychology    11. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    12. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    13. Psychotherapy - General    14. School Psychology    15. Teenagers    16. Child & developmental psychology    17. Psychology & Psychiatry / Child Psychology    18. Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Psychology    2. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    3. Psychotherapy - General    4. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory    5. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychotherapy    6. Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Clinical Psychology    2. Existential psychology    3. Existential psychotherapy    4. History    5. Personality    6. Philosophy Of Psychology    7. Psychology    8. Psychotherapy - Counseling    9. Phenomenology & Existentialism    10. Philosophy & theory of psychology    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / History    12. Psychotherapy   

Subjects:  1. Counseling    2. Counselors    3. Education & Training    4. Psychology    5. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    6. Psychotherapy    7. Psychotherapy - Counseling    8. Study and teaching    9. Training of    10. Counselling   

Subjects:  1. History    2. Movements - Psychoanalysis    3. Object relations (Psychoanalys    4. Object relations (Psychoanalysis)    5. Psychoanalysis    6. Psychology    7. PSYCHOANALYSIS_ADDRESSES, ESSAYS, LECTURES    8. PSYCHOANALYSIS_HISTORY    9. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychoanalysis   

Reviews (2)

Easy to read and easy to implement.
It's super organized. Very structured. Helps a lot to get ideas that are easily to put into practice.

An essential tool for therapists working with managed care
This planner is a wonderful resource to use when developing treatment plans for child clients.It's ease of use and broad range of goals and specific interventions are quite useful ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescent Psychiatry    2. Adolescent psychotherapy    3. Child Psychiatry    4. Child psychotherapy    5. Health/Fitness    6. Pediatrics    7. Psychology    8. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    9. Child & developmental psychology    10. Paediatric medicine    11. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (27)

A must buy for someone who dislike's their Homosexuality
Im 27 years old and a patient in therapy for almost 1 year now. I found this book useful and encouraging because it supports my thoughts that ( I never accepted nor will i accept being Gay).
This book should be burned
The people who write this sort of gay-bashing stuff under the guise of clinical therapy should lose thier credentials.This is damaging.Go buy last season's DVD of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and tell your mom you'll be her fashion consultant forever.Don't buy this book.

Reparative Therapy is harmful, I've been there
I was heavily involved in reparative therapy for many years.I was their perfect candidate (virgin, "straight-acting", etc).No one wanted to change more than me, and no one worked harder than me.
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Subjects:  1. Fathers and sons    2. Gay Studies    3. Gay men    4. Gender identity disorders    5. Homosexuality    6. Homosexuality, Male    7. Mental Illness    8. Mental health    9. Psychology    10. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    11. Psychotherapy    12. Psychotherapy - General    13. Sociology    14. Gay studies (Gay men)    15. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Reviews (11)

Amazing contributors, better editing, good concepts
If you are interested in the Jungian idea of The Shadow, this is a great read.Just look at the contributors- Robert Bly, Jung, Joseph Cambell, Ken Wilbur... these are big names by smart people.
Shadow workbook?
I did not realize that this was a shadow workbook until after I had read quite a few chapters. It is an entertaining book to read, reminding me of Vincent Prices Theatre. As great as one story is the next one tops it. Zweig and Abrams have gathered a great collection of stories that will get you to open up your mind to receive something that was there all the time. 5 STARS!

Very Disappointing
With so many great authors contributing this had the potential to be a symphony, but what you get is meatloaf. I found very few of the articles worth the trudge through the quagmire. I would go directly to the author's individual works for more meaningful reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Emotions    2. Good and evil    3. Movements - Psychoanalysis    4. Personality    5. Psychoanalysis    6. Psychological aspects    7. Psychology    8. Shadow (Psychoanalysis)    9. Self-Help / Spiritual   

Subjects:  1. Ego    2. General    3. Neuropsychology    4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders    5. Post-traumatic stress disorder    6. Psychological Theory    7. Psychology    8. Psychotherapy    9. Psychotherapy - General    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Treatment    12. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology    13. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (6)

the best treatise on romantic love
I ever read.
The soul in search of love
How many of us have been convinced that if we could only find The Right One, The Magical Other, our lives would be complete, and we'd have guaranteed happiness for the rest of our lives? Stated so baldly, that sounds sadly impossible ... but we've all bought into it, especially in the first half of life. And we've all suffered the pain of finding out it doesn't quite work that way.
Hands down the best book I ever read!!
I have read this book a number of times and glean new wisdom every time.It explained every mystery of human relationship that has baffled me for 50 years.The insight I gained helps me understand other people as well as myself in both personal and professional relationships.Hollis can synthesize Jung better than any author or teacher working today, and uses literature and poetry which greatly enriches his writing.All of James Hollis books are exemplarary and I recommend them all.I have been fortunate enough to hear Hollis speak and he is even better in real life.Extremely wise and empathetic.I have also given this book as a gift to manyof my friends and colleagues.Read more

Subjects:  1. Interpersonal Relations    2. Jungian psychology    3. Movements - Psychoanalysis    4. Personal Growth - General    5. Psychology    6. Self-actualization (Psychology    7. Self-actualization (Psychology)    8. Self-reliance    9. Marriage, family & other relationships    10. Popular psychology   

Reviews (1)

Exciting, life-changing reading experience
Alice Miller's "The Body Never Lies" is a provocation for those who are intent on denying that there is a relationship between how children are being treated and how they, later as adults, live their lives. They will fight against this book with those sad beliefs, which they learned in their childhoods and never questioned or left behind. But for those, for whom these connections are a fact and who are willing to explore their own past, their own lives and childhood suffering, this book provides great relief, even liberation. Read more

Subjects:  1. Abuse - General    2. Child Care/Parenting    3. Child Development And Rearing    4. Family & Relationships    5. General    6. Mental Illness    7. Movements - Psychoanalysis    8. Parenting - Child Rearing    9. Psychology    10. Child & developmental psychology    11. Child abuse    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Subjects:  1. Abused children    2. Child psychotherapy    3. Children of abused wives    4. Clinical Psychology    5. Developmental - Child    6. Life Stages - Infants & Toddlers/General    7. Mental Illness    8. Mental health    9. Psychology    10. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    11. Victims of family violence    12. Domestic violence    13. Psychotherapy