the Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy
358765
A comprehensive text that is easy to read and comprehend. Very helpful for anyone planning to lead a group in therapy.
1153394
Dr. Dan Short has constructed a very cohesive system of describing Milton H. Erickson's therapeutic techniques, perhaps the best I have ever seen. Short's six therapeutic strategies of progression, partitioning, distraction, suggestion, reorientation and utilization are elegant constructs that I believe may well organize all human helping behavior.

This is a extremely well organized and easy to understand treatment of Erickson's ingenious methods and may inspire the reader interested in psychotherapy and other forms of human empowerment to consider the ways in which he or she is practicing the craft.
61006
An excellent text to learn the basics of psychodynamic therapy.  Provides detailed explanations with clinical examples.  One of the better books on practical application of psychodynamic therapy.
4076173
Salvador Minuchin, MD is one of the pioneers of family therapy and systems thinking. I use this book as an adjunct to journal articles and text's on family therapy. This book is the story of Dr. Minuchin's life and includes several cases which reflect his systemic thinking. The book is easy to read, inexpensive and something that busy graduate students in mental health fields or psychiatric residents may actually read! In this day of "evidence-based medicine", it is refreshing to review a master clinican who knows the "evidence" but also the "art".
2231302
This is an extraordinary book with a somewhat disarming title (patterned on Einstein's "General Theory of Relativity"). It is a very well written book setting forth the relation between brain neurology and emotions, and their joint impact on psychotherapy. The title may put some people off. I encourage readers to forge ahead. They won't be sorry.
  It defines the distinctions between the three basic elements of the brain: the brain stem, the limbic system, and the cortex. It describes how the limbic system, which controls emotions and which receives its input in infancy, can be matured and transformed by the interpersonal relationship of psychotherapy.
  The three authors represent three generations of psychiatrists at San Francisco Medical School. They see love, not in its sentimental sense but as mutual emotional resonance, as the core emotion of effective psychotherapy.
4291620
An excellent book on breakthroughs in contemporary humanistic psychiartry. The book is useful for lay people as well as professionals.
3000816
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.
4242333
This book is a must read for any psychotherapist.  It explores the real

world and often secret problems encountered in clinical practice in a

creative, personal and very useful fashion.  In this world of increasing

professional accountability and liability, clinicians can be assured that

their practices will be much better off for having implemented the common

sense suggestions made by the authors.

Jeffrey N. Younggren, Ph. D., ABPP

Risk Management Consultant

American Psychological Association Insurance Trust
1788044
As a Clinical Psychologist with 24 years post license experience, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. A large part of treating
mood and anxiety disorders ( among others ) is teaching skills. Dr Burns does this simply and effectively. My clients comment that Feeling Good accelerates their healing, freeing the therapy hour from teaching, allowing problem solving and exploration.
My only reservations have to do with the placement of the theory so early in the book.
New clients are experiencing so much distress. For some, this theory discussion is hard to make sense of, and that's the end of reading it. I tell many clients that despite my years of providing psychological treatment, I struggle with how the theory is described. Often, I suggest reading this section after they have 6 months or more of treatment, when a desire for a greater understanding of cognitive therapy is desired.
The section on medications bothers me as well. Though medication treatment is overused, it remains beneficial for a large number of clients. I've spoken to Dr. Burns about the fine line between education and undermining the treatment.
In summary, despite my areas of concern, I find Feeling Good to be an excellent first step in psychoeducation and skills training,  as a part of treatment.
2991817
Nancy Bauser's "Acceptance Groups for Survivors: A Guide for Facilitators" is a book that lends help to victims who have survived harrowing accidents leading to disabilities. A victim of a devastating accident in which she sustained extensive brain injury, Bauser draws on her own experiences of trauma and recovery to formulate a program that assists victims of extensive injuries and trauma.

Bauser's book opens with a note about the need for victims to find self "acceptance" in order to recover. She says that the key to victims' returning to normalcy is their ability to accept themselves for what they are. She points out that the process of rehabilitation essentially consists of recognition, admittance, and acceptance. This book follows a step-by-step approach to be put to use in a series of twenty-four sessions. Each weekly session is designed to guide facilitators in their attempts to help survivors as they come to terms with their loss by grieving and overcoming it. She mentions that with patience, facilitators can help survivors develop their inner strengths so that they can form and achieve noteworthy goals. Once survivors are able to come to terms with themselves, they try to cope with people around them. Survivors may struggle to be accepted by other people, but this problem can be solved with the assistance of support groups. Bauser suggests that survivors get involved in volunteer work; so that they realize that they too have the potential to make valuable contributions to society. Active participation in charity work can help survivors recognize the value of support groups and make the most of the interactive sessions.

Written in a straightforward manner, this book reaches out to other survivors and lends them a helping hand in bringing their lives back on track. The empathetic treatment of the subject and hands-on approach make this book a valuable guide for survivors and rehabilitation experts alike.
4193363
This book is great to work with a group or on your own. The cd has a great selection of music with meditation exercises to follow along with.  The stories shared vary in different areas of how depression can affect people in many differnt ways. I am using this book as material and reference in a womens support group.  It has already made an impact within the group.  The women are opening up and sharing. I am glad I chose this book. Karla H.
2807569
The seminal text on group therapy dynamics. Yalom is a leader in the field, and this is a good starting point for group therapy. Read it in my Group Dynamics class during my Psychology MA. Loved it.
2415823
This is a Great book and an easy read. I would recommend it for those in practice looking to mastering structural family therapy.
4031686
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I believe in the systemic perspective and am always looking for effective means of involving the family in a child's therapeutic work. Creative Family Therapy Techniques provides just what its subtitle states: play, art and expressive activities to engage children in family sessions and it does it well. It is good to see a book that furthers the integration of family therapy and play therapy.
The book is well organized into three sections of techniques: engagement and assessment, treatment and termination techniques. The contributors are experienced family therapy and child and play therapy clinicians. Of particular importance and inclusion is the theoretical overview that discusses family therapy theory and models in a way that is useful to both seasoned systemic family therapists and those clinicians that are new to systemic thinking. Each technique is clearly presented and explained along with references for further review. This book deserves a spot in the resource library of family and play therapist clinicians.
1170954
This book - published in 1973 by a psychiatrist - is an accurate and interesting way to analyze the meaning, significance, and relationships of your family and friends whose pictures are in your family photo albums.  The author began this analysis when his patients started bringing their family albums to therapy appointments.  As an adjunct to traditional talking therapy, Dr. Akeret soon discovered there were hidden meanings in the photographs.

  The thesis, for this photo-analytic approach to therapy, is predicated upon the notion that when a photo is about to be taken, people will, somewhat automatically, arrange themselves in various ways that reflect their feelings, subconscious connection to others, and even the most subtle emotions they harbor towards those who are also in the picture.  These points would include who stands next to whom; how arms and legs are positioned; facial expressions; touching with hands and fingers; and many other considerations.  Furthermore, when multiple pictures, taken over many years, are carefully studied and compared, a great deal of psychiatric depth and evaluation will emerge, some of it impossible to obtain in any other way.  The most exciting part of this book is that readers can do the same thing at home, as done in the doctors office, merely by using this information along with their own family photo albums.
4167644
For a broad range of people having disorders related to overcontrol, this groundbreaking work turns much of what we know about the theory and practice of psychotherapy on its head. The very lucid explication of the philosophical underpinnings of Radically Open DBT integrates polyvagal theory with environmental influences. Its practical explanation of the counterintuitive nature of clinical interventions with this population focuses on social signaling behavior, and its bidirectional relationship with neural activation. Together, these elements make this therapy a game changer. The approach detailed in Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers hope for a large group of people who have suffered in relative silence.

Michael Maslar, PsyD.
Director, Mindfulness and Behavior Therapies Program
The Family Institute at Northwestern University
1210272
This book provides real-life approaches for helping and healing.  It is a must-read for counselors, teachers and parents because readers can draw inspiration and information.  Counseling roles and training models are presented.  Helping techniques for families and professionals are included.  Finally, we receive a book that is not problem oriented but possibility and power oriented. The solutions range from commonsense to clinical to revolutionary.  A collaboration between counselors, teachers and parents, this book is creating a new network of healers.