Books to Get Unstuck

[Kristen]

Anyone know of any good books when you're just feeling overall ineffective and could use a brush-up or a peptalk? I know Letters to a Young Therapist is pretty good, looking for some others, so I don't have to go back to Helping Skills or actual textbooks...

[Karen]

I'm not a therapist but were I stuck in any pursuit, I would start reading more about the subject. I.e., if the client is silent, I would read articles about silent patients. If the client is hostile, I would read more about hostility, borderline, or whatever. If I were stuck, I'd probably read about counter-transference. Sometimes there is a bit of knowledge you aren't yet aware of, that could turn things around. Just my thought, for what it's worth.

[Michelle]

I recently read Letters to a Young Therapist. I honestly didn't get a whole lot out of it that I hadn't already gotten from Reviving Ophelia. It is a nice, quick read though.

I also recently read Love's Executioner by Yalom. If you haven't already read this, then it might be a good one to get you unstuck. That's what it did for me. His focus on the relationship with the client and working in the here-and-now is helpful.

[Kevin]

Since the gift of therapy by I. Yalom was highlighted several times on this site I decided to give it a read. And I think it does have some salient points. In my humble opinion it’s a good place to start.

From my perspective it is important to remember therapy IS a gift both for the client and therapist. And I have seen hundreds of people flourish with some “assistance”. But "Therapy" is not a panacea to all mood disorders or other psychiatric problems in the world (not even for all the nice little neurotics). Not even CBT! So don't dismay. I have seen an excellent solution focused therapist get stuck with a client only then see the client make some progresses with Classical CBT. And I have seen Clients not respond to CBT and turn to other modalities. Again, don’t dismay. But don’t remain complacent either, there are things you can do.

Here are some off the top of my head, : 1- don’t avoid reading; continued professional growth demands that we don’t keep our head in the sand; 2- mentorship is also a good way to go (doesn’t matter on your age or experience we ALL can grow) 3- brown bag lunches with co-workers or other therapists; go to workshops and conferences ( I think Yalom noted himself going to group meetings for male therapists). Yalom also attend therapy numerous times with different therapists and you may also want to consider going to therapy yourself (refer to the overflowing literature produced by the psychoanalytic group that supports the importance for therapist to go to therapy themselves) .But don’t keep it bottled up, then you and your client(s) will suffer.
As Karen a previous poster well said "Just my thought[s], for what it's worth"

Btw what population do you work with?

[Eryn]

Thanks for the input! I work with women/ girls at a sexual assault center. The book that has been sooooo useful and life-changing for me is Judith Herman's Trauma and Recovery.

[Denise]

Judith Herman's book has helped me to keep it in perspective too. Ethics for the New Millennium by the Dalai Lama was another book that was useful in that I felt "nourished" by it and it helped me to remember why I do this work.

[Kevin]

Herman's book has been mentioned to me several times and I still have not found the time to read it. One day, I plan on catching up on my ‘to-read’ list. However, I have heard by some that her book is "too academic" while others have told me she has it "bang on". I would be interested to hear what people feel this book brings or doesn’t bring to the subject matter?

[Leslie]

I love Judith Herman's book. I think she was one of the first people to realize that rape and domestic abuse victims were suffering from ptsd, just like soldiers. I didn't find it too academic at all, it was very interesting and accessible.
Has anyone read If You Meet the Buddha On the Road, Kill Him? I just started that yesterday and it is good!!!