Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy [Hardcover]

Robert Firestone (Author), Lisa A. Firestone (Author), Joyce Cartlett (Author), Daniel Siegel (Preface)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 159147020X | ISBN-13: 978-1591470205 | Publication Date: January 2003 | Edition: 1

The Wisdom of Psychotherapy tells the compelling story of an unusual group of people who have transformed their lives. The book describes their struggles as they gradually learned to accept the fulfillment of their dreams and documents the insights they gained along the way. The chapters clarify how these individuals gradually overcame a wide range of defensive behaviors, which enabled them to embrace a more self-affirming lifestyle; and how they applied the knowledge and understanding they acquired to various areas of their daily lives. Most important, the authors describe how the insights achieved can be applied by therapists in clinical practice This book offers a comprehensive guide for helping professionals and other people who are interested in their personal development, deepening their friendships, sustaining intimacy in their couple relationships, achieving success in the workplace, and developing healthy child-rearing practices. It points out the value of leading a life marked by adventure and recreation, transcendent goals, and spiritual exploration, and offers fresh views on the past, present, and future of psychotherapy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an insightful and dynamic book that will be of great interest to professionals in the human services." -- Donald K. Freedheim, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University

"This book renewed my faith in psychotherapy and inspired me to be a better person--and therapist." -- Pat Love, Pat Love and Associates, Austin, Texas

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA); 1 edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159147020X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591470205
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have!!!, January 7, 2004

By 

Nicholas Dogris, Ph.D. (Bishop, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy (Hardcover)

I have been involved in the field of psychology for 15 years and have yet to come across a model that is as comprehensive and challenging as this work. I just finished reading Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion. This book is a masterpiece and I thank all of you for putting together such a contribution for society. I cannot begin to say how much this book affected me and how it provoked a great deal of thought and understanding about the Fantasy Bond, the Voice, and my Life. Several of my clients have read the book and all have reported how wonderful it truly is.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Of Meaning and Compassion, September 12, 2003

By 

michelle massie (Laguna Beach ca. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy (Hardcover)

The quintessential guide to weaving a tapestry to incorporate real and lasting happiness, an awakening of the spirit in all relationships bringing authenticity and the joy of being more fully concious and alive...this is a recipe for peace and
harmony in all areas of daily living....a truly brilliant and transformational piece of work....

The harsher realities of life and suffering are transcended by the unique and simple approach to existential angst. The real need for human connection becomes evident and the suffering caused by one's need vs the longing for this deep sense of connection is thoughtfully approached and easily mapped.

I was moved by this work and inspired by the friendship circle and the true desire to support and love another in the very real sense of this attachment. Authenticity has never been descibed more clearly and after all this is what we are here for.....each other and the rest of humanity.

The gift of this work will be received for many generations to come....

A recipe to model and live by..THANK YOU...

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best book on Psychotherapy, June 24, 2007

By 

Dr. John Laughlin (Glenn Dale, MD) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy (Hardcover)

This is the best book I have come across in understanding my own and my clients' emotional development and how life can get sidetracked when we are young by neglect and abuse at the hands of caretakers,who are often unaware of the damage they are passing on to yet another generation.

Such early suffering places life on a path where internalized and unexplored feelings create a filter that distorts our view of others and ourselves. Life is lived in a kind or personal isolation ward, a prison not of our making but one we are destined to maintain unless, through our desire to stop the suffering, we become aware of a way out through the techniques prsented in this wise and liberating book.

I love the fact this work takes a combined psychoanalytical, existential and cognitve perspective of understanding and helping those trapped in chronic emotional suffering. A great book for therapists.

At times the book is redundant but I have found this sometimes an asset in helping me to more fully grasp a concept presnted again in a slighlty different way. [[ASIN:159147020X Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy]