Customer Reviews

The Gift of Therapy

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I believe that this is the same as Yalom's "The Gift of Therapy: Open Letter to a New Generation of Psychotherapists." Am I mistaken? The cover and sub-title are different, but the content is the same, yes? The "open letter" is a wonderful book. See my review and others under that title.

At any rate... Consider ordering Yalom's DVD "The Gift of Therapy." It is a one hour interview with Yalom that supplements the material in the book. The "Open Letter" book also clarifies themes that show up in Yalom's novels.

This is a book borne of experience rather than theory. What Irvin D Yalom does here is offer counselors and psychotherapists the benefit of his own discoveries about what works. While he does make occasional reference to various schools of thought (e.g. neo-Freudian) it is clear that his interest is in getting "alongside" people rather than in analyzing or diagnosing them. Indeed, he cautions against diagnoses and advises therapists to view those who seek their help as "fellow travelers" (rather than as afflicted clients).

Not being a therapist myself, I am not able to comment from that particular perspective, but it seems to me that what Yalom is writing about is the kind of pastoral care that, in the past, many people may have sought from their priests, ministers or rabbis. It is interesting that Yalom dislikes the term "client" (which suggests a business relationship), preferring instead to use the term "patient" (which seems rather more clinical)--but "parishioner" might almost be a more fitting expression (though, presumably, there cannot be too great a "flock" of "parishioners" at any one time!). I make this comment because Yalom appears, essentially, to be urging therapists to act as secular clergy, supporting and empathizing with individuals and, on occasions, giving them direction.

Given his relational/pastoral emphasis, it is unsurprising that he is dismissive of particular fixed approaches to therapy. He is certainly critical of the Person-Centered Approach pioneered by Carl Rogers, but he reserves some of his most scathing remarks for formulaic "evidence-based therapies" such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).

The Gift of Therapy is actually an enjoyable as well as informative read, precisely because it stresses relationship with the human subject rather than adherence to a method.

Great fun to read can pick it up and put it down in short bursts ideal for coffee breaks, picking kids up from school. Brilliant humour, at last an honest therapist!

Refreshing read for therapists and those interested in the field of counseling. Too few books deal with "helping the helper" and this one does that! The author really demonstrates and explains how therapy brings such quality to the lives of others, as well as his/her own! Counselors and therapists will really come away feeling encouraged and with new insight!

If Yalom seems pleased with himself, it's probably because he is, and I'd say he deserves to be. He is quite a good writer, and apparently an excellent clinician as well!

I read this book just before I started my Masters in Social Work, and I feel like I really ought to read it again now that I'm a practicing clinician.