This liberating and important book shows us how to break out of the self-defeating behavior patterns that have been keeping us from attaining our most cherished goals. Many of our most serious psychological problems can be traced to a special form of guilt: the hidden guilt we feel toward our parents or other loved ones. Somewhere back in childhood we came to believe that by achieving independence, happiness, or success we would harm the ones we love. We judged ourselves guilty of imaginary crimes. And we have been punishing ourselves ever since. This self-punishment can take many forms. We may be plagued by feelings of anxiety or depression. We may sabotage our own efforts to form intimate, rewarding relationships. Or we may find ourselves destroying the relationships we already have. Imaginary Crimes introduces us to a new approach to psychological healing never before presented in a book for the general public. Many previous readers have found this book a profound step on their road to psychological recovery.
| |||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Lewis Engel, Ph.D., is a San Francisco clinical psychologist. He attended Reed College (where he, as his co-author, Tom Ferguson were freshman roommates), earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees at San Francisco State University, and received his doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology. In 1981, Engel requested a consultation on an especially difficult client with psychologist Harold Sampson. It was through Sampson that he first learned about Control Mastery Theory. Engel continues to use Control Mastery Theory in his San Francisco psychotherapy practice, as well as gives talks and writes articles that apply the theory to new areas. He is particularly interested in the treatment of couples, trauma, and assisting people grappling with chronic illness, grieving and loss. Tom Ferguson, M.D. is a Senior Research Fellow for Online Health at the Pew Internet & American Life Project. He is Project Director of the 'e-Patients, Online Health, and the Search for Sustainable Healthcare.' Project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Ferguson is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Texas School of Health Information Science and a senior associate at Boston's Center for Clinical Computing. He is the author of ten books on consumer health topics, including Health Online: How to Find Health Information, Support Groups and Self-Help Communities in Cyberspace. He is the editor and publisher of The Ferguson Report a free online newsletter (www.fergusonreport.com) which reviews current research on e-patients and online health. Dr. Ferguson received his M.D. from the Yale University School of Medicine. He has received the Educational Press Association's Distinguished Achievement Award for his work in teaching medicine to children. He was recently honored as an Internet Health Hero by Intel's Internet Health Initiative.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Imaginary Crimes refers to unconscious motivations such as the fear of doing better than a parent or of being disloyal to a parent which can damage people's lives. Without accepting everything the book says I think it is liberating for people stuck in their lives and a very good guide to finding patterns in one's life. If you have been subjected to guilt, embarrassment or shame in your childhood, I recommend this book, if you can get it
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By S. Converse
Format:Paperback
A masterful little book that serves as a fabulous introduction to Control Mastery Theory. I could NOT put this one down - facinating. For those with some skepticism, hang in there. It is understandable some concepts in this little gem of a book (and learning about CMT generally), might be difficult to see initially: how our beliefs and thoughts, by which we live our life could be so deeply hidden from consciousness. But it is true!! It will be easier for some to accept, harder for others. That's OK. Believe me, if you are open, once you really get into control mastery theory and understand it's tenets, there will no doubt; especially if you ever have the chance to work with a CMT trained clinicial. I was fortunate enough to do just that. Intellectually I understood what I was being told, and initially had a hard time really "getting" it on an emotional level, (entertaining the idea that these unconscious beliefs could be such powerful influences in my life). So unconscious, and then, at some point subsequently, having them enter into consciousness to a level that I Knew what I could only intellectualize about before. Once I made this transition, unbelievable clarity regarding certain dynamics in my life became crystal clear. And trust me I am not a gullible person, unfamiliar with therapy and the concept of "leading." I am not taken in by a slick clinician with a hidden agenda. (I am also studying to be a therapist.) These authors and the founders and practitioners of CMT are on to something truly amazing. The best kept secret in psychotherapy today!! Follow this up with a read of How Psychotherapy Really Works (wonderful) by Joseph Weiss, (from the founder of CMT himself) and I doubt anyone will wonder whether these crimes are imaginary. They are only imaginary if you can cannot open your mind up to insight and imagine the possibility. I suspect almost everyone has some of these "imaginary crimes" floating deep in their psyche. Discovering these is part of knowing who you truly are, how your life has been influenced and how you became who you are (psychically). This book will help you discover why you may have dynamics in your life that you'd like to change, as well as giving you an empathic and crucially important understanding of those who influenced your development. This book helps lead the reader to a centered, grounded, place of mind. In the process, making peace with the past. Intended for those interested in individual development and growth; a remarkable find for those of this persuation.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This book is a great introduction to Control Mastery Theory. It is easy to read for people who are not familiar with theories in psychoanalysis and also understandable. The book provides many case examples to illustrate ideas and concepts. Excellent book and a must read for anyone interested in learning more about this theory.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very informative book for some people
When I read the introduction, I discovered this book is not for me directly, but it applies very much to some friends. I recommended they read it. Read more
Published on October 26, 2010 by Hugh Curley
5.0 out of 5 stars
easy to read for a foreigner too!
This book has been a big help! It goes into details of childhood/young adult experiences with parents without getting too technical. Read more
Published on May 11, 2008 by book reading cat
3.0 out of 5 stars
Imaginary Crimes
IMAGINARY CRIMES
Hidden guilt - hidden even from the self - afflicts ordinary people in everyday life, with costs uncounted and uncountable, according to Lewis Engel,... Read more
Hidden guilt - hidden even from the self - afflicts ordinary people in everyday life, with costs uncounted and uncountable, according to Lewis Engel,... Read more
Published on August 3, 2005 by Margie Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Read!
This book is a great introduction to Control Mastery Theory. It is easy to read for people who are not familiar with theories in psychoanalysis and also understandable. Read more
Published on March 21, 2002 by cperlman
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
