Customer Reviews

Power in the Helping Professions

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I have been in the 'helping' people profession for 30 years and also teach others how to be helping professionals. I have found Guggenbuhl-Craig's work on Power in the Helping Professions to be fundamental for understanding how to develop an attitude of compassionate regard for client care with out having to get into power struggles, and for the professoinal to learn how to pull back on their own will to power issues when working with clients. If you have concern about counter-transference hate, dread the presence of certain clients, feel used up and worn out as a helping profession this book may well be helpful to you. I recommend it for all my helping professional students.

I first encountered this book when I was in graduate school studying to become a psychotherapist in the early 1980's. While it may seem a little dated in some of its references, I think it is still one of the best things ever written about the shadow side of being a helping professional. I continually recommend it to the grad psych students I supervise as an essential guide to being a psychotherapist. I'm glad it's still in print and hope it will always be available.

The dark side discussion in this book can contribute to any realtionship, including relationshi with self. The short discssion of Jung's concept of individuation is excellent.

excellent examination of the dynamics of shadow on every level (personal, societal and archetypal - for therapist who has become complacent and confident in his or her ability to help a patient. Systematic and honest - should be a "must-read" (and re-read every year) for anyone who performs any kind of counseling.