Provocative Therapy [Hardcover]

Frank Farrelly (Author), Jeff Brandsma (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0916990036 | ISBN-13: 978-0916990039 | Publication Date: March 1981

Provocative Therapy will shock and provoke you as it challenges many traditional assumptions about the limits to be respected by professional communicatiors in the same provocative, earthy and humor-producing style that characterizes Provocative Therapy.
This book is a rich source of examples with extensive commentary as it chronicles the adventurous, warm and humorous journey undertaken by Farrelly in his highly successful quest for tools. These tools have gained for him an ever-growing reputation as a highly effective and dramatic practitioner and teacher of his system of psychotherapy. These tools were forged in the experiences of more than 20 years of work both with the traditional hard-core institutionalized patients and with clients in private practice.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

At the time this book was written, Frank Farrelly is a practicing psychotherapist in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a Clinical Professor, School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin, and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin. Frank Farrelly was educated at Catholic University. He has made frequent appearances on radio and TV and conducts workshops, seminars and conferences on provocative therapy.
Jeff Brandsma is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 230 pages
• Publisher: Meta Publications (March 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916990036
• ISBN-13: 978-0916990039
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The therapy of laughing at oneself, May 24, 2002

By 

Xan (Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Provocative Therapy (Hardcover)

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Provocative Therapy was developed in a psychiatric ward as Frank Farrelly, dissatisfied with his effectiveness as a therapist, began to explore new procedures for promoting significant, resilient change in chronic and recalcitrant patients. He now demonstrates the method in seminars and in this book for ordinary neurotics, like us.

Provocative therapy is a wild form of confrontational therapy that cuts to the quick of a problem, throws it up in the air, bathes it in outrageous humor and opens up the possibilities of change. It works because Frank Farrelly has a deep understanding of the human condition and he knows how to make people laugh at themselves.

This book has been called "the funniest book ever written in the clinical field" by students and professionals alike. Many of them have also described it as "the clearest book ever written about psychotherapy."
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I always thought life was a joke, February 17, 2006

By 

M. Jeppsson "Compulsive liar fed up with bein... (Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Provocative Therapy (Hardcover)

Frank Farrelly is the man. Like all masters of art he reflects life as it is and couses a change, this time in the client. This is a book about communication, not beeing codependent and not feeling pity for a person. The book gives mutch laughter as it illustrates peoplas negative perceptions about them selves.

This is a book mostly for therapists, but it is a great start for anyone who has decided to stop destroying there own lifes.

The book is short but wery insightful.

(Sorry about the English!=)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book and major influence on NLP, June 5, 2006

By 

Nick Kemp "Nick Kemp" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Provocative Therapy (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book, and clearly a major influence on the two creators of NLP. Frank's style of working and approaches are quite unique and his use of humour to provoake solutions in clients is unique. I notice at [...] he confirms that he is still running workshops at the age of 75 and his mind is as sharp as when he wrote this classic!