Rating Your Psychotherapist [Hardcover]

Robert Langs (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the first part of his book, Langs lucidly outlines the functions of the conscious and subconcious mind and describes briefly the ground rules of psychotherapy. He then presents a sound method for evaluating the therapist's approach to crucial stages of the process: the referral, first contact, setting, first interaction, fee, and temporal aspects of therapy, plus issues of privacy, confidentiality, and termination of therapy. Most readers will find the discussion, amply illustrated by case histories, easy to follow. The evaluation process is largely rational, but also makes use of the patient's intuitive skills. For anyone considering psychoanalytic therapy, and for those currently in therapy, this book is an important, useful adjunct.
- Julie Semkow, Health Science Ctr., SUNY at Brooklyn
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co; 1st edition (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805010165
• ISBN-13: 978-0805010169
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,141,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Method for Seeking Mental Health Care, March 18, 2003

By 

Stephen H. Roberts (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rating Your Psychotherapist (Paperback)

A consumer approach to finding a therapist is most often a disaster. Robert Langs reduces the confusion and illuminates the problems.

First research and decide the type of therapy you want to try. Second interview five or so of the best qualified therapist in your area according to their own professional association listings. Finally using a checklist, note your impressions and even your dreams the following night to evaluate your experience. In the end you can relax, trust and give oneself to the process more completely.

People who want help are vulnerable to manipulation by therapist and there is no oversight in therapy. For adults this is a way to make a better decision for yourself and for your children.

If you want therapy, you will come to treasure this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars what's the evidence?, April 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rating Your Psychotherapist (Hardcover)

Maybe he's right, but how do we know? "...in the deep unconscious system, once a person is a social acquaintance, he or she can *never* be a therapist to that individual. A therapist who attempts to cross that boundary is universallly seen in the deep unconscious system as incestuous" (p. 82). Maybe so. But what's the evidence? (And not only that, but what qualifies as a "social acquaintance"?) Just exactly how did Langs identify with certainty the "deep unconscious" system -- universally, no less?

The book is almost three hundred pages like this, and my response is the same throughout. I like a lot of the ideas here. Some I don't like so much. Langs might argue about why I don't like them, or what I "really" feel, or which level of me wants what. OK. I'm willing to entertain some notions about that, but what's the point of asserting things that are immune to examination and refutation? It kind of makes the whole thing just a fantasy.

I don't think this book alone is enough to help someone really rate his or her psychotherapist. I do, however, recommend it above superficial popular magazine rating scales. And I think people in therapy SHOULD think about these things.