Customer Reviews

Tell it by Heart: Women and the Healing Power of Story

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I came across this book in my search to find information about narrative therapy. Meade's book is a writer-therapist's dream -- she SHOWS rather than TELLS the reader what narrative therapy is all about. A great book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon and a fantastic teaching tool for students of any of the healing arts.

Meade's description of her heartfelt work as a therapist, community worker, and sublime storyteller is a gift. She bridges the world of the story with the world of personal suffering. By way of her own encounters she exposes the healing power of myth to rekindle love and connection. There is a deep poetic intelligence in this book and it is skillfully woven with humor, humility and tenderness. As a therapist and teacher myself, I revisit this book time and time again. I teach graduate counseling courses and this book is always on my syllabi, either as required or highly suggested reading. I can think of no better text for teaching students to work from the heart.

I love this book. As an actor and arts educator, I am drawn to books about personal stories and how people are transformed by telling them. Helm-Meade's style of storytelling is warm and engaging. In this honest re-telling of personal stories, she takes the reader on a journey into the heart and gives us an opportunity to explore our own depths of compassion. A great book for sure.

A marvelous book ... unique, real life stories of fears and flaws voiced by extraordinary women and girls. I love the characters. Amazingly powerful lessons are learned through fantastic myths. Erica Meade's magical storytelling captures the imagination and teaches, through terrific characters, creatures and symbolism; Eagles, feathers, Rapunzel. A wonderful book. Looking forward to many more stories by Erica Helm Meade.

I've always been aware of myths and fairy tales as imparting psychological insight, but this book shows the deeper process of being helped by myth in a really interesting way- through fictionalized case studies of people dealing with trauma, isolation, or dysfunctional behavior. The characters drew me in as did the their life stories and the way the therapist helped them use a parallel myth or fairy tale for solace and perspective. Obviously a story doesn't make someone heal or change, but it enriches the process. As a man, I gained insight into women through the all-female protagonists, and I'm hoping the author will write a Volume II about men.

I just found this in the library and devoured it immediately. I found the application of myth and story to understand our psychology and ignite transformation fascinating. I'm not a Psychology professional yet I was riveted. The book works with such classics as Ruplestilskin, Rapunzel, Snow White and Rose Red, and others. I'm came here looking for volume two!

Having read many books on the power of storytelling and on women's issues and life cycles returning to Meade's Tell It By Heart has reminded me that this book is as fresh, insightful and meaningful as when it first came out. Meade's 13 tenents that she describes as the essentails of the healing power of story and myth are as brilliantly conceived for use today as they were at the book's puliciation in 1995. This book is a timeless look into the deep well of story and its uses and applications as a healing modality. The intimate narrative style charms us and the wisdom of the book heals us and those we wish to reach through story and myth. I hihgly recomment that therapists, art therapists and tellers read or re-read this important book.