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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book Lover, December 14, 2009
This review is from: Therapy Revolution: Find Help, Get Better, and Move On without Wasting Time or Money (Paperback)
Therapy Revolution is a surprise. It is unlike any other book on therapy out there, probably because it is exposes both the good and bad things that can happen in therapy. It specifically tells you how to find a therapist, what to look for in a therapist, how to evaluate and choose a therapist, and what kinds of "red flags" to avoid. The book lists possible "red flag violations" and explains each of them with actual stories from real patients. I've heard therapy stories like these before, but always thought people were exaggerating. Well, now I know they're not. The message is you should pay attention as carefully to what therapist you hire as to what car you buy. Apparently there are some therapists out there who will keep people who don't really need long-term therapy paying for therapy for a long time.
I have to say I felt like some of the other reviewers didn't read the same book I did. I am not a doctor, I'm an electrical engineer and I think "trusting your gut feelings" or "instincts" is not the best way to hire anyone, especially when you are potentially spending a lot of money and are looking for relief from misery. I appreciated the practical side of this book. It suggested you interview a therapist over the phone first, and gave you a list of questions to ask. It tells you to pay close attention to how the therapist spoke to you and what to listen for. Were they respectful? Did they listen to you or did they just try to push you into signing up for a paid session? Did they have qualities you are comfortable around? The book was clear that a combination of careful research, being an "educated consumer", paying close attention to what the therapist was like, and even gut instinct are all needed to make a good decision. Also the book suggests if aren't up to the task, a family member or friend can step in and help you make the decision. In fact, a parent or friend of someone looking for a therapist can read this book and learn how choose a therapist for someone who maybe isn't up to the task and give them support while they are in therapy.
Also, the part about how and when therapy should end, was crucial. Apparently, therapy actually has to end sometime and the therapist should be discussing this right from the outset. An important point.
If you've been burned in therapy or want to avoid being burned, this is a helpful read.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good start but needs more controversy, November 29, 2009
This review is from: Therapy Revolution: Find Help, Get Better, and Move On without Wasting Time or Money (Paperback)
As far back as I can remember, therapy has been both controversial and fascinating to many people. As a career consultant, I frequently found myself referring clients to therapists. Partly I wanted to be sure I wasn't overstepping the boundaries of my knowledge. But mostly I realized that people who have relationship, anxiety or depression challenges are often in no position to begin a career change.
At the same time, some clients reported experiences with therapy that seemed bizarre. So I was hoping for a book I could use as a reference. This book definitely fills this purpose. If a client or friend were unsure about choosing a therapist, I would suggest starting here.
The book is well-written and well-organized. I can't assess the accuracy of the information because I'm not a mental health professional, but commonsense suggests many points are well-taken. For instance, it's pretty obvious that a therapist who dresses provocatively is not a good choice. Tony Soprano's therapist would have failed that test! The outcome measures would be helpful to anyone undergoing a change process, whether they're working with a therapist, coach, or meditation practice.
So why just 3 stars? This book just delivers a straightforward "party line." The author places a high value therapist credentials, but research has raised questions about the importance of credentials for many kinds of therapy. Additionally, a credentialed therapist can depart quite widely from his or her training and can use non-standard or ad hoc techniques. The book offers many examples of people who spent thousands of dollars with credentialed therapists over a period of months, with no results. The bottom line seems to be "caveat emptor" regardless of the credentials of the therapist you choose.
The lines between therapy and other processes, such as coaching, often seem quite blurred. For instance, one case study describes a man who has trouble getting along with a family member. It's hard to say whether he needed communication skills versus understanding of patterns. Tools used by professionals, such as the DSM-IV and many tests, have been questioned and criticized. Some approaches have been found to be useless when tested by research.
The book's discussion of barriers to therapy focus on finances as well as the prospective patient's resistance. There is still some stigma around therapy, although it's fading. More important, people resist what social psychologists call altercasting, i.e., assigning an identity to someone else. Clients are equals; patients are one-down.
A few years ago, a friend experienced death of a close relative. When I encouraged her to seek some kind of support, she was concerned that a clinician would put a label on her, such as "depressed." She didn't want to be a patient or get a "diagnosis." She wanted to get on with her life. She started working with a coach but (urged by friends, including me) kept a list of therapists handy. Over a year later, she's doing well. This fear seems to represent as large a barrier as money.
Finally, although the book offers some excellent guidelines for those who really need therapy (as opposed to coaching or casework), I can't help wondering how realistic some suggestions are. A person who's feeling depressed or inadequate will have trouble standing up to a therapist.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Resource!, December 13, 2009
This review is from: Therapy Revolution: Find Help, Get Better, and Move On without Wasting Time or Money (Paperback)
Mr. Zwolinski's book, Therapy Revolution, is a great reference book, and a must-read for professionals, clients, and even families of client's. The book is critical to understanding the therapy process. A simple read will educate the reader on the therapy process, provide insights and ideas to those looking for counseling help, and will help to orient those looking for help to the best possible professionals.
As a special education instructor with significant experience and knowledge (not to mention a degree or two!) in counseling children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and psychotic disorders, I feel this book is important for parents and even some older clients. Mr. Zwolinski's book identifies some of the pitfalls of therapy practice, how to avoid them, and how to find a professional that is experienced and is likely to help you. Even more important, this book provides a framework to orient clients to the therapy process. The book illustrates the "process" from step 1, all the way through to successful completion of a therapy program.
Without such a read, a potential client, family member, or support person might not have the knowledge or know-how to support a person through their therapy program. This book provides the insight and tools one needs to have before setting out on a therapy program.
The book is concise, clear, and an easy read. Paragraphs and chapters are well organized, and easy to follow. This book should become a go-to-guide for those seeking a successful therapy program. most importantly, it's reasonably priced! Highly Recommended.
Mara Hellman, MA, Ed.
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