Feeling Better, Getting Better, Staying Better : Profound Self-Help Therapy For Your Emotions (Paperback)

~ (Author) "This is going to be an experiment in writing as far as my use of language is concerned..." (more)
Key Phrases: staying better, irrational beliefs, experiential methods, Getting Better, Feeling Better, Effective New Beliefs (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

As the inventor of Rational-Emotive Psychotherapy (RET) more commonly known as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Ellis is generally considered the most influential living psychoanalyst. He argues that emotions that bother us anxiety, depression, guilt, anger are based on our thoughts about events that happen to us, not on the events themselves, and that we can systematically work to change these cognitive responses. This is the basis of most current short-term therapy and is the only approach that has been scientifically tested and found actually to help patients. One would naturally expect to welcome any self-help book written by such an important thinker. Unfortunately, this particular title doesn't deliver the goods, the main problem being that it is extremely repetitive. The three sections, "Feeling Better," "Getting Better," and "Staying Better," are essentially repetitions, reiterating the message that other approaches (e.g., meditation, religious faith, the quest for achievement) are palliatives, while RET will lead to lasting improvements. Perhaps the problem is that this book is aimed at too general an audience anyone with any kind of disturbing emotions. Libraries are better served by titles that explain cognitive-behavioral techniques for use with specific complaints, e.g., Joseph J. Luciani's Self-Coaching: How To Heal Anxiety and Depression (Wiley, 2001) and Fred Penzel's Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: A Complete Guide to Getting Well and Staying Well (Oxford Univ., 2000). Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

...the author is still a force to be reckoned with in... field of psychotherapy and education for mental health. -- ForeWord Magazine

...the author is still a force to be reckoned with in... field of psychotherapy and education for mental health. -- ForeWord Magazine<br /><br />Ellis' ideas for fighting everyday frustration are often quite wonderful... There's lots of great information here... -- INFODAD.COM<br /><br />I find the book useful, insightful, and even fun, and do recommend it... -- Betty Street, MSSW, LCSW NASW Mississippi Chapter Newsletter<br /><br />The well-known, highly respected psychotherapist explains healthy thinking, healthy emotions, healthy behavior. Detailed examples for building lasting emotional well-being. -- NAPRA ReView<br /><br />This book is highly recommended. --Carolyn Johnson, M.S.W., ABIL Newsletter

Ellis' ideas for fighting everyday frustration are often quite wonderful... There's lots of great information here... -- INFODAD.COM

I find the book useful, insightful, and even fun, and do recommend it... -- Betty Street, MSSW, LCSW NASW Mississippi Chapter Newsletter

The well-known, highly respected psychotherapist explains healthy thinking, healthy emotions, healthy behavior. Detailed examples for building lasting emotional well-being. -- NAPRA ReView

This book is highly recommended. -- Carolyn Johnson, M.S.W., ABIL Newsletter

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Impact Publishers, Inc. (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886230358
• ISBN-13: 978-1886230354
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #80,854 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Principles of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, April 17, 2002

By	Andreas Fellner "afellner" (München) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this book, Ellis shows the interested reader how Rational Emotive Therapy works, what the underlying philosphy is, and - most importantly - what you can do to get yourself out of emotional difficulties.
He emphasizes not only the aspect of feeling better, which many clients can more or less easily do (e.g. by exercising, meditating or distracting oneself from difficult feelings and situations). It is much more important to actually get better and permanently stay better. Ellis shows how you can achieve the kind of deep restructruring of your basic philosphies of life. He specifically recommends the use of the following techniques:
- Logical Disputing, e.g.: does it really follow that I am a worm if I am acting wormily?
- Realistic Disputing: Where is the evicence for my absolutist belief?
- Pragmatic Disputing: making cost-benefit ratios of short and long term benefits of my behavior and thinking patterns

To effectively dispute your irrational beliefs, you better dispute them cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally.
What I as a psychologist especially liked about this new book, are Ellis' exemplary disputations of low frustration tolerance, self-downing and other downing. This can help clients considerably to apply the ideas to their real life problems.
A good book to use for bibliotherapy!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen to the Old Fox, July 30, 2002

By	Mike Finn (New York) - See all my reviews

In this book, Al Ellis tells you everything you need to achieve long-term freedom from emotional upset. He explains why certain modes of therapy are ineffective and counter-productive. Even if they do no harm, they do not deliver the help you need, as opposed to more efficacious modes of therapy, such as REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) and Cognitive Therapy. He distinguishes between merely palliative techniques, like Yoga and Meditation, which help you feel better, but do not lead to lasting improvement, and those which help you get better and stay better.

Ellis makes no bones about the fact that it is often difficult to achieve the changes you want to make - but that's no reason for not doing so!

Having tried other therapeutic methods, until I discovered Dr. Ellis at one of his legendary Friday night workshops, I can tell you that if you stick to the principles laid out in this book, you will be the better for it.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A recommended supplement to a professional care, January 12, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Feeling Better, Getting Better, Staying Better: Profound Self-Help Therapy For Your Emotions is a psychological self-help book with a wealth of advice on how to improve one's physical health by harnessing the power of one's emotional state. Chapters discuss such practical methods for improving one's attitude and therefore health such as thinking, philosophizing, emoting, and engaging in positive activities. A highly recommended addition to any personal self-help reading list, Feeling Better, Getting Better, Staying Better is not a substitute for seeing a therapist or counselor, but rather a recommended supplement to a professional care in order to help the reader respond more effectively to treatment.