Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy (Penguin Psychology)

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  I'm impressed with the guys honesty in recording his thoughts about his clients I have to say. He does seem to focus on the fanciableness or otherwise of his female clients which is something of a distraction for me as I don't tend to go down that road in thinking about my clients. Not that some of em aren't quite fanciable, just that that isn't the subject of my focus and doesn't enter my head whilst we're actually talking, either in group or private counselling sessions. Am a simple soul... (show more)

  I'm impressed with the guys honesty in recording his thoughts about his clients I have to say. He does seem to focus on the fanciableness or otherwise of his female clients which is something of a distraction for me as I don't tend to go down that road in thinking about my clients. Not that some of em aren't quite fanciable, just that that isn't the subject of my focus and doesn't enter my head whilst we're actually talking, either in group or private counselling sessions. Am a simple soul who can only think one thought at a time and I guess I just focus on what seems to me to be more important.

  As others have said, though, there is stuff within these covers which can be used to improve my practice, which is hardly surprising as I'm very much finding my feet in the complex field of addiction. Could, consequently, see parallels between the subject of the first tale and my clients. Have read a few of his now and whilst I don't think I'd want to spend time with this guy he does have something to offer in terms of experience. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Jun 05, 2009 at 01:51PM

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  I came away from this book thinking yes he is a bit of an arrogant git, and it's not the most riveting book *however* I think he probably is pretty good at what he does, and the bottom line for me is 'is it useful?'
  About two days after reading the story towards the end about the woman he thought wasn't very nice, I was talking to a young woman I was working with and when I hit a bit where I just didn't know what to do I remembered some of that case and realised it offered some insight, and... (show more)

  I came away from this book thinking yes he is a bit of an arrogant git, and it's not the most riveting book *however* I think he probably is pretty good at what he does, and the bottom line for me is 'is it useful?'
  About two days after reading the story towards the end about the woman he thought wasn't very nice, I was talking to a young woman I was working with and when I hit a bit where I just didn't know what to do I remembered some of that case and realised it offered some insight, and then plagarised like hell, with really positive results.

  Although you do occasionally want to bash him for some of what he says about his clients, he is quite honest about his attitudes in places that I don't think therapists (particularly psychiatrists, and particularly particularly middle aged white male american psychiatrists) generally are. Also, like many nebulous and hard to pin down things, therapy is one thing you can usefully learn a lot about through modelling, and his book gives you the chance to do that.
  I'd recommend it as reading for anyone who works with messed up people with a brief to unscramble them, just because there are bits in it that might be useful.

  If it's any help, I did want to read other things by him after I'd finished it. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Oct 26, 2007 at 01:13AM

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