This book was created to help therapists and therapists-in-training explore the myths and taboo topics that weaken their practice and cause anxiety, discomfort, and confusion. Some of these topics include feeling incompetent; making mistakes; getting caught off guard by fee entanglements; becoming enraged at patients; managing illness; understanding sexual arousal and impulses; praying with patients as part of therapy; feeling ashamed; being fired; and not knowing what to do. The book discusses the damaging myths that therapists seem to hold about themselves that sustain the taboo topics. By offering questions for self-assessment and a series of "explorations" that can be used to examine taboo topics individually or in groups, the book provides resources for recognizing the myths, challenging the taboos, and speaking honestly and directly with patients and others about topics that have been off-limits.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
What Therapists Don't Talk About and Why:
This book certainly raises lots of issues not covered in school and provides a logical and ethical methodology to thinking through, however the book falls short of suggested resolutions that the therapist may entertain. The book is well written and clearly laid out but I was left feeling many "endings" were left off. I am faced with decision trees that involve ethics daily in my practise but I would like to have some insight into what my colleagues decision trees look like. I can always raise the ethical... more info
Thought-provoking:
If you're in the mental health field or preparing for a career in it, this book raises a lot of excellent questions that you'll want to think through. I wish it provided more answers, but I understand that its purpose is to raise the issues so you can think through them for yourself.
Fabulous (and anxiety producing) topics for study groups!:
The variety of sensitive issues that psychotherapists must deal with are addressed in this stimulating book. In a respectful context, the authors challenge us to address a variety of topics that are almost never discussed in training, supervision, or consultation study groups among psychotherapists. This reading provides a wealth of topics and guidelines for thinking through issues such as, what to do during a psychotherapy session when we feel distracted, annoyed, drowsy or sexually aroused? What to do... more info
Thank you, Dr. Pope, for courageously writing about taboos in therapy!:
In graduate training, we are trained to follow ethical principles, but discussions are limited. Students and professors seem afraid to openly discuss the taboo topics, like therapist feelings of fear, anger, hatred, and sexual attraction. This book provides the context for open, respectful, and insightful discussions in graduate-level ethics courses. Thank you, Dr. Pope!
