Reviews (87)

Required reading
I believe this book ought to be required reading for anyone who's considering becoming a parent, considering being born to a parent or a pair of them, contemplating being a brother, sister aunt or uncle or maybe having a wife, husband or friend.

The book is about power, manipulation, boundaries, lies and evil as they exist within ourselves and the people around us. They don't require that we believe in them to exist, but if we're able to recognize them for what they are it helps. Recognizing it doesn't make it easy, but it makes it possible.

Peck's premises mightn't be entirely correct, as some suggest. But whether it's 'evil' or merely something not evil that could get a job being evil if there was such an occupation, Peck's approach works.

I recommend this book for anyone who knows, loves, cares about and lives with the agonies of the phenomenon Peck calls 'evil'.

A mixed bag of religion, science, and self-help
This book was controversial when it was published in 1983, and it is interesting to examine Dr. Peck's arguments and conclusions in light of the past twenty years. The book's major premise is that the phenomena of human evil should be studied as a branch of psychiatry, subject to the strict scrutiny and observance of science. Peck maintains that we have only a very dim view of how evil operates, and what forms it takes, because the scientific community has always refused to make the necessary value judgements to discern good from evil. We need to find a healthy middle ground between religious and psychiatric schools of thought. Peck supports his theories with many anecdotal stories from practicing psychiatry in government, military, and private settings.

These case studies are the best part of the book, even if you do not agree with Peck's conclusions. They present fascinating examples of the depths of evil in some "everyday people" and how these people manipulate others to avoid being exposed. Peck makes an interesting deduction that evil results from the twin forces of laziness and intense narcissism. As a liberal Christian, he describes (and encourages) using exorcisms to heal patients of demonic possession. Unfortunately, his political views obviously biased his perceptions of the military and the Vietnam War, which he discusses at length in a chapter on "group evil".

Overall, the book is a mixed bag of theology, science, and self-help. Personally, I do not believe narcissistic parents should be labeled as "evil," while mass-murdering psychotics are merely "sick". Nor do I accept Peck's opinions (which he presents as fact) about Satan, Hell, and the salvation of non-Christians. But the call for the scientific community to engage in a systematic study of evil has proved beneficial, since it has resulted in increased use of psychiatry in law enforcement and criminal rehabilitation.

Interesting but flawed
The author writes from a mainstream Christian perspective, which is certainly legitimate. He describes certain case studies where the patients suffered from extreme narcissism. I am not convinced that all the cases represent the narcissistic form of evil that Peck tries to define; some may instead be exhibiting psychopathy or types of schizophrenia. In one case, for example, the pathology exhibited itself as victimless if one exempts the patient herself from victim status.

Peck sets forth a case for a scientific study of evil and writes engagingly about mental illness and the naming of evil. He also investigates the phenomena of possession and exorcism. It becomes quite interesting when he looks at the fiction of J R R Tolkien and the work of Erich Fromm and Martin Buber and when he discusses the three major theological models of evil, i.e. the nondualism of certain Eastern faiths, the integrated dualism espoused by Buber and the traditional Christian one of diabolic dualism as he terms it.

Where the author goes wrong in a big way, is in his study of the My Lai atrocity or rather the conclusions he draws from it: his suggestion for a military draft (involuntary service) and his criticism of specialisation. Here he reveals some utopian notions that I find very questionable. A compulsory draft goes against the principles of individual freedom and besides, utopian schemes invariably turns out evil. The good doctor should know that by now. The coercion involved in society laying that sort of claim on the individual is a totalitarian concept that is by definition evil.

Another misconception that I noticed is that Dr Peck still thinks that psychotherapy is a universally good idea, notwithstanding all evidence to the contrary. In addition, he claims that most psychologists are kind, gentle people. That has not been the case in my personal experience or in the literature. It would not surprise me if narcissism were as prevalent amongst psychotherapists as it is in the general population.

In this way Dr Peck acts as an apologist for psychotherapy as he also did with his mega selling book The Road Less Travelled. No doubt this therapy has helped some people but it is not the panacea Dr Peck would like to make it. With all of the above provisos, I still recommend this book. People Of The Lie contains enough that is thought provoking and does provide some original insights while asking some provocative questions.

Ouch!
Having read "The Road less traveled" - I was sure I'd love to read "People of the lie" but only later I realised that in this book M.Scott Peck spoke his obscure thoughts that none but him can understand!
I felt really bad reading about his former patients and being so judgemental towards them without any strong good reasons. Especially with the patient named George!

M. Scott Peck warned us that this book is dangerous. Perhaps he meant stupid but he just couldn't say that for his own book.

Only a platform
I read this book, and right away could see the Dean for whom I had worked, he is truly an evil man. He is so wrapped up in himself, and will not listen to anything about other people. He treats others like they do not exist. I personally feel sorry for his wife. I remember one time the accreditors were there to accredit the U., he kept turning the conversation back to himself. I'm surprised the U. was accredited. It was a good day when that evil man retired.

However, I believe the author could have left out the pages concerning the Vietnam war. He is using this book as a platform to bad mouth the Vietnam War. His comments are not appropriate to the subject, He is implying the men who went to Vietnam and did what they did and didn't report it as evil, perhaps it was because they knew that Johnson was running the war, and if they said anything they'd be immediately Court Marshalled. LBJ did not take kindly to criticism.

The reason I gave this book one star is I believe the author is using it as a platform to voice his displeasure against the Vietnam War. ... Read more

Book Description

In this compelling book, the authors present an innovative therapeutic model for understanding and treating adults from emotionally abusive or neglectful families?families the authors call narcissistic.Narcissistic families have a parental system that is, for whatever reason (job stress, alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, physical disability, lack of parenting skills, self-centered immaturity), primarily involved in getting its own needs met.The children in such narcissistic family systems try to earn love, attention and approval by satisfying their parents' needs, thus never developing the ability to recognize their own needs or create strategies for getting them met.By outlining the theoretical framework of their model and using dozens of illustrative clinical examples, the authors clearly illuminate specific practice guidelines for treating these individuals.

Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman is a therapist, consultant, and trainer.She is known for her work with dysfunctional families, particularly with survivors of incest.Robert M. Pressman is the editor-in-chief and president of the Joint Commission for the Development of the Treatment and Statistical Manual for Behavioral and Mental Disorders.

... Read more

Reviews (17)

RISE ABOVE YOUR RAISING - THE FUNCTIONAL DYSFUNCTIONALS
I strongly recommend this book for anyone seeking to find help with mood disorders, any type of addiction, identity issues, self-esteem issues, reoccurring unresolved anger and troubling relationship issues.

Excellent compliments to this book are: Why Is It Always About You?: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism by Sandy Hotchkiss and James Masterson; Emotional Blackmail: When People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation and Guilt to Manipulate You by Susan Forward and Donna Frazier; The Angry Heart: Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders by Joseph Santoro and Ronald Cohen; Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson; Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man by Scott Wetzler; Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited by Sam Vaknin and Lidija Rangelovska (Editor); Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up's Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents by Nina Brown; Treating Attachment Disorders: From Theory to Therapy by Karl Heinz Brisch and Kenneth Kronenberg; Toxic Coworkers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job by Alan Cavaiola and Neil Lavender; Bully in Sight: How to Predict, Resist, Challenge and Combat Workplace Bullies by Tim Field.

And if you want to pursue the subject even further, you may be interested in reading The Narcissistic / Borderline Couple: A Psychoanalytic Perspective On Marital Treatment; Addicted to Unhappiness: Free yourself from the moods and behaviors that undermine relationships, work and the life you want by Martha Heineman Pieper and William Pieper; Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory and Marc Feldman; Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility by Jim Fay and Foster Cline.

The Best
I bought this book a few years ago and I've read other books since then about narcissism. This book is hands down the best book I've ever read to describe how narcissism affects a family. As the child of two narcissistic parents, this book helped me to understand things that hadn't made sense and accept some difficult truths. It is unique in that it deals with a narcissistic family system rather than focusing just on the narcissist. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

BUY THIS BOOK NOW AND READ IT IMMEDIATELY!
This is the best book I have read in my life concerning unhealthy child development. The authors clearly understand people like me -- even better than I understand myself!

This book has the answers you've been looking for. Why are some people hostile and distrusting? Why are some people angry all the time? Why do some people sabotage their own relationships?

The answers are all here. BUY THIS BOOK NOW! It will be the best money you have ever spent.

Wow...the answer I've searched years for...
I've read many books on the symptoms of depression (people-pleasing, anxiety attacks, passive-aggressive behavior, emotional unavailablity, anger, shame, etc.), but this book finally exposes the root of my depression. It's very difficult and painful to come to the realization that one's parents are not emotionally available to their children (especially after having had a "wonderful childhood"). But as the writers explain through several helpful examples, blame is completely unnecessary for one's own healing to take place. Until I read this book I can honestly say I was completely unable to see my family's dysfunction. The examples given were like manna from heaven on something I could never quite put my finger on, but knew in my heart wasn't quite right. The writers also do a superb job on managing future expectations for those of us who come from these families in the section titled "going back to the well." It is with great joy and a tremendous sense of relief at having many of the pieces put together for me after having found this book.

Such a great find!
The Narcissistic Family has been a book of great help and insight to me. Like other reviewers said, the authors are very kind and did not clog up their writing with psychobabble. Now, I finally have an idea of my own upbringing and family. I am from a covertly narcissistic family and many told me about how wonderful my family was when I was growing up. Those people did not know the inside story about what daily life could be life. I have often felt blamed by my family unfairly. Not that I belive I am perfect, but they always seemed to minimize the roles of others in problems/conflicts and maximize mine. If I ever put an emotional demand on them, they often put me down or gave out sterile advice in a rude, condescending way. There was a large lack of communication between my parents and I can remember several instances of verbal abuse between them. Something was not right, but I could not put my finger on it until I found this book
Two techniques that really helped are the "notebook" exercise and the "lavender sapphire." I also have really benefited from the Pressmans' assertiveness model: I feel....I want. Simple, direct and right to the point. This book has really helped me set limits in a positive way as well.
This book is a bit on the pricey side, but well worth it. I recommend it to all who have issues related to family upbringing and in particular to those from covertly narcissistic families so that they may finally be validated and understood.
Once again, such a great find! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

A practical explanation of the DSM-IV
This book provides a practical explanation of the "DSM-IV" that will appeal to anyone who wants a thorough, simplified description of this complex book. I'm only giving it four stars because I don't think it provides an explanation of the latest changes made in the "DSM-IV-TR". The book will nonetheless appeal to nearly anyone seeking to improve their grasp of psychiatry, not just psychiatrists in training. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

The DSM-IV Made Easy
I do not know how I would have gotten through my first experience having to use the DSM as a diagnostic tool for my graduate work in psychopathology without this book. I used it to work up all my case presentations, and they were always accurate. Thank you, James Morrison!

Makes the DSM-IV a bit more palatable (no small feat)
This book summarizes the major taxonomies of the DSM-IV, and includes scenarios illustrating most of the major categories and sub-pathologies. Unlike the standard texts which seems to have been developed by a group of obsessive compulsive personalities or, as a character in a recent play claims, "a coven," this one has some humanity to it, and it's even funny at times. If you're a student it may also reduce physical disorders such as aching backs, and dislocated shoulders which the original may cause if you have to lug it around your university. Did the original text creators ever consider this? It also has a nicer cover. It also may save you money since the DSM-V is no doubt lurking on the horizon, not having been revised for 8 years or so.

Invaluable resource!
This is a great resource for anyone who is interested in more illustrative examples of the various diagnoses than is provided by the DSM-IV. Morrison's use of interesting vignettes will keep your attention, and make differential diagnosis a lot more fun! After reading this book, any diagnostician will be much more informed as to how to recognize the various disorders and the nuances between the differentials.

An invaluable tool in tackling the complexity of DSM IV.
Morrison does an excellent job of breaking down the complex difficulties of diagnosis into a manageable, thorough and above all readable guide. Where DSM - IV is daunting and impersonal, DSM-IV Made Easy guides the reader with an evident understanding of the difficulties faced not only by the uninitiated but also the experienced. Well written vignettes help bring DSM's disorders to life and step by step diagnoses are invaluable tools in learning to apply DSM's vast criteria. This book is organized, detailed, accessible and all but essential in wading through the tricky waters of DSM IV. ... Read more

Book Description

Attachment is the deep and enduring connection established between a child and caregiver in the first few years of life. It profoundly influences every component of the human condition: mind, body, emotions, relationships, and values.

Attachment, Trauma, and Healing examines the causes of attachment disorder, and provides in-depth discussion on effective solutions--including attachment-focused assessment and diagnosis, specialized training and education for caregivers, the controversial "in arms" treatment for children and caregivers, and early intervention and prevention programs for high-risk families. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Reactive Attachment Disorder
This book is easy to understand and easily explains the basics in symptoms, attachment theory and practice. Solid information for all levels of interst.

RAD and treatment explained
This book is a must have for anyone dealing with RAD. The book is easy to read for parents, adults and therapists alike. It's comprehensive explanations of symptoms, treatment and necessary parenting style are a must read. It is eyeopening and gives one hope that there is help and understanding for families dealing with RAD. Evergreen here we come...

Easy to read and understand the tenets and treatment of RAD
This book is well organised and a very easy read. Moreover, it contains assessment tools and resources to actually help these children. It is helpful to have an overview of this controversial therapy before the family and child takes part.

This book will save you time, money, and headaches!
I learned more from this book about Attachment disorder than from all the therapists my adopted children have seen combined! This book is a must for parents who have adopted children, foster children, or for those even thinking about it! It is a wealth of information on understanding what happens when the parent-child bond is interupted or not fostered, and the many ill effects of this, from ADD to oppositional defiance disorder. I finally understand why my children are the way they are and why conventional therapies have not and will not work!

A must read for parents, foster parents and professionals
Reactive Attachment Disorder, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment are explained clearly for both laymen and professionals. Adoptive parents, foster parents, and mental health professionals will all find this an essentiall resource for information if they have any contact at all with children suffering from RAD. PARENTS of kids with RAD - Buy this for your child's therapist and/or caseworker and it will help them understand you, your family and the problems you are facing much better!!!!!!!!! It could also save you thousands of dollars in therapy because you will stop working with people who think they understand but don't. It will help lead you to effective treatment. Lastly, if you are being charged falsely with abuse due to the actions of your child with RAD this will help you get the legal information you need to fight the charges. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This book is $41.75 at Barnes and Noble
I thought Amazon had the best deals on books.

Valuble for Life
Maslow pours his wisdom into our minds explaining the core needs of human beings. This is a great book to learn about yourself and the motivations of others.

Motivation and Personality
I was assigned to read this book for my AP Psychology class, at first it was really boring to me, I'll be honest. But after a while it started to grow on me, and I began enjoying learning the teachings of Maslow. I agree with Maslow's pyramid of needs, and after reading this book I have began to notice when people's needs arent being met, and how aggitated they will get when trying to achieve the needs that they want. This book will open up a lot of people's eyes and allow people to see things in a different light, if they are willing to get through the very detailed sections of Maslow's ideas. Overall, the book was enjoyable, a little slow because it is basically a giant thesis paper, but still enjoyable and much will be learned from this book.

What a book!
The book's title and author intrigued me in the first place. I'd heard about Maslow's hierarchy of needs in college. Usually, about half a page or so was dedicated to it in general college psychology textbooks. What a disservice! Dipping one's big toe in the swimming pool is not the same as plunging into it. This book deserves to be plunged into, marked up, highlighted, commented on, thought about, and discussed. It is brilliant, original, fascinating, and readable. I'm not sure how to say it because there is so much, but I would say that what makes it especially unique is its study of psychologically healthy people (Maslow calls them self-actualizing people). This book will turn your brain on. I am not a technically/medically trained person. It took time to read trough Motivation and Personality, mostly because I wanted to stop and think about what it was saying. It's not a rush through kind of book. This book, as well as Dr. Peck's "People of Lie," exposed a whole new layer of the world I live in. I believe it fine tunes perceptions and make one so much more aware and alive.

A Great Psychology Text
This is one of the best books written in Psychology and is often overlooked my many people in the field. It was last revised in 1970 and it is still a classic in the field. If you want to see "future" projections of what is it is to be human, read this book. The man was a genius. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wonderful Guide
Trying to study for recertification in geriatric psychiatry, I got this book. It contains the best teaching on the subject I've ever experienced. Wish I'd had it when I was starting out.

REVIEW NEUROLOGY FOR THE PSYCHIATRY BOARD PT 1`
If you read this book cover-to-cover (do-able) and answer the sample questions, you will know the answers to 90%++ neurology questions on Part 1 of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Exam!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing...I love It
I am a psychiatry resident and this book was recommended to me by my program director, (a neuropsychiatrist). Buying this book was one of the best decisions I made. Its great. Extremely readable, with good pictures. Clear, concise with great questions at the end of the chapters and at the end of the book. I highly recommend this for anyone training in psych who needs to review their neurology.

Even Psychiatrists Can Learn Neurology
Simple, easy to follow presentation of difficult material. Lots and lots of review questions to solidify retention of material. Still THE classic for psychiatrists studying and reviewing neurology. Highly recommended!

Psychiatry Board
I HIGHLY recommend this book. It will solidify and clarify your knowledge of Neurology. If your are about to take your Board in Psychiatry you should buy this book. I also recommend this book to residents in neurology or psychiatry. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It's like taking a Structural Family Therapy course!
I purchased this book for a graduate course in Couples and Family Systems. If anyone wants to learn a great deal about structural family therapy, I highly recommend this book. It is extremely informative and very readable. It's amazingly enlightening- Minuchin discusses how problems that are regarded as genetic or biological are really manifestations of dysfunctional families,e.g. anorexic women are a product of couples who withhold their feelings.

Structural Family Therapy Explained
Sal Minuchin is known as the primary theoretician behind Structural Family Therapy. Structural Therapy is especially helpful with families that have inappropriate boundaries or that have dysfunctional marital dyads. This book explains the concepts behind the theory and helps the clinician understand how to put the therapy into practice. The book is well written and easy to read.

Even if a therapist is primarily working with another counseling theory, this is an important book to have read and to have as part of the therapeutic repetoire. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

helpful to anyone trying to diagnose mental illness
This is a highly practical reminder book for conducting mental illness diagnosis interviews. It is well-written and well-organized. Probably will be most useful for medical students and psychiatry residents, but may also help young and possibly even experienced psychiatrists. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

A handy-dandy little notebook.
This interview guide is the perfect companion to the novice practitioner. Zimmerman has condensed the interview sequence of the major disorders so that you can logically follow, and intentionally interview a client.

This book is a little pricey for its size, but the content is A-1.

A quick handy guide
I felt that this little pocket guide was really easy to read and helpful, especially when I needed to specify questions for certain interviewing sessions with clients. I would recommend it to anyone who needs a little extra help with difficult clients. Great for Students! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Psychoanalytic Classic
This is one of those rare books which (at least in its crucial first third) can be read with equal enlightenment by beginners or experienced clinicians - or interested laypeople. It is really the best modern primer of psychoanalysis. It mainly is based on Malan's version of modern conflict theory but it also gives great clinical explanations of the classic clinical presentation of the oedipus complex and earlier conflicts. Malan also presents Klein's work in a way that is readily comprehensible. This work is brilliant, accessible and a modern classic. It is the best single book to recommend to a beginning therapist. Teachers can also use it to organize their own courses.

The triangle of Conflict and the triangle of Person
Malan offers the reader a window into the unconscious. He is both practical (as an analyst with an eclectic range of paradigms) and as an author who offers powerful stories that help the reader to make sense of the complexity of his psychotherapeutic practice. The stories offer insights into the worlds of his (often temporarily unhealthy) patients, but for me, the useful theorising emerges from his symbolism - the development of the two triangles. The Triangle of Conflict, with its three vertices representing Defence, Anxiety and Hidden Feelings: and the Triangle of Person, where the vertices represent Other 'O'(recent past), Transference, 'T' (here-and-now) and Parent 'P' (distant past). With this framework, Malan puts his patients (and fortunately for us - his readers) in touch with appropriate questions to ask of their unconscious.

A must-have for psychodynamic psychotherapists
Dr. Malan's work is an excellent description of how to approach a client from a psychodynamic perspective. Building from some basic dynamic patterns (Oedipal etc) Malan shows how common presenting issues are driven by unconscious processes.

Malan relies on a model which incorporates the triangles of person and conflict (reminicent of Menninger's work in the 50's). This model provides a visual and well as conceptual tool for understanding the moment-by-moment events in the psychotherapy session. I have found this model to be most useful and have also published accounts of psychotherapy using this text as the key resource.

Throughout the text, Malan uses case examples to illustrate theory. While some readers might find the book heavy going at times, the determined reader will be rewarded with a wealth of clinical wisdom. ... Read more

Book Description

The collection of ten absorbing tales by master psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom uncovers the mysteries, frustrations, pathos, and humor at the heart of the therapeutic encounter.  In recounting his patients' dilemmas, Yalom not only gives us a rare and enthralling glimpse into their personal desires and motivations but also tells us his own story as he struggles to reconcile his all-too human responses with his sensibility as a psychiatrist.  Not since Freud has an author done so much to clarify what goes on between a psychotherapist and a patient.

Reviews (27)

For the Therapist, Patient, or Humanist
This book should be required reading for anybody either undergoing psychotherapy or providing it. Irvin Yalom uses his experience with ten clients to illustrate how people change in therapy. Sometimes the change comes out of brilliant insights, sometimes it comes from the therapist's mistakes. Either way, Yalom's integrity in relating these vignettes helps the reader understand the process better.

If you're not in therapy, perhaps this book will help you understand yourself and your internal processes a bit better. Which of Yalom's patients do you identify with? Which to you totally reject? Either of those patients, and Yalom's treatment of them, has something to teach you.

If you are in therapy, notice how Yalom treats his patients, how he thinks about them. How does this compare to your relationship with your therapist? Do you experience the same challenges, the same caring, the same dynamic? Or do you just show up and whine for an hour?

As a therapist, I found Yalom's work particularly brave. Who would write a book about their mistakes? Yet, from his mistakes, I find myself learning--and also better enabled to learn from my mistakes. Reading Love's Executioner helped to keep me from sitting on that God-like Throne and remember to be a human being with my clients; a fellow sufferer, an ally in the healing process.

And if the idea of therapy seems not to apply to you, then you may simply find this book a fascinating story about how a thoughtful and insightful man deals with the sorrows, wounds, and needs of other human beings. These stories impart a powerful understanding of human relationships, whether you're involved in therapy or not.

Five stars for candor and courage. Five stars for a sharp writing style that holds attention better than most "case studies," and five stars for choosing stories that speak to the depths of people's hearts.

(If you'd like to discuss this book or review, click on the link above to drop me an email. Thanks!)

Love's Executioner
This book was written by a man of great courage. He has openly and honestly exposed all of his personal and professional weaknesses. As a therapist myself, it was refreshing to read an honest representation of what actually occurs in therapy rather than a self-serving and white-washed version of what happened. The strength of this book is in Yalom's ability to express the intricacies of the therapeutic process, the stages that each therapeutic relationship can go through, and its impact on both therapist and client. Another strength, is Yalom's willingness to openly expose his own therapeutic failures. I have learnt a great deal from him about what actually works in therapy. I have also re-learnt the value of not inflicting one's own biases on one's own clients. This problem can be solved by either resolving one's own issues, or referring the client to someone else who may better suit the client's needs. Yalom openly confronted what occurs when a therapist persists with a client, when they are unable to create an effective therapeutic relationship. No-one is perfect, not even the great Yalom. In exposing his own weaknesses, Yalom risks being misunderstood or even ridiculed. However, by taking this risk, Yalom offers the reader the opportunity to thoroughly examine the therapeutic process itself, what works and what fails for therapists and clients alike. It was a great read, I couldn't put it down!

please? what is wrong with you people?
If any of you reader-critic people think you're encountering a therapist or Doctor or friend who sees you without judgement--then you're simply fooling yourselves. Anyone who pretends they've got no judgement of you is selling you something. Even the holiest of humans judge--I'm sure of it. Get over yourselves--we are limited, we are not perfect. Yalom speaks the truth about his countertransference and that is a gift to all who are involved in the therapeutic enterprise. It is when we deny the shadow that we are in real trouble. Fat may not disgust everyone it is true--but this is Yalom's experience, and this is what he gives us unabashedly. Can you not find it within yourselves to allow him his feelings? Unconditional positive regard can only happen with full acknowledgement of all projections good and bad.

A word about some of the negative reviews...
It seems that there's more than a bit of transferance occuring with some of the reviewers here. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinions but some of the reviewers here seem to have either missed the point of Dr. Yalom's stories or are simply incapable of seeing past their entrenched prejudices and preconceptions.

Some readers are apparently unable to come to grips with one of the central theses of Yalom's book, which is that the therapist is just as human and prone to error and prejudice as his patients. If anything, Yalom is almost embarrassingly honest about his often extremely negative reactions to many of his patients. He doesn't candy-coat any of it. In this book we get Irvin Yalom, M.D., warts and all, just as he promises in his introduction.

The critics who cannot accept a "human" doctor are symptomatic of the greater societal damand that medical professionals should be (no, MUST be) above all emotion save those of the most magnanimous and saintly variety. We expect doctors to be godlike, above pettiness and messy "unseemly" thoughts and feelings. Bah. Hogwash.

Dr. Yalom's triumph here is the explosion of such myths. He is not St. Yalom, ministering from his pedestal of medical and moral perfection. He is Irvin Yalom the Man, as prone to judgment as any of us. His unflinching self-criticism and honesty -- with his patients, himself, and his readers -- is what makes this such a remarkable book and Yalom such a remarkable therapist.

If you're the sort who feels a psychic need to see doctors as superhuman this book will prove very disturbing to you. Those realistic enough to know this is ridiculous fantasy will be enlightening, entertained, and touched.

physician, heal thyself, & look in the mirror too!
i've read dr. yalom's book twice now. i couldn't agree more with the other reviewers who are taken aback by his disgust for his patients. different reviewers admired his "bravery," but i, as a humanist and also someone in the medical profession, think he uses his book almost as anintellectually masturbatory confessional.

i have always been fat and though it is "nice" to know the truth of the contempt that many people hold for fat people, it is difficult to read this coming from a psychotherapist who uses his overweight patient only, it seems, to massage his psyche. i expect more. i expect compassion, empathy, MATURITY, and the ability to accept and even enjoy people's differences. yalom missed the boat here. i wouldn't pay him a dime for analysis. there are so many better, more mature, less projecting, less narcissistic therapists out there. nu, you've been warned! :-) ... Read more

Book Description

Help your adolescent clients develop the skills they need to work through problems.

As a mental health professional involved in treating adolescents, you work to help your clients learn to understand and clearly communicate their feelings, identify how and when problems arise, and develop effective coping strategies. Pencil-and-paper exercises provide one highly effective tool for achieving those goals.

The Brief Adolescent Therapy Homework Planner arms you with dozens of ready-to-use assignments designed to fit virtually every therapeutic mode. Focusing on adolescents from ages 12 to 18, this easy-to-use sourcebook features:

• Over 50 copier-ready exercises covering the most common issues in adolescent therapeutic treatment.
• Quick-reference format—the interactive assignments are grouped by behavioral problem, such as anxiety, eating disorder, and suicidal ideation.
• Expert guidance on how and when to make the most efficient use of the exercises.
• Assignments are cross-referenced to The Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Treatment Planner—so you can quickly identify the right exercise for a given situation or behavioral problem.
• A computer disk that contains all the exercises in a word-processing format—allowing you to customize them to suit you and your clients' unique styles and needs. The Brief Adolescent Therapy Homework Planner is an indispensable, time-saving tool of the trade for all mental health professionals who work with adolescents.

  Contains 54 ready-to-copy homework assignments that can be used to facilitate brief adolescent therapy.

• Homework assignments and exercises are keyed to the behaviorally based presenting problems from The Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Treatment Planner.
• Assignments may be quickly customized using the enclosed disk Over 100,000 Practice Planners^TM sold. ... Read more

  Reviews (3)

  Correction of "a reader from Orlando"
  The review by Orlando presents faulty information. The Brief Adolescent Therapy Homework Planner does indeed contain homework assignments on topics focused for teenagers. Contrary to what was written by Orlando, the book contains assignments on such topics as Conduct Disorder, Chemical Dependence, Eating Disorder, Peer/Sibling Conflict, Runaway, Sexual Abuse Perpetrator, Sexual Abuse Victim, and Mania/Hypomania as well as common problems such as Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Low Self-Esteem and Oppositional Defiant. The book does NOT contain exercises for Enuresis/Encopresis. I expect that Orlando was looking at the Brief Child Therapy Homework Planner when the review was written.

  Good activites to personalize for clients
  I am pleased that a disk with the activities comes with the book. I often need to personalize the activities and my clients seem to appreciate it as well. This book was especially helpful since my agency uses the Therascibe software, which encourages the use of this book for homework.

  A disappointing contribution to an otherwise strong series
  I purchased this item because of other books in the Practice Planners series. I have a number of the homework planners, which I use frequently. The software included allows the clinician to revise and customize the forms. I bought this item because more than 50% of my practice is with adolescents; I was very disappointed. First, the exercises are more appropriate for pre-teens (ages 10 through 13) than for teenagers. Some exercises could be used for even younger ages. For example, there is a section on enuresis and encopresis; I do not know many teenagers with bowel control problems (pre-teens, maybe). Another example is in the section on depression. In an exercise called "Surface Behavior/Inner Feelings," there is a narrative about a boy and his teacher. The boy is described as a sixth grader. That would make him 11 or 12 most likely. The story was good, and I used it - but I had to change the age, grade, and a few other details to make it applicable to my 16 year old client. That is not to say that none of the exercises are appropriate for teens (ex: the No Self Harm contract), but certainly the majority are geared toward younger ages. Even they way they are written suggests a young audience, not a teenage one. In addition, there are no exercises regarding drug use, peer pressure, ethical decision making, or sexuality (except gender identity disorder).

  Another issue is the software. The "text" file contained many items not included in the book, and vice versa. This was confusing.

  I think the authors should either revise the book to be more contemporary with adolescent populations, and/or publish a similar "planner" for the pre-teenager. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

dusty, but still therapeutic!
just one personal comment: merely reading the definitions of "split life-goals" and "dark night of the soul" by Wilber saved me several months (years?) of struggling - the book provides a novel structure of psychopathology and if you have a structure you have something to hold onto. very therapeutic book for (post)existential-level strugglers!
***
i really like the brief and concrete style of the older books by Wilber (Atman Project is my favourite!), although, according to Wilber himself, they contain slightly outdated ideas. don't start with it, but don't forget it!

Finally!!!
Where have the thoughts in this book been for so long??? Transformations of Consciousness thinks critically about issue's in psychology and spirituality that are so important and would seem so obvious, I wonder how they've managed to escape us all so completely. Primarily, this text brings attention and profoundly questions the motives of the psychological as well as contemplative schools in such a fundamental way as to expose unaddressed pervasive issues that ignorence of which can constitute avoidable casualties to mental and spiritual health. Emphasis is placed on recognition of developmental/phase specific aspects of what constitute appropriate therapeutic and spiritual practices. Specifically,when is meditation harmful as opposed to benificial. What are any of the obstacles in selectively transplanting eastern contemplative practices into the western cultural context? What can both eastern and western traditions contribute to and learn from each other? Wilber, Engler and Brown both impressed and stimulated me with the extraordinary depth and far reaching implications of their considerations. Now, I know why my experience in an eastern influenced spiritual community was bound to end in disillusionment and what has unconsciously motivated so much of my frustrating seeking! What better gift could you ask for?? If therapy has been repeatedly ineffectual, costly and disappointing, or if despite your interest in spirituality you've felt something was missing that you have had difficulty articulating; This book will articulate it. What a glorious Gift!! This book is my BIBLE now! ... Read more

Book Description

Covering both basic science and clinical practice, this new edition of the definitive psychopharmacology text has been thoroughly updated and expanded to keep you current with the explosive growth in this burgeoning field. The book contains 62 chapters overall with 24 new chapters and 30 new authors. In four major sections, the Textbook covers:

• Principles of Psychopharmacology—provides the necessary background in neurobiology and pharmacology
• Classes of Psychiatric Treatment: Animal and Human Pharmacology—presents information by classes of drugs, greatly expanding on the second edition by focusing whole chapters on single drugs in the antidepressant, antipsychotic and bipolar categories
• Clinical Psychobiology and Psychiatric Syndromes—reviews the data on the biological underpinnings of specific disorders for a better understanding of current psychopharmacological approaches
• Psychopharmacological Treatment—provides specific information about drug selection and their prescription

Reviews (1)

Textbook of psychopharmacology - must have
For graduate students, medical students, residents or professors - anyone interested in psychopharmacology should have this book! The reference section alone is worth it's weight in gold. There is simply no comparable text that is as comprehensive and readable. The reviews of both the basic science as well as the clinical literature is a remarkable feature, and is extremely well integrated. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

informative and actually somewhat fun
I found this book to provide excellent supplemental info to the "DSM-IV-TR" itself. Written case studies, though no substitute for living, breathing subjects, actually provide a good deal of help in learning to apply the diagnoses in the "DSM-IV-TR". Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn how to properly apply these diagnoses or learn more about psychiatry in general. I found it actually kind of fun. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

I'm OK, you're OK, this book is great!
Well, never thought I would recommend a book like this one, but there has never BEEN a book quite like it. Recall once seeing a renowned Rorschacer examine vignettes like this manual does, and it was great. We enjoyed it, and learned from it.

My recent books read include "Exploration & Empire" by Goetzmann, a history of topography, so you know I enoy plain stuff.

Many of the sympton analyses in this book surprised me, but after careful thought, realized they were beneficial.

Was especially interested in "borderline" type stuff and the OCD sections which showed how OCD can be on both axis I and II.

This book taught me once again that while we all have personality "traits" only the mentally have a DSM number assigned to our excesses.

Was especially inspired by parts about "organic" dysfunctions, so you know it was inspirational. Have a friend with OPD (310.10 explosice type) and became more sensitive to the difficulty adjusting when you are not maladaptive to begin with.

Love to complain, but can't find anything to fault this book. Buy it, read it and if you don't have a place for it in your library, pass it on.

The DSM IV-TR in Action!
The Case Book was an optional selection for a psychopathology course I am currently enrolled in. I am glad I spent the money to get it because to a novice like myself, the vignettes are very helpful in understanding the arcane world of DSM IV-TR diagnosis.

This book is truly a "learning companion." Concepts and terminology are illustrated by real-life clinical situations, which can be enormously helpful for clinician and student alike to see how the DSM IV-TR plays out in the real world.

The New England Journal of Medicine said that this book is "educational and fun to read," and I would have to agree on both counts. ... Read more

Book Description

While people have known for centuries that facial expressions can reveal what people are thinking and feeling, it is only recently that the face has been studied scientifically for what it can tell us about internal states, social behavior, and psychopathology.Today, due to the availability of sophisticated measuring systems, a wealth of new research on facial behavior has contributed enormously to our understanding of human psychology. The chapters in this volume represent the state-of-the-art in this critical field.They address such key issues as the dynamic and morphological differences between voluntary and involuntary expressions, the relationship between what people show on their facesand what they say they feel, and whether it is possible to use facial behavior to distinguish among psychiatric populations. The book also includes updated commentary by the authors on those works which may have appeared previously in the journal literature.As an essential reference for all those working in the field of facial analysis and expression, this volume will be indispensable for a wide range of professionals and students in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral medicine. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Emotion, Personality, Theraputic Outcomes, and More
I am a contributor to this book and know many of the other authors therein, but receive no
compensation from its sale. Having declared this possible conflict of interest, I can recommend
purchase of this book if you are interested in learning what can be discovered from the face
through measurement of facial muscular action in scientific research. Its approximately 500
pages contains 22 scientific articles, mostly published previously in journals, that report
research studies conducted in the late 1970s to the early 1990s, most towards this later date.
These articles cover a diverse range of topics, methods, and principles having to do with the
relationship between facial expression and emotion; clinical diagnosis, treatment, and outcome;
and other related issues. The editors's selection process, based on the use in the study of the
Facial Action Coding System (FACS, a method for measuring facial behavior), has included
competent research with above average interest, thoughtful reflection, theoretical and practical
relevance, and plain good sense that generally exceeds what you might find, for example, in your
typical social psychology journal. The authors of the articles work in many places around the
world and represent most of the people in the vanguard of the FACS movement and the new
approaches to studying behavior and emotion. This book is particularly helpful if you are new to
the study of facial behavior or have not been diligent in collecting the important articles using
facial measurement, which are published many different journals. The book provides an efficient
vehicle to catch up on the significant issues, findings, trends, and controversies in the areas
covered, including the quality and usefulness of the information provided by the face, the
relationship of facial expression to emotion, whether emotion is a coherent response system,
differences between genuine and false smiles, expression in pathological states, affect in the
psychotheraputic process, etc. The included works provide a solid foundation for understanding
how facial measurement contributes to investigating behavioral science problems. Even in the
unlikely event that you have previously read all the published works reprinted here, this volume
has value because each chapter has at least one afterward that expands on the original work in
revealing and useful ways that bring you up to date on the topic, and there is one thought
provoking article by Ekman et al. on the relation between facial behavior and psychiatric
outcomes that you will not find elsewhere. Also, the editors include their own new chapters
introducing, and finally, summarizing and integrating the works included. A table of contents,
forward by M. Brewster Smith, original source references, author list, and a lengthy subject
index are included. Take a look at the table of contents provided on this site to see more
details. The overall statement of this book is that the face contains important data about
concepts that are vital to diverse behavioral science issues. You will find that the perspective
of this book is different from several other books on facial expression currently in print. If
you are contemplating research on emotion, facial behavior, non-verbal behavior, and related
topics, this book is a helpful guide containing useful background; if you are currently planning
research in these fields, it is indispensible reading. ... Read more

Book Description

A convenient, up-to-date, time-saving reference for the diagnosis, psychopharmacologic treatment, and psychotherapeutic management of the full range of psychiatric disorders. Includes a highly useful separate section devoted to psychiatric disorders occurring in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Extensive Index and detailed Table of Contents afford easy access to material. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the best and most usable psychiatry texts
I agree with the other favorable reviews. The Lange series in general is amazing--affordable and complete at the same time. I was impressed with the detailed discussion of alternate theories of personality development, the possible etiologies of the mental illnesses, and the theories of drug action. Many psychiatric texts, including the very pricy "standards," tend to be written in a dogmatic, cookbook style. In contrast, the Lange book does not try to shield the reader from the ambiguity and uncertainty that face anyone treating the mental disorders.

I noticed a few important errors, though. One of the drug side effect charts contains the absurd assertion that tranylcypromine is highly sedating (in fact, it is so activating that a few patients have used it to get a meth-like "high") whereas trazadone (used more as a sleep aid than as an antidepressant) is "low" in sedation. Obviously, one should not rely on this book exclusively for prescribing infomation.

In combination with a more carefully edited psychopharmacology reference, *Current Diagnosis...* should be very useful to both serious medical students and new psychiatric residents.

Also recommended: For pre-1994 medications, the late Dr. Bernstein's *Drug Therapy in Psychiatry* remains the best monograph on the subject.

CAPTIVATING AND WELL-ARRANGED
From infancy to adolescence, it is hard to find any medium-sized book that described developmental psychiatry (and psychology) the way this 640-paged "Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Psychiatry" did.
Generous information were given to both psycho-etiology (including psychiatric genetics) and psycho-pharmacology. Anxiety, eating and sleeping disorders, as well as impulse-control problems were explained in details.
The topics contained in this book are so captivating and well-arranged that you will never want to stop once you've started. The book is a masterpiece!

Up-to-date , usefull , easy to read and cheap!!!
I'm a medical doctor in my country (Brazil)and I am a general practitioner with a large experience in treating people with psychiatric problems.When I was a medical student my coleagues of university indicated the current books series.At that time this books was very cheap and after read my first book , current medical diagnosis and treatment , I begin to acquire other books of current series.
The hallmark of this series is to be cheap,concise and easy to read ( a very important feature for people of other countries where english is not the official language ).
This book has two parts. The first part is about theory of psychiatry with chapters about psycology , neurosciences , etc.
The second part is a well-writed and pratical text explaining all-over diseases covered in DSM-IV.
Each disease explanation begins with the corresponding DSM-IV criteria of diagnosis and includes diferential diagnosis,treatment and outcomes in a step-by-step mode which every medical professional can understand.
This book is a cost-effective investment.
I recomend too the other books of current series. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise For WHEN THE BODY SAYS NO

"Once thought to be in the domain of genes, our health and behavior have recently been revealed to be controlled by our perception of the environment and our beliefs. Gabor Maté, M.D., skillfully blends recent advances in biomedicine with the personal insights of his patients to provide empowering insight into how deeply developmental experiences shape our health, behavior, attitudes, and relationships.A must-read for health professionals and lay readers seeking awareness of how the mind controls health."
–– Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., cellular biologist

"The interviewees’ stories are often touching and haunting. . . . Maté carefully explains the biological mechanisms that are activated when stress and trauma exert a powerful influence on the body, and he backs up his claims with compelling evidence from the field. . . . Both the lay and specialist reader will be grateful for the final chapter, ‘The Seven A’s of Healing,’ in which Maté presents an open formula for healing and the prevention of illness from hidden stress."
–– Quill & Quire

"Medical science searches high and low for the causes of cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a host of other conditions. Yet it often ignores one of the most pervasive factors leading to illness: the hidden stresses embedded in our daily lives.In this important book, Dr. Gabor Maté combines a passionate examination of his patients’ life histories with lucid explanations of the science behind mind-body unity. He makes a compelling argument for the importance of understanding stress both in the causation of disease and in the restoration of health."
–– Richard Earle, Ph.D.
Director of the Canadian Institute of Stress/ Hans Selye Foundation

Praise For SCATTERED

"One of the most comprehensive and accessible books about Attention Deficit Disorder."
–– Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Utterly sensible and deeply moving."
–– The Vancouver Sun ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Bravo! An aspect of healing that is grossly overlooked.
When the body says no is one of the most enlightening books I have read on the subject of living with cronic illness.
After re-reading this book a few times, I find myself looking at my own life very differently in a very positive and hopeful way.
Gabore makes some otherwise very complicated issues very readable for everyone.
If anyone suffers from any type of cronic illness or pain, this is definitely a must read.
Thank You Gabore. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Arguing them out of it.
Many depressed people have a negative self-image and are always expecting something bad to happen. Beck's theory is that this is the cause, rather than a result, of depression. The depressed make "depressogenic assumptions" and have to be shown that these are false. It sounds as if zealous Beckian therapists must spend a lot of time arguing with their patients.
"Cognitive Therapy of Depression" is an excellent book, obviouly written by a wise and experienced clinician. It reads as if directed at other professionals, and is full of sound advice to them.
Like other neo-Freudians (and I would classify him as a neo-Freudian) Beck recommends ignoring the patient's childhood memories. I suspect this is an effort to distinguish them from the orthodox Freudians. Sometimes it makes sense but in cases it is like "apart from that Mrs. Lincoln how did you enjoy the play?" (For example childhood bereavement is well-documented as associated with depression).
I thought Chapter 10 "Specific Techniques for Dealing with the Suicidal Patient" could have been improved or else the reader referred to a general psychiatry text. The authors seem undecided as to whether they are writing a comprehensive review of how to handle the suicidal or merely giving advice about the content of therapy sessions. Suicidal risk factors are covered in an incomplete way. Suicide hotlines are not mentioned.
Chapter 14 on "Technical Problems" could be read with profit by anyone who works with the depressed.
Chapter 17 "Cognitive Therapy and Anti-depressant Medications contains a wonderfully succinct and clear summary of the taxonomy and natural history of depression. (My copy want printed in 1979 but I did not think the information was outdated). It contains a frank and full list of the kind of patient who does NOT respond to cognitive therapy, which is basically the kind of patient psychotherapists avoid. (Although in non-academic real life we do have to spend time, often a lot of time, talking to such patients and have to know how to do it)
Beck and his co-authors (all male judging by their first names) write in a pleasant, readable and old-fashioned style, with frequent references to "our clinic" and an assumption that the therapist is male. Most of the advice is completely in accordance with psychodynamic technique and common sense. The warm (but not too warm) and empathetic (but not too empathetic) therapist is to let the patient talk and to be nice to to her. The talking will uncover previously unsuspected conflicts, at which point the patient may show strong emotion, which is to be encouraged because it produces "catharsis" (sic). Freudian mechanisms of defense are assumed.One case described is a woman suffering from fatigue and lack of energy, which were finally found to be due to her struggle to avoid unpleasantness in her relationship with her husband. All was well when she learned to accept his imperfections. One detects a flavor of old Vienna.
The biggest selling point of Beckian therapy has been its use of controlled trials to demonstrate its superiority to other brands