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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on November 18, 2008, at 13:02:54
I'm gaining an appreciation of my therapist's style, even the parts that irritate me, as I read this book. Not that I think my therapist has read the book, or that he has given anywhere near as much thought about his style as I have. But he seems to have a natural knack for the type of therapy Cozolino describes.
(((Dinah's Therapist)))
Posted by JoniS on November 18, 2008, at 20:51:10
In reply to The Making of a Therapist, posted by Dinah on November 18, 2008, at 13:02:54
Dinah,
Tell me more about that book. I looked at it when referenced it above. Who it the audienct it's written for ? - New Ts going into practice?
Joni
Posted by Dinah on November 18, 2008, at 22:34:34
In reply to Re: The Making of a Therapist, posted by JoniS on November 18, 2008, at 20:51:10
It *is* for beginning therapists. And it's hard to sift out the overall orientation because of that. Too many practicalities in the discussion.
As I'd best describe it it's more a discussion of how to be, rather than what to do. (Or what to do in context of how to be.) The dust jacket mentions a calm centeredness and the good enough therapist.
Hmmm... I can't see why on earth I would have bought it from the Amazon write up. I must have heard about it elsewhere. Or maybe I ordered the wrong book?
Still, it's a happy coincidence if so. I've been feeling a bit dissatisfied with my therapist's laid back attitude. But reading the book makes me realize he's doing more than it would appear on the surface. Mind you, I should have realized that earlier. Because the fact is that I do get better over time. And in a direction that seems uncannily like the one he set out when I first saw him. He might now be reluctant to talk treatment plans, and it might seem he's happy with the status quo. But maybe he's just content with what's going on now because he does see change, however glacial.
Anyway, I'm feeling less concerned after reading the book, so that's all good, right?
Posted by lucie lu on November 19, 2008, at 9:21:43
In reply to The Making of a Therapist, posted by Dinah on November 18, 2008, at 13:02:54
Dinah,Were you maybe looking at some of Cozolino's other books? These look pretty interesting too:
"The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy: Building and Rebuilding the Human Brain"
"The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain"
These books led to Amazon's recommendation of books by Daniel Siegel, whose seminar Daisy attended recently and reported about to us.
These are two of the Siegel books:
"The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are"
"The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being"
All of these, including the Making of a Therapist, received excellent reviews on Amazon.
Another Cozolino book on the aging brain (looks particularly apt for me, sigh) has only 2 stars but from a single review. Maybe from an in-law.Thanks for bringing attention to Cozolino and leading to all these other interesting books!
Lucie
Posted by JoniS on November 19, 2008, at 13:06:01
In reply to Re: The Making of a Therapist » JoniS, posted by Dinah on November 18, 2008, at 22:34:34
Sounds like the book is giving you some peace about how things are progression. That's good!
Posted by Dinah on November 22, 2008, at 23:33:13
In reply to Re: The Making of a Therapist » Dinah, posted by JoniS on November 19, 2008, at 13:06:01
A few quotes:
"Therapists often feel pressure to speak, feeling that they need to be "doing something" because simply "being" with the client is enough."
"Within the therapy relationship, silence provides a space for shared contemplation and mutual acceptance. Neither you nor your client needs to be charming, entertaining, or witty. Take the performance anxiety off of both of you and try to create a context for self reflection and mutual discovery. Sometimes the best strategy is no strategy at all."
"I thought being "professional" meant putting your own feelings aside, and what I understood fo taking a neutral stance only reinforced my position of the emotionless therapist. It took time for me to realize that, although I had to make a decision about what emotions to show, I needed to be keenly aware of my feelings and use them in my work."
This type of statement resonates so much with me as I think of my own therapist. A therapist using his being and his humanness to *be* the therapist, the agent of change.
Not that I'm unaware of his techniques. He uses body language a lot. Not mirroring, that would be of no use to me. But he definitely has a repertoire of therapeutic tricks. Still, he himself, his person and his being, has always been what's useful to me.
They sure aren't like washing machines. I don't know how I'd ever move to a different one if mine goes out of order.
This is the end of the thread.
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