The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients

by Irvin D. Yalom

Book Overview

Acclaimed author and renowned psychiatrist Irvin D. Yalom distills thirty-five years of psychotherapy wisdom into one brilliant volume.

The culmination of master psychiatrist Dr. Irvin D. Yalom's more than thirty-five years in clinical practice, The Gift of Therapy is a remarkable and essential guidebook that illustrates through real case studies how patients and therapists alike can get the most out of therapy. The bestselling...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061719617
• ISBN13: 9780061719615
• Release Date: August 2017
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

I completely loved the and have become an Irvin Yalom fan

This book drove home the fact that therapists are human and not necessarily humane. Irvin's (we're on a first name basis) humor and especially his insights where he, this accomplished psychiatrist, reveals himself to be no different than you or I honestly made me feel much better about myself. It was the best therapy session I ever had!

Bite Sized Therapy Nugs

Psychiatry residency is challenging in a different way than other medical specialties. Medical school prepares you for the medical aspects of psychiatry, specifically the neuroscience and pharmacology. But for therapy, medical schools barely touch on it. Things that help are being in therapy yourself, or having at least been in therapy, as well as seeking out really good supervision. Good books help too. But picking up those first couple patients is scary and the PGY-2 year is too exhausting to spend hours and hours reading up on the art of therapy. Yalom's "The Gift of Therapy" was given to me by one of my chief residents during my PGY-2 year and was very helpful. I've since had time to read more of Yalom's works and have enjoyed many of his therapeutic tales as well as his group therapy primer, but for where I was at that time, "The Gift of Therapy" was just what the doctor ordered. The key is extremely short chapters. It's a book that can be by the bedside (or stuffed in a white coat pocket if that's your style) and read just a couple of pages at a time. Some chapters focus on nuts-and-bolts everyday issues but what is particularly helpful are the chapters that give the flavor of the process. Many of the chapters help to reinforce the `it's all grist for the mill' notion, that there are few true mistakes, that almost anything you do in therapy creates opportunities and provides data on how the patient reacts and relates. This is an important concept and also, for me, alleviated some of the anxiety of being a new therapist. It's much better to approach outpatients with enthusiasm as opposed to angst, and no doubt patients can feel that difference as well. I also very much appreciate Yalom's attitude about not adhearing to a particular model or modality of therapy, but the recognition that different situations call for different approaches, that flexibility is the greatest tool for the therapist. Nothing turns me off more than hearing analysts knock cognitive behavioral therapy or vice versa, just to pick an obvious example. Before my medicine days, I studied Anthropology, and it was this very same kind left me bored and disenchanted. The majority of people's energy went into "deconstructing" other people's ideas rather than contributing something positive and helpful. Yalom emphasizes that certain discrete symptoms are best treated with CBT type approaches, some questions call for an existential approach, sometimes analytic techniques are best, and so on. Especially in training, the focus should be on acquiring as many tools as possible, staying flexible, and maintaining an open mind. He also models the importance of continually refocusing on the here-and-now and counter-transference. These may be rudiments, but early on in training it can't be overemphasized. Especially coming from a western medical model, these fundamental concepts tend not to come naturally. So this book is exactly what you need as a PGY-2: good, l

I laughed, I cried...I was moved!

Long after Dr. Yalom has departed for that great therapist's office in the sky, this book will still be known as a must read for the novice and veteran counselor because of the common-sense and compassionate advice it offers. This is Dr. Yalom's Opus Magnum.I first came across Dr. Yalom's works when I took a required course in group therapy, and his text on the subject was the reference for the course. It did not take me long to gain a sense of awe at his wisdom, the likes of which can only be compared to something usually reserved for a demi-god. Nevertheless, Dr. Yalom is a wise man who has "been there," and his writings reflect the wisdom of his years. The Gift of Therapy will renew your sense of passion for the mental health field. Dr. Yalom has a way of giving his readers insight into the therapy process, which affords the practioner or therapist-to-be a vantage point that will make him or her appreciative of all of the good we can do in the service of humankind. There were times when reading this book, when I had to set it down and ruminate on what I had just read; Dr. Yalom has a way of expressing the profound, without pedantry, and the sublime, without silliness. After reading this book I am literally in awe of this "giant" and I am proud that we are both serving humanity in the same field.

Validated, inspired, challenged and entertained

Twenty years ago when I read Irvin Yalom's Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, I knew that I wanted to be a psychotherapist. These 20 years later, reading The Gift of Therapy, I am reminded that I made an excellent choice.Irv Yalom's "open letter to a new generation of therapists and their patients" speaks to three essential aspects of myself: the psychotherapist, the human being, and the writer.As a psychotherapist I am validated for thinking outside the traditional boxes and challenged to keep learning with every client I see. Yalom offers everything from specific suggested questions to ask clients to the wisdom of his experience such as "therapy should not be theory-driven, but relationship-driven," and "though the physicality of death destroys us, the idea of death can save us."As a human being I am reminded that there is seldom --- if ever --- only one valid explanation for how we become who we are. And I am enlightened by Yalom's reminder of Paul Tilich's list of four "ultimate concerns" --- death, isolation, meaning, and freedom.As a writer I am thoroughly entertained by how Yalom puts a sentence together. For instance, speaking of the importance of dream interpretation in therapy, he writes, "Pillage and loot the dream, take out of it whatever seems valuable, and don't fret about the discarded shell."Most of all, as I close my now well-worn, underlined and dog-eared copy of Irv Yalom's new book, I am inspired by the man and the psychotherapist who has been, and remains, a hero of mine. (I suppose Irv would consider that literary transference.)Bottomline: great book for therapists and non-therapists alike.

a book of tips

This is the latest book by Irvin Yalom, whose books I've been following over the years. From the very first page of the introduction, Yalom's writing is gripping & right to the point. He mentions turning 70 years old, which has made him feel a need to "pass on" his knowledge & some of his experience to younger generations of therapists & patients. This is what he tries to do in this substantial book, a book of tips, long on technique & short on theory (as Yalom himself says).Each "tip" that Yalom gives comes from years of experience & in most cases, makes perfect sense. Something that should be noted is that his book is not written, I think, for the non-psychologically trained reader. It's aimed towards psychotherapists, & tries to steer them in the direction of good choices & good therapeutic work with clients / patients. Most tips may seem like common sense to most psychologists / psychotherapists, but if you think a little bit more about them, most of them are not used as often as they should be. Also, apart from the more obvious tips, Yalom offers a whole range of extremely innovative ( & maybe some times controversial) pieces of advice. These chapters alone are, in my opinion, well worth the price of the book, since they make you sit down & think.All in all, a great reference book for psychotherapists which comes alive through wonderful, clear writing, & lots of lively clinical examples.