How to Be Your Own Therapist

by Patricia Farrell

Book Overview

How to Be Your Own Therapist provides tools to replace unhealthy behaviors with actions for satisfaction and success. Drawing from her 20 years as a licensed therapist, Dr. Patricia Farrell has developed an approach to help individuals manage their own lives by reclaiming their personal power. Her "power tools" include how to:

Fire one's parents Quit whining Make lots of mistakes Stick up for oneself

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071433651
• ISBN13: 9780071433655
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Be your own therapist

Step-by-step guide to taking back your life. You will learn to: Open your eyes and face reality; act like the person you want to be; fire your parents; quit whining; and other simular subjects.

Packed full of self-assessments and sound clinical advice.

Reviewed by: Timothy E. McMahon, M.S.Principal Web DeveloperThe McMahon Groupwww.mcmahonco.comFor the second year in a row, my youngest sister, husband, and two children missed my youngest child's birthday. I was furious at their whole family for being so callous and intentionally rude. My daughter Olivia is only two so missing this birthday meant they had missed every birthday party Olivia had ever had. The whole situation was beyond exasperating. About the time this birthday soap opera was playing out, I was asked to review Patricia Farrell's new book How to Be Your Own Therapist. Now, because of the volume of books I receive for evaluation, I typically don't review books in this genre. However, something about the book's title, its author, the subject matter, and the birthday situation seemed to flow neatly together in time and space. I try not to ignore those types of events. As it turns out, I am quite happy this confluence occurred - glad in fact that events caused me to read this work when otherwise I may have declined the offer. When I received Dr. Farrell's book I began moving through the work chapter by chapter as I would any other book I review. However, early on, the author points out that this is a resource to be used like any other tool you might employ: on an as needed basis. So, with this in mind I started again to go through the book. This time however, I began looking for tools that might help me assess my own actions in the birthday party melodrama specifically and with the relationship I have with my sister in general. Chapter 4: Open Your Eyes and Face Reality seemed like a good place to start. Here Farrell points out a trap that so many of us fall into - skewed reality. She notes, "In today's world, it's become far too common for people to buy into the idea that reality is whatever you want it to be." As she does throughout the whole work, Dr. Farrell provides her personal insight into the topic, a brief case study, some thoughts on "why the old ways don't work", and an assessment tool that helps the reader to identify and create new methods for problem solving: Facing reality in this case. I've found that working through some of the book's text and exercises has been useful in the recent birthday situation. As the process goes on over time, it's easy to see how other areas of my life can also be positively impacted by Farrell's methodology of self-help.Packed full of self-assessments and sound clinical advice, Dr. Patricia Farrell has put together a well thought out self-management methodology for people like you and me. Her book and all of the tools therein, allow the reader to take a step back from our everyday activities and turn our thoughts inward toward ourselves. Patricia Farrell's book How to Be Your Own Therapist lays out a roadmap taking the reader through some of the most common myths of modern psychology, to firing your parents, facing reality, the power of our own counsel and finally to her parting wish for us

Packed full of self-assessments and sound clinical advice.

... For the second year in a row, my youngest sister, husband, and two children missed my youngest child's birthday. I was furious at their whole family for being so callous and intentionally rude. My daughter Olivia is only two so missing this birthday meant they had missed every birthday party Olivia had ever had. The whole situation was beyond exasperating. About the time this birthday soap opera was playing out, I was asked to review Patricia Farrell's new book How to Be Your Own Therapist. Now, because of the volume of books I receive for evaluation, I typically don't review books in this genre. However, something about the book's title, its author, the subject matter, and the birthday situation seemed to flow neatly together in time and space. I try not to ignore those types of events. As it turns out, I am quite happy this confluence occurred - glad in fact that events caused me to read this work when otherwise I may have declined the offer. When I received Dr. Farrell's book I began moving through the work chapter by chapter as I would any other book I review. However, early on, the author points out that this is a resource to be used like any other tool you might employ: on an as needed basis. So, with this in mind I started again to go through the book. This time however, I began looking for tools that might help me assess my own actions in the birthday party melodrama specifically and with the relationship I have with my sister in general. Chapter 4: Open Your Eyes and Face Reality seemed like a good place to start. Here Farrell points out a trap that so many of us fall into - skewed reality. She notes, "In today's world, it's become far too common for people to buy into the idea that reality is whatever you want it to be." As she does throughout the whole work, Dr. Farrell provides her personal insight into the topic, a brief case study, some thoughts on "why the old ways don't work", and an assessment tool that helps the reader to identify and create new methods for problem solving: Facing reality in this case. I've found that working through some of the book's text and exercises has been useful in the recent birthday situation. As the process goes on over time, it's easy to see how other areas of my life can also be positively impacted by Farrell's methodology of self-help.Packed full of self-assessments and sound clinical advice, Dr. Patricia Farrell has put together a well thought out self-management methodology for people like you and me. Her book and all of the tools therein, allow the reader to take a step back from our everyday activities and turn our thoughts inward toward ourselves. Patricia Farrell's book How to Be Your Own Therapist lays out a roadmap taking the reader through some of the most common myths of modern psychology, to firing your parents, facing reality, the power of our own counsel and finally to her parting wish for us to live authentic, powerful, and joyful lives. This is a compelling book full of sound ex

Your best friend in life should be yourself

This is the best self-help book that I have ever read. Don't get me wrong some people may need the help of doctors, but this book brings you to the realization that many of your own problems you can solve yourself. It doesn't try to rush you along with anything you read, and it goes through each exercise step by step allowing you the freedom to grow and expand your own horizons. This book reinforces the concept that no one knows you like yourself, but many of us can use some guidance along the way and this book provides the insight and tools. Terri Guckin, Ph.D.

This book is awesome!!! I love it!!! You will too!!

Patricia Farrell Ph.D. has written a great book for anyone wanting to sort out the reasons why their life is not working. The tools she gives are amazing. I have spent A LOT of money going to therapy for years and this book sums up all the work I have been trying to work through. I know I will be reading this book over and over. It will be right by my bed as I am sure to reference it often. This book should be read by both patients and therapists. I love it!