In Session: The Bond Between Women and Their Therapists

by Deborah A. Lott

Book Overview

Why do so many women develop profound feelings for their therapists? What makes the therapy bond different from any other, and what factors make it therapeutic? "In Session "enters the consulting room... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0716740257
• ISBN13: 9780716740254
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A MUST-READ FOR ANYONE OBSESSED WITH THEIR THERAPIST!!

I am a late-20-something female who had seen about 30+ therapists (mostly male) until I finally found one (a female) who I felt really "got" me. I went into therapy with her about 5 months ago and at first I thought we just really "connected." Well about 2 months into it, I ended up completely and utterly obsessed with her, which rendered me not only unable to focus on my primary reasons for entering therapy to begin with, but also on my daily life!! My obsession with her was preoccupying my mind, and on the verge of ruining my present relationship. I didn't know what was wrong with me--I felt like I was falling apart--I was literally at a worse state then than I was when I initially went into therapy with her. WELL, I stumbled across this book and it is FABULOUS. It is a MUST-READ for ANYONE who has become obsessed with their therapist. It saved my life, my therapy, and my relationship. It focuses on the *client* for once, makes more sense of transference than anything I've ever read, and is written so eloquently, from a woman who really knows what she's talking about--no dry clinical tone or anything like that. This book literally saved my life, and I cannot recommend it enough. XXX --V

A Therapeutic Read!

For several months I had been searching the shelves in bookstores for a publication that would even mildly address (and attempt to explain) the romantic feelings that I have towards my shrink. I never expected to find any books on that exact subject because I figured only a fool could fall "madly in love" with someone who never discloses anything about himself. You would think that the therapist would fall for the patient since he gets to know your heart and eventually expose your soul. I felt guilty and dirty for feeling inexplicably attracted to him. Then I came across "In Session" and realised that in no way shape or form am I alone. I couldn't put this book down. Not only was it a fascinating read, it was extremely therapeutic.I recommend this book to any woman who is feeling unusually compelled - to the point of distraction- by the patient/therapist relationship. How I'd love a sequel from the therapists' point of view.

10 Stars!

If I could give this book a 10-star rating, I would -- without any hesitation! The relationship developed between women and their therapists is so unique, powerful and virtually universal among women in therapy; ironically, it's rarely given public attention or focus, even in the therapeutic session itself. Lott (the author)is not a therapist, nor does she attempt to portray herself as one; rather, she is a journalist/author/woman who knows how to ask thought provoking questions that make for extremely interesting reading. This book is easy to read (I couldn't put it down!) and easy to identify with (there are real-life stories throughout). If you are a client and are uncertain how to talk about this important relationship with your therapist, this book can become a great vehicle for opening a deeper level of communication and understanding between the two of you. If you are a therapist, it's a great book to recommend to your clients, too. It's a continually thought-provoking book, almost guaranteed that any client and/or therapist who reads it will strongly identify with it.

The best therapy book I've ever read

I am just an average person struggling through my first real experience with therapy. I never knew what strong feelings I would have or what I was really getting into but sometimes it overwhelms me. This book was great. I have read approximately 10 books on therapy and specifically the relationship in therapy. This one was by the far the most helpful. Not only is it well-written but for me it really helped me to know what other people have gone through in therapy -- that I am not the only one. I think this is particularly good for those of us who sometimes feel madly in love with our therapist! Thank-you to the author!

In Session : The Bond Between Woman and Their Therapists

This is without a doubt the most incredible book I have ever read on any aspect of psychotherapy, transference and the therapeutic relationship. Thanks to Deborah Lott's book, I will never be the same. I am both a client and a soon to be graduate student in psychology. This book was lifechanging. It showed me the way to achieve the deepest therapeutic relationship with my therapist possible and in doing so, the deepest healing is occuring. I always believed I had a open honest relationship with my therapist and this is true; however, this book allowed me to see that there were some things I was not saying and feelings I was not expressing, that I needed to. Some that both shocked and scared me. I did not realize this because I had driven these feeling and thoughts underground (particularly ones involving erotic transference, since both my therapist and I are female and heterosexual). These feeling became 'secrets' in my therapy, that prevented progression to even more deeper levels of the therapeutic process. Ms Lott's book opened my eyes to what was going on, helped me understand I was not alone, that these feeling were common and normal and inspired me (despite great anxiety and fear) to confess these feeling to my therapist; to say everything I had been holding back and by doing so experiencing tremendous relief. I have had a very close, deep therapeutic relationship with my therapist for almost 4 years, that just became closer and deeper than I ever imagine. I never knew the fear and anxiety that holding this 'secret' had created. This book and my therapist's reaction of total acceptance and understanding released me from an emotional prison. I was freed to experience trust, freedom and happiness I had not known before. All therapist, clients, prospective clients and student of the disciplin should put this one at the top of their reading list. Ms. Lott's contribution to the field, and to clients as well as to therapists is remarkable considering that she is not a therapist; something one would never know had she not said so in her book. I look forward with great anticipation to her next book.