A User's Guide to Therapy
What to Expect and How You Can Benefit
Description
A guidebook to understanding and getting the most out of therapy.
This book is for clients—and for clinicians to recommend to their clients—who want to enhance the process of psychotherapy
and get the most out of a therapeutic relationship. Kaiser writes in a friendly, accessible tone, and explains what exactly
therapy is and how it works, including the beginning, middle, and ending stages of the therapy process. She elaborates
on the dynamics of the relationship between therapist and client, including such issues as power, boundaries, trust, and
termination, and describes the four common factors of change: the client, the therapeutic relationship, hope, and technique.
Furthermore, she explains the basic aspects of brain development and how psychotherapy physically changes the brain.
This book familiarizes potential clients with four major therapeutic approaches—psychodynamic, developmental, cognitive–
behavioral, and humanistic—and explains the characteristics of individual, family, and group therapy. Through case studies,
Kaiser reveals the healing potential of the therapeutic relationship, including the experience of being deeply understood by
and coming to trust a therapist. Kaiser offers much food for thought, as well as compassion, wisdom, encouragement, and
practical suggestions for those who choose to take this fascinating and fruitful journey.
Reviews
"[A] reassuring and informative therapy guidebook…comprehensive, contemporary and readable…. I highly recommend it to therapists and patients alike." — Betsy Horton, LICSW, MN Society of Clinical Social Work
"Kaiser provides a wealth of easy-to-understand therapeutic information…provides clear direction for the client." — Doug Greenlee, AAMFT MN Newsletter
"If I’d read this book prior to training, my development as a therapist would have been greatly enhanced, having seen the process from the client’s point of view." — Gail Nagel LISW-CP, DPNAP, Newsletter for the Clinical Social Work Association
"If you are thinking about change, this book will help you decide whether to try therapy, what
to expect, and when to leave. Like Penn and Teller ripping the secrecy from magic, Kaiser
reveals to ordinary people what goes on behind the closed door of therapy. You learn about
core issues and relationships that can lessen your anxieties and enrich your life. This book is
all about hope, and how to find it in oneself—with the help of a caring therapist." — Pauline Boss, author of Loss, Trauma, and Resilience
