The gift of therapy by Yalom
In his book, Yalom attempts to condense his forty-five years of practicing psychiatric into a guidebook dedicated to therapists and their patients. The book presents short and concise chapters which are detailed with tips that are offered as reminders, complications to avoid and lessons learned from Yalom’s wealth of know-how in regards to psychotherapeutic setting. He describes the text as a resource for upcoming and new therapists and their patients. However, this book seems to be more helpful as a guide for beginners and probably more experienced psychotherapists. Yalom discusses the 85 concepts and techniques in his book which are loosely organized into sections.
In chapter 1-40 section of the book, Yalom looks at the relationship between therapists and their patients, here-and-now practice problems, and therapists’ self-discovery. Yalom writes this section from an interpersonal and ongoing theoretical outline while the lessons in these chapters center on the relevance of the nonspecific aspects which catalyze therapists’ work. However, it is quite evident that Yalom is impenitent about the power he places on the therapeutic relationship (Yalom 2002). In chapter 41-51 section, Yalom addresses the current themes in therapy. For instances, he addresses the issue of death anxiety, searches for life meaning and the paradoxes of personal liberty. In other words, today’s mental health care environment may fail to be supportive of the ongoing discovery for its own sake. However, this section provides pieces of wisdom that will be useful to most of the therapists and most of all of those working in populations where end end-of-life subjects are less distal realism (Yalom 2002). Yalom’s wise treatment of liberty and patients’ conscientiousness for their conducts has applicability to a wide range of clinical contexts. In chapters’ 52-76 section, Yalom talks about a pragmatic topic relevant to the daily practice of therapy. He uses simple and valuable reminders such as the relevance of taking a clinical history and inquiring (Yalom 2002).
In addition, Yalom’s point of view is exactly what I have been looking forward to seeing in the psychotherapeutic setting. He is more of humane and non-commercial as he really cares about reaching out to his fellow colleagues in this profession and to some of his patients through discovering his relationship with them. One of the subject matter that I have enjoyed while reading the book, is the one that advice therapists to focus on maintaining a good relationship with their patients. This chapter highlights why therapists are having difficulties with their patients outside relationships. There are so many relevant insights provided in the book and hence one cannot afford to miss out reading the book. Yalom’s wise words about therapeutic process perfectly illustrate my attitude towards the benefit walking with the patients in their walk of change.
To sum it up, the gift of therapy book is not all about the exposition of theory and philosophy but rather it is a successful and useful guide to building healing connections with patients. Yalom has greatly serviced the entire psychotherapeutic setting by demystifying the action of connecting with patients about their crucial anxieties in the moments of great life change that physicians are privileged to share with patients. The book is readable, short and very knowledgeable and thus it is recommended that all clinicians should have a read as it will offer them with great insights about changes in therapeutic settings.
References
Yalom, I.D. (2002). The Gift Of Therapy. Harper Collins Publishers, New York.
