Listening to Patients: Relearning the Art of Healing in Psychotherapy

by Richard G. Druss M.D.

Overview

In this gem of a book, master teacher and psychiatrist Richard G. Druss stresses a flexible and humane approach to psychotherapy. Using clinical anecdotes as a method of teaching, Druss presents some of his own early cases--failures as well as successes-and through these moving vignettes gives us fresh insights into both the therapeutic process and the healing relationship between therapist and patient. As he has to generations of supervisees, Druss describes the value and beauty of learning how to listen to patients. The chapters in this volume follow a logical and chronological sequence--from the initial establishment of rapport with a new patient to the realization of goals at the end of therapy. Along the way, Druss examines such topics as "Conflict, Personality, and Culture in Psychotherapy," "The Spiritual Life of Patients," and Patients Who Return to Psychotherapy After Termination." This book is written for psychiatry residents, medical students, and practitioners of clinical psychology, social work, nursing, and primary care medicine. This beautifully written volume, totally free of jargon and arcane terminology, would be of equal interest to any educated person who wishes to know more about modern dynamic psychotherapy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198031062
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/08/2000
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	269 KB

About the Author

Druss, Richard G., MD (Columbia Univ Coll of Physicians and Surgeons)

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Creating the Working Alliance
2. The Initial Sessions: Setting the Course
3. Positive Transferences in Psychotherapy
4. Conflict, Personality, and Culture in Psychotherapy
5. Body Image: In the Eye of the Beholder
6. Supervision of Psychotherapy
7. The Spiritual Life of Patients
8. Termination of Psychotherapy: Patient's Goals, Therapist's Goals
9. Patients Who Return to Psychotherapy
Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

4 Stars! from Doody

This book is an excellent journey into modern dynamic psychotherapy in which the author emphasizes the various and sometimes overlooked facets of the working alliance between patient and therapist. The author's purpose is to demonstrate that the working alliance between patient and therapist is necessary to achieve therapeutic effectiveness. In turn, therapeutic effectiveness can only be achieved through listening to patients. The author guides the clinician into relearning the art of listening to patients and covers the basic tenets of warm, empathic psychotherapy. The author's objectives are undeniably achieved. Targeted toward psychiatry residents, medical students, and trainees in clinical psychology, social work, and nursing, this book is an exceptional piece of psychiatric work for any level clinician. The author epitomizes what a true teacher is. His credibility and knowledge are unquestionable, and his warm compassion for patients shines ever so brightly through his writing. The author guides readers in a logical and chronological sequence from the establishment of rapport to more complicated issues of psychotherapy such as conflict and transference. Highlights include the termination of psychotherapy and the knowledge and experience that come with supervision. Actual case histories are provided in each chapter to demonstrate the author's successes and failures in practicing psychotherapy. In an era where clinicians are pressured to be both efficient and provide quality care, the importance of listening may sometimes be neglected. This book is a back-to-basics approach in an easy-to-follow format, and the author reminds clinicians to listen and promote empathy,flexibility, and imagination in therapy. A book such as this is rare; it is one which I found personally difficult to put down, and one which I had to read from cover to cover. I was moved and inspired by the author and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any clinician.

Nicholas Greco IV

Reviewer: Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM (C3 Education and Research, Inc.)
Description: This book is an excellent journey into modern dynamic psychotherapy in which the author emphasizes the various and sometimes overlooked facets of the working alliance between patient and therapist.
Purpose: The author's purpose is to demonstrate that the working alliance between patient and therapist is necessary to achieve therapeutic effectiveness. In turn, therapeutic effectiveness can only be achieved through listening to patients. The author guides the clinician into relearning the art of listening to patients and covers the basic tenets of warm, empathic psychotherapy. The author's objectives are undeniably achieved.
Audience: Targeted toward psychiatry residents, medical students, and trainees in clinical psychology, social work, and nursing, this book is an exceptional piece of psychiatric work for any level clinician. The author epitomizes what a true teacher is. His credibility and knowledge are unquestionable, and his warm compassion for patients shines ever so brightly through his writing.
Features: The author guides readers in a logical and chronological sequence from the establishment of rapport to more complicated issues of psychotherapy such as conflict and transference. Highlights include the termination of psychotherapy and the knowledge and experience that come with supervision. Actual case histories are provided in each chapter to demonstrate the author's successes and failures in practicing psychotherapy.
Assessment: In an era where clinicians are pressured to be both efficient and provide quality care, the importance of listening may sometimes be neglected. This book is a back-to-basics approach in an easy-to-follow format, and the author reminds clinicians to listen and promote empathy, flexibility, and imagination in therapy. A book such as this is rare; it is one which I found personally difficult to put down, and one which I had to read from cover to cover. I was moved and inspired by the author and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any clinician.

Doody's Review Service