Learn from master therapists and bring your skills to the next level

Bringing a breath of fresh air to the therapy profession, this compelling and thoughtful resource urges readers to move from competency to full mastery in the mental health field. Combining the findings of hundreds of previous studies, interviews with a wide range of master therapists, own unique experiences and perspectives, Jeffery A. Kottler and Jon Carlson have devised a guide that takes therapists out of their comfort zones.

Professionals in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work, and human services, as well as graduate students studying for these professions, will find a level of honesty and candor in this resource, which tackles a range of essential topics in a frank, personal tone, and closes with a meaningful discussion about the challenges of striving for mastery. Master therapists and authors Kottler and Carlson explore a range of hot-button topics, such as: Cultural misunderstandingsDisliking your clients (or having clients dislike you)Receiving negative feedback from clientsInjecting creativity into the therapeutic processFinding time for social justice and advocacy

"On Being a Master Therapist" provides a much-needed look at a range of topics that aren't often given such genuine and insightful treatment, with the goal of helping you attain the attributes that truly distinguish excellence in clinical practice. Start on your journey toward mastery with this thoughtful resource.

The Heart of Healing is a comprehensive exploration of the essence of healing in human relationships--whether between a shaman and tribesmember, between clergy and parishoner, or a therapist and client--that pushes beyond traditional and limiting theoretical models toward a deeper, broader understanding of how to harness, enhance, and apply this powerful phenonmenon to achieve its fullest potential in diverse clinical settings.

Drawing on cross-cultural and interdisciplinary empirical research and numerous revealing case studies from their own therapy practices, the authors present a variety of innovative models for understanding and fostering relationships with clients that engender constructive change--and that can be used regardless of theoretical orientation, cultural background, or clinical setting. Pulling together the essential threads that weave the intricate fabric of the client-therapist relationship, they examine through first-hand accounts how the personal relationships, characteristics, and cultural biases of both the client and therapist affect their interactions during the therapy process, as well as influence relationships in their personal lives. They describe the conceptual building blocks of a healing encounter--including authentic engagement, projected images, and interactional patterns--and show how each of these can promote or impede a healthy and effective relationship.

Mental health professionals spend their days helping others, but who is there to help them when stress and burnout threaten their own well-being? Filled with self-assessments, journaling exercises, and activities designed to facilitate renewal, growth, and change, this timely book helps clinicians help themselves with coverage of career threatening issues, such as fear of failure, loss of confidence, and the financial stress and loss of autonomy that many clinician's experience as a result of managed care and its constraints.

By supporting others and promoting change, helping professionals also enjoy the benefit of personal growth. "Changing People's Lives While Transforming Your Own" is filled with narratives from individuals from social work, psychology, counseling, and allied health fields. Inspiring and stirring, this book vividly illustrates how to promote social justice and foster global human rights. Its accompanying DVD features stories from a social justice mission to Nepal reaching out to neglected children. Students and professionals will find this book a profound reminder of how targeted social justice efforts have resulted in transformative experiences.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.