In The Therapist's Chair

Book excerpt: Have you ever wondered how psychotherapy actually works? Have you ever been curious about what a therapist’s thoughts are while she is sitting with a patient? Do therapists feel emotions during session? What are they really thinking? How do therapists choose what personal information to share with their patients, and how might they time disclosure? How does a therapist respond upon receiving a gift from a patient? What aspects of the relationship need to be considered before a therapist accepts or declines a gift? In the Therapist’s Chair addresses these complex questions and many more. Creatively written and ingeniously told, each chapter provides the reader with exclusive examples of the therapeutic process as it happens, while skillfully teaching the art of psychotherapy. The volume clearly illuminates specific techniques of psychotherapy as it is lived and experienced in the treatment setting. Compelling and even humorous at times, In the Therapist’s Chair will appeal to the clinician, those in therapy and people interested in therapy alike. Review In the Therapist’s Chair the reader learns about the special attractions and concerns of Dr. Simon’s patients as they learn how to question their existence and understand what is important to them. These stories are both haunting and rich in human emotion. A book as comprehensive as this one is a welcome addition to any library. I will use this as a teaching tool and I hope you will too. Elliott Storch, LCSW, DCSW A profoundly honest, nuanced exploration of the world created between therapist and patient. A seamless blend of philosophy, technique, and quirky narrative. Sarah Mitchell, Psy. D.