trible
Posted October 5, 2009
It is full of good theory but a litle overwhelming in the short class I had.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 11, 2009
If you are interested in leading groups someday, this is a must read book. Don't assume that you know how to run a group without reading this book!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 22, 2000
This book should be required reading for all therapist who run traditional process groups. This books goes in depth into the process and many levels of groups. Additionally, Yalom shares many of his creative and powerful techniques in this text. This book is remarkable easy to read for it's size and depth.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 16, 2000
Dear Dr. Yalom, Although a psychiatrist, you may be equally considered a psychologist, sociologist, philosopher,and researcher. Your book is in its fourth edition. You express many things about groups I had considered but never refined. I sensed that therapy groups were cultures and had norms; that people display their 'problems' in group with more blatant problems appearing first; and that empathetic understanding was curative. I knew these things but you add depth, research, connection to the behavioral sciences and literature, and your own creativity. You have stated that 'writing a novel is the very finest thing a person can do.' The novel and psychotherapy share the experience of human drama. You demonstrate that therpaeutic things occur in an atmosphere of safety and honest, self-dissclosing communication. You examine group dynamics in ways that resemble and go beyond the novel. In your theory, you sound like a sociologist. Most significant is the idea of a therapy group being a sociological entity known as a 'social microcosm' and that the therapist's job is to create a therapeutic culture. Social microcosm refers to the idea that in a 'freely interactive group' the individuals pathology in the world will be played out before you on the group stage. Your existential leaning is seen in your emmphasis on the 'here and now' and the individuals acceptance of personal responsibility for change. Compelling evidence is presnted in your text that groups are effective and not simply a low cost model of individual psychotherapy. You state that research finds that successful therapy is characterized by a therapist/patient relationship of 'trust, warmth, empatetic understanding and acceptance.' You assert that there is something special about a group. You posit twelve variables (from Altruism to Universality), that are the power elements enabling therapy groups to correct personality distortions. I also appreciate your willingness to take on the giants, though there is not 'a snowball in hell' chance of winning. You take on managed care, DSM-IV and labeling, and problem specific group therapy. Considerations Your subjects appear to be fairly highly functioning upper middle class adults with jobs and relationshiips. However, you never address whether individuals of varied ethnic backgrounds, children, or the poor, would find your approach beneficial. How often is a therapist able to convene the same group for eighteen months to two years? This time period is not generally feasible as managed health or insurance would not cover it and private funding would be a burden for many. Summary You give us the concept of social microcosm, mix in honesty and self-disclosure, add the 'here and now' and end up with a tool that addresses long term personality disorders. You have probably done more research on groups than any other human animal. Your text combines empirical evidence with touching vignettes and is accurately described as reading like a novel. We have gained insight from your contribution. Thank you, Bill Lombardo, Ph.D. Behavioral Science Dept. Cal Poly Univ., Pomona
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Posted June 13, 2012
I never received my book
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Posted August 7, 2009
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More About This Textbook
Overview
Hailed by Jerome Frank as "the best book that exists on the subject, today and for the foreseeable future,” Irvin D. Yalom’s The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy has long been the standard text in its field. Indeed, in a survey reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry, it was cited as one of the ten most influential psychiatry publications of the past decade, and it was one of the very few judged to be of "seminal or lasting value.”In this completely revised and expanded fourth edition—updated to reflect the American Psychiatric Association’s latest diagnostic manual, the DSM-IV—Dr. Yalom presents the most recent developments in the field, drawing on nearly a decade of new research as well as his own broad clinical wisdom and experience. This edition features new sections on combining individual and group therapy, the latest information about brief group therapy, and how to modify group work to deal with the newly emerging homogeneous focal groups (including survivor groups), as well as updated references and new clinical vignettes drawn from the author’s recent practice.Throughout, Dr. Yalom has updated the style and content of the chapters, while retaining valid research and clinical observations. Illustrating the text are vivid cases from nearly two thousand group sessions that he has led over the past decade.The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy is an informative text that is at once scholarly and lively. This new edition is the most up-to-date, incisive, and comprehensive text on group therapy available today.
"...reflects the latest DSM-IV changes, and features new info on brief group therapy and combining individual and group work to deal with the newly emerging homogeneous focal groups--including survivor groups."
Editorial Reviews
American Journal of Psychiatry
Probably the best single-author book on the subject ever written.Contemporary Psychology
Far and away the best book about group psychotherapy.Booknews
This standard text in the field covers aspects of group therapy such as interpersonal learning, group cohesiveness, transparency and transference, patient selection, problem patients, specialized therapy groups, and training the group therapist. This fourth edition is revised to reflect the changes in DSM-IV and features new sections on combining individual and group therapy, and brief group therapy, as well as new clinical vignettes. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Product Details
Related Subjects
Meet the Author
Irvin D. Yalom, M.D., is professor emeritus of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He was the recipient of the 1974 Edward Strecker Award and the 1979 Foundation's Fund Prize in Psychiatry. He is the author of When Nietzche Wept (winner of the 1993 Commonwealth Club gold medal for fiction), Love's Executioner, Every Day Gets a Little Closer (with Ginny Elkin), and the classic textbooks Inpatient Group Psychotherapy and Existential Psychotherapy.
Table of Contents