Therapeutic Communication: Knowing What to Say When

Rating:
Summary: A rare find-tells therapists *how* to talk to their clients!
Review: Hundreds, maybe thousands, of books review various therapeutic procedures and treatment strategies, encompassing everything from Freudian analysis to primal scream therapy. Dr. Wachtel, however, shuns this traditional theoretical approach. Instead, he focuses on how what therapists actually *say* to their clients affects the therapy process. Dr. Wachtel clearly and succinctly describes the use of subtle word changes in the therapist's comments (both statements and questions) in order to facilitate further exploration and increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. In addition, he provides specific examples and excerpts from actual therapy sessions to highlight the application of his methods. These simple techniques are applicable to various theoretical orientations, therapist educational backgrounds, and client problems. Thus, this book would be useful to any clinician seeking to enrich his or her therapeutic skills, and I highly recommend it for beginning and seasoned practitioners alike