The Embedded Self: A Psychoanalytic Guide to Family Therapy

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Summary: The Embedded Self: A psychoanalytic guide to family therapy
Review: As a recent graduate of a Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology who does both individual, psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy as well as family therapy, in a public mental health clinic, I found Dr. Gerson's book to be extremely helpful. Dr. Gerson is one of those rare clnicians who are able to write about clinical work in a very alive, thought-provoking manner. In this book Dr. Gerson both delineates the fields of psychoanalysis and family therapy extremely clearly. More importantly, however, she conceptualizes an innovative, integrative model for thinking about the relationships between the two modalities. The book can be appreciated by people on different levels, from extremely senior analysts and family therapists, to more neophyte therapists, to graduate students in any clinical field. I highly recommend it.

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Summary: The Embedded Self - A Layperson's Perspective
Review: As an educated layperson with a longtime interest in psychology, I found the Embedded Self to be one of the best books in the field I have ever encountered. Gerson gives a fascinating overview of family therapy and shows how psychoanalysis can provide a meaningful lens into family dynamics. I found Gerson's approach to theory be that rare combination of high level scholarship with lucid writing and explication. I think this book will be appreciated by professionals, students, and the lay populace alike. Highly recommended.

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Summary: Tells me what I wanted to know
Review: in just the way I would like to be told--a highly literate and accessible book, full of stimulating vignettes about real families, that leaves me (a psychotherapist working only with individuals) feeling I finally have a useful map of the famly therapy world. Dr. Gerson is able to explain family therapy to someone who really doesn't know much about it, and moreover to explain the approaches of the different schools of family therapy. She also nimbly travels back and forth between the points of view of the family therapist and the therapist working with individuals--making it very easy on this reader, as she raises and answers my own questions, and many I wouldn't have thought of.