An invitation to observe?and achieve?transformative breakthroughs in the therapeutic experience

Creative Breakthroughs in Therapy: Tales of Transformation and Astonishment brings together nineteen of the world?s most prominent and creative therapists and researchers, taking professionals inside each contributor?s creative innovations in theory and technique.

Designed for all therapists who wish to communicate their therapeutic messages creatively and effectively, authors Jeffrey Kottler and Jon Carlson invite you to be inspired from the observations of your peers and consider how these approaches might be applied to your own work.

Drawn from real-life cases, contributors share stories of their most creative breakthroughs, demonstrating out-of-the-box thinking that freed them to create alternative ways of meeting their clients? needs. Creative Breakthroughs in Therapy: Tales of Transformation and Astonishment will motivate you to experiment as an agent of change, exploring new, creative ways to make a difference in people?s lives, with wisdom from some of the world?s foremost authorities including:

Stephen Lankton, Bradford Keeney, Sam Gladding, Steve Madigan, Michael Yapko, Scott Miller, Jeff Zeig, Judy Jordan, Robert Neimeyer, Laura Brown, Bill O?Hanlon, Clo? Madanes, Len Sperry, Fred Bemak, Nancy McWilliams, Nick Cummings and Alfonso Montuori

The stories in this book represent seminal cases in which eminent practitioners in therapy and related fields express their own unique voices as clinicians. The book focuses on what led each clinician to a creative breakthrough and identifies the common variables?across all the stories?that might promote innovation in the future. Their experiences will inspire every therapist to discover their own creative path....

Since it was first published in 1986, On Being a Therapist has become a classic book in the field and has proved to be one of the most inspiring sources of guidance for aspiring and seasoned practitioners alike. Jeffrey Kottler provides a candid account of the profound ways in which therapists influence clients and, in turn, are impacted personally and professionally by these encounters. He shows how therapists can learn, develop, and grow during the process of therapy and explains how practitioners can use the professional skills and insights gained from their sessions to address their own personal issues, realize positive change in themselves, and so become better helpers for others. This thoroughly revised edition includes discussion about how the business and practice of therapy has changed in recent years, the effects of technology and managed care, the breakdown of theoretical orientation, and the greater client diversity represented in contemporary practice....

INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING brings you the most complete and up-to-date information on what counseling is as well as its history, theoretical orientations, applications, and professional issues. In this edition, new co-author David S. Shepard adds his years experience to the text to show you how to apply the most recent counseling theories to your future professional practice. Throughout the text, you will explore unflinching accounts of the day-to-day realities of being a counselor that will help you prepare for a career with your eyes and heart wide open....

A wife pretends to hang herself in the basement so she can time how long it will be before her husband comes to rescue her. . . .a woman whose dead aunt was made into a mummy so the family could better grieve her passing and on occasion dine with her at family gatherings . . . a man wants his nose cut off to escape an annoying smell that haunts him . . . a teenage boy would only come to therapy if he could bring his pet snake

These and other fascinating and revealing stories are told by some of the most famous therapists in the world. Collected in this extraordinary book, well known practitioners recount the most memorable case histories of their illustrious careers. Engaging and surprising stories of human behavior are dramatically and often humorously portrayed. Each chapter gives a behind-the-scenes look at how therapists work with clients whose problems and behaviors aren't found in standard psychology textbooks. The book also shows how these eminent therapists often cure these apparently intractable problems and learn something about themselves in the process....