Review of Therapist.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 23(4) of Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training (see record 2007-12251-001). There was a comment in this book review that requires clarification. The reviewers stated, "The code of ethics of the American Psychological Association explicitly disallows only 'unwanted' therapist-patient sexual contact" (p. 487). However, the reviewers failed to take note of Principle 6(a) which reads, "Sexual intimacies with clients are unethical" (p. 29). The two phrases "physical contacts of a sexual nature" (from Principle 7) and "sexual intimacies" (from Principle 6) suggest a difference in behavior, which may be misleading and confusing to a reader of the code. The reviewers may have pointed out an ambiguity in the code which should be corrected by the APA Ethics committee.] Reviews the book, Therapist by Ellen Plasil (1985). The problem of therapist-patient sex has always plagued the mental health professions. In recent years the issue has been the topic of increasing numbers of mental health field panels, seminars and papers, producing innumerable calls for professional, and sometimes legal, sanctions against offenders. Author Ellen Plasil's revelations of sexual involvement with her therapist will shock few, since periodic stories about such behavior seem to come out in the popular press with increasing regularity. The value of Ms. Plasil's autobiographical tale, however, is that it educates the reader as to how the process of mystification works to mold that relationship; that is, the reader learns from her incredibly detailed accounting of her thoughts how patients can be persuaded to become unquestioning "true believers." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trends in ethics cases, common pitfalls, and published resources.

Presents information about trends in complaints and adjudications reported by the Ethics Committee of the American Psychological Association (APA). Over a 5-yr period (1983–1987), the largest number of violations involved Principle 6a (dual relationships including sexual intimacies with clients), followed by 3d (violating APA standards and guidelines or governmental laws and institutional regulations), Principle 3c (violating legal or civil rights of others), and Principle 5a (confidentiality). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Experiential therapies for eating disorders.

Reviews the book, Experiential therapies for eating disorders, edited by Lynne M. Hornyak and Ellen K. Baker (see record 1989-97569-000). In this book, Lynne Hornyak and Ellen Baker provide a collection of chapters describing "experiential" therapies for eating disorders. Hornyak and Baker define experiential therapy as '...treatment techniques, based on psychological principles that are developed and used with the specific intention of increasing clients' present awareness of feelings, perceptions, cognitions, and sensations; that is, their in-the-moment experience..." (p.3). The book is divided into two sections: The first part addresses the treatment of bulimia nervosa; the second deals with anorexia nervosa. Each author presents his or her treatment approach in sufficient detail to give the reader a clear picture of how the technique could be implemented in the clinical setting. This book may stimulate practitioners to consider the theoretical rationale of their clinical methods and to consider alternative therapies in their treatment of patients with eating disorders. However, the book fell short of the mark in several respects. First, although the authors of each chapter attempted to emphasize the interrelationship of theory and practice, they often glossed over the fact that there was little or no empirical support for either their conceptualiztion of the disorder or the efficacy of the intervention that they espoused. Second, the editors failed to provide the reader with an integrative summary. There was no attempt to provide the practicing clinician with a guide to decision making in the treatment of eating disorders. The editors did not address key questions such as how one assesses a patient with an eating disorder or how one decides which treatment is best suited for her. A related shortcoming is that the editors do not provide the reader with a summary of the state of the art with regard to the conceptualization and treatment of eating disorders. There is now sufficient empirical literature to support specific models of etiology and the efficacy of particular interventions (cf. Brownell & Foreyt, 1986). Without an overview, the reader is left with the impression that the current understanding and treatment of eating disorders is in a prescientific state and that personal preferences rather than empirical findings dictate which treatments are best suited for particular patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Making explicit what was before implicit.

Reviews the book, Spatial Cognition: The Structure and Development of Mental Representations of Spatial Relations by David Olson and Ellen Bialystok (1983). Among the topics included in the book are: spatial cognition, structural lexicon, spatial perception, conceptual imagery, perceptual discrimination, mental rotation and hemispheric specialization. Although the reviewer believes some chapters suffer from errors and poor presentation of data, he recommends this book to anyone interested in spatial cognition theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The playground of psychoanalytic therapy.

Reviews the book, The playground of psychoanalytic therapy by Jean Sanville (see record 1991-98946-000). Sanville studies psychoanalytic therapy and uses play and playing as the focal point, the pivotal organizing concept. She reviews the theory of psychoanalytic development and the dynamics of clinical intervention, and she attempts to integrate the contribution of her favorite authors, such as Winnicott, Stern, Kohut, and as always, Freud. Thus, the book is a textbook of Sanville's vast theoretical clinical experiences with the motive to document that play is the essential organizing and integrating mental activity. A book rich in considering the fabric of psychoanalytic psychotherapy with its broad frame of reference must greatly limit the ideas of the author, and I wish that there could be a more complete integration of her propositions. It is a pleasure to follow Sanville's case vignettes and to observe her gift and sensitivity with which she tunes into the inner life of her patients. Sanville's book explores a new metapsychological dimension embedded in object relation propositions. The reader will find unexpected rewards. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Working it out: Using exercise in psychotherapy.

Reviews the book, Working it out: Using exercise in psychotherapy by Kate F. Hays (see record 1999-02984-000). In this book, Hays presents a thoughtful, albeit at times controversial, advocacy for integration of physical exercise into the practice of psychotherapy in an explicit way. Although many mental health practitioners recognize the healing value of physical exercise and even encourage their patients to pursue physical activity, as part of their treatment, Dr. Hays takes this approach to an entirely different level. She argues persuasively that physical exercise, promoted by the therapist in the context of a cognitive-behavioral treatment model, represents for many who seek the services of a psychotherapist a treatment of first choice. She supports her views on this matter by skillfully weaving throughout the book a comprehensive and scholarly review of relevant clinical empirical literature, along with case studies from her own clinical practice. The case studies are a particularly appealing part of this book because they clearly and instructively give the reader an impression of what transpires between Dr. Hays and her clients or patients. One senses that above all she is a warm, empathic, and sensitive clinician who skillfully applies a blend of cognitive-behavioral interventions, enhanced by individually tailored regimens of physical exercise. As stated in the introduction, the author intends "…to inspire mental health professionals to bring to their work a clearer understanding of, interest in, and enthusiasm for exercise in the process of recovery from mental and emotional problems." Dr. Hays identifies practicing psychotherapists as the primary intended audience for her book, but it seems more likely to appeal to students in training for this craft. The more seasoned veterans among us are less likely to be inspired by Dr. Hays's enthusiasm for jogging with our patients, and her proposals for doing this certainly raises many serious concerns and potentially hazardous issues regarding the nature of the relationship between therapist and client. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Manual of Child Psychology": Erratum.

Reports an error in the review by Roger G. Barker of the L. Carmichael edited book, Manual of Child Psychology (Psychological Bulletin, 1955, Vol 52[3], 263-267). The sentence on page 266, right-hand column, should read "However, this reader found intriguing the world view so boldly sketched." (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 2005-10141-002). This book is a good picture of child psychology in 1954. The weaknesses of the Manual are largely the weaknesses of the science it surveys. A good manual of child psychology awaits a more mature science of child behavior. In the meantime this book and, it is to be hoped, its future editions provide an important aid in achieving this maturity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Oedipus and beyond: A clinical theory.

Reviews the book, Oedipus and beyond: A clinical theory by Jay Greenberg (see record 1991-98917-000). The book Object relations theory in psychoanalysis, co-authored by Jay Greenberg and Stephen Mitchell, has become a much admired standard text in psychoanalysis since its publication in 1983. Now each author has come out with a further exposition of his individual clinical and theoretical point of view. Mitchell's opus is Relational concepts in psychoanalysis. Oedipus and beyond is Jay Greenberg's personal statement. In this volume he critiques extant theory and proposes a restructuring of the drive concept, creating a unique version of metapsychology. The result is fascinating, challenging, and perplexing. The fascination comes from Greenberg's remarkable ability to grasp and integrate theory, both Freudian and post-Freudian. Greenberg's book is challenging because it requires the reader to flex his or her own mental muscles quite a bit to keep up with the metapsychological reasoning. Finally, the work is perplexing because there seems to be a number of weaknesses and loose ends in Greenberg's approach. Despite the reviewer's preference for her own system, some will find that Greenberg's fits well with their own point of view, filling some holes here and there. The book is well worth a read. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Les psychothérapies.

Reviews the book, Les psychotherapies by A. Berge (1968). The first chapters are rather dull reflections on the polymorphism of psychology and the plurality of the systems of psychotherapy. The reader which tries to be found in this will become discouraged soon by realizing that this volume which treats of a range of subjects also does not possess an index of subjects. The second part of the book enjoys same qualities. It beings with an excellent chapter which opens with multiple approaches to the psyche; the author thinks and discusses notions and criteria of the mental health. Lastly, the third part, which is shorter and less interesting, presents initially a chapter on the image of the "good" psychotherapy and discusses the problems of distance, gratification, frustration, transference and counter-transference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Forensic psychology: Emerging topics and expanding roles.

Reviews the book, Forensic psychology: Emerging topics and expanding roles by Alan M. Goldstein (see record 2006-13463-000). The main goal of this book is to provide a comprehensive examination of diverse specialized topics related to practice and research in forensic psychology. It was intended to address specialized issues not covered in his Forensic Psychology (the original planned title for the book under review was Forensic Psychology: Advanced Topics), which effectively covered the "bread and butter" topics in the field. The editor now has made an effort to provide the reader with a wide array of specialized forensic topics of interest primarily to psychologists, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students who practice in the areas of forensic assessment and treatment. The contents also are well suited for law students and lawyers who represent clients coming into contact with the mental health system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The first session in brief therapy.

Reviews the book, The first session in brief therapy edited by Simon H. Budman, Michael F. Hoyt, and Steven Friedman (see record 1992-98543-000). This book provides an overview of the models of brief psychotherapeutic intervention. A major focus is how brief therapists structure and manage their initial contact with the patient. The editors intend this volume to be a casebook in which the reader can learn what therapists actually do in their clinical practice and offers the reader opportunities to further develop and sharpen his/her thinking regarding brief therapy. According to the reviewer, this book provides a fine survey of the current diversity of approaches to brief therapy. Taken as a whole, the book stimulates considerable thought on the most efficacious use of time in psychotherapy and will appeal to a wide audience including graduate students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The New Partnership: Women and Men in Organization.

Reviews the book, The New Partnership: Women and Men in Organizations by Nina L. Colwill (1982). The stated goals of her book are "to increase awareness" of a) sex-role problems in organizations, b) some potential solutions, and c) relevant research evidence. An unstated but evident goal is to persuade the reader that women, men, and organizations will all benefit from the maximal development of both sexes' potential. The book contains nine chapters, four of which are co-authored with others expert on the chapter topic. The broad range theory and research presented deals with attitudes, roles, traits and abilities, achievement and related attributions, power, communication, and groups and leadership. Each subject area is initially viewed broadly with a subsequent focus on special issues and research results relevant to sex discrimination in organizations. At the end of each chapter is a section dealing with "alternatives for change" and a set of exercises for use in groups, individually, in interviews, and in designing a study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Minding the body: Clinical uses of somatic awareness.

Reviews the book, Minding the body: Clinical uses of somatic awareness by Donald A. Bakal (see record 1999-02384-000). Bakal explains his book as one that "provides a unique framework to help individuals understand what they can do within themselves to maintain health and to maximize their chances of recovery should they become ill". By the reviewers reading of the book, this might be expressed more accurately by saying that the book "provides a framework to help the psychologist, physician, or other health care practitioner to understand an underappreciated dimension of health and well-being that lies within the clients' sphere of control." This book is not for the lay person. It points the professional person in the direction of somatic therapies by providing a wealth of references, case examples, and specific target populations for application of techniques related to somatic awareness. For a clinician wishing to expand and integrate somatic therapies into his or her practice, the book is wanting in practical application, but hopefully will stimulate the interested clinician to further explore the wealth of books written on the somatic therapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Assessing and managing violence risk in juveniles.

Reviews the book, Assessing and managing violence risk in juveniles by Randy Borum and David Verhaagen (see record 2006-12484-000). This book is a compilation of research findings designed to accomplish the goal of equipping the reader to "conduct risk assessments that are thorough, fair, helpful, and developmentally and empirically sound." New school psychologists will find an excellent framework for learning how to approach the daunting task of assessing risk of violence in children and adolescents. Experienced practitioners will find new research results integrated throughout the book to improve the precision of their risk assessments as well. This book is written for mental health professionals in schools, therapy settings, and juvenile justice systems. Although these three contexts are presented as very different from each other (differences in treatment plans are noted), the basic principles of assessment are applicable to all. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Many voices, many selves.

Reviews the book, Invisible guests: The development of imaginal dialogues by Mary Watkins (see record 1986-98003-000). Watkins seeks to convince the reader that the dialogues we carry on silently—"with our reflection in the mirror...with a figure from a dream or movie, with our dog...with critics, with our mothers, with our god(s)..."—are not an incidental aspect of mental life but central phenomena, laden with both cognitive and emotional significance. Agreement with this beginning point commits the reader to two further ideas which are conceptually independent but systematically interwoven in this book: that the imaginative life deserves analysis based on appreciation of its centrality and generative nature, and that dialogue is a fundamental—perhaps the primary—form in which we think. Watkins draws upon a range of sources in psychology, philosophy, literature and religion to develop an integrated and original interpretation of the meanings of imaginal dialogue in mental life. Readers may take issue with one or another theme, or with Watkins' overall approach, but they will find themselves engaged in a meaningful and thought-provoking dialogue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Clinical versus statistical prediction: A theoretical analysis and review of the evidence.

Reviews the book "Clinical versus statistical prediction: A theoretical analysis and review of the evidence" by Paul E. Meehl (see record 1996-97896-000). This book talks about a continuing debate among psychologists regarding the relative accuracy and efficiency of statistical (actuarial) predictions and those made by clinicians on the basis of subjective "understanding" of individual cases. This book represents the author's first published statement of his position. In the reviewers opinion, the author has succeeded admirably. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Speak of me as I am: The life and work of Masud Khan.

Reviews the book, Speak of me as I am: The life and work of Masud Khan by Judy Cooper (1993). Controversy surrounding M. Masud R. Khan the person usually crowds out serious consideration of his psychoanalytic writings. In Speak of me as I am, Judy Cooper, a psychotherapist in London, convincingly demonstrates that, despite his life, Khan's work has enduring value and would amply reward anyone who studies it. She has a difficult task, to give the reader a familiarity--and even sympathy--with Khan while not minimizing his always off-putting and frequently repulsive behavior. One would think that the task would be all the more daunting because she herself had an analysis with Khan from 1967 to 1973. Far from providing an idealized portrait of her former analyst, however, Cooper openly discusses Khan's shortcomings. The book is so successful in part because her years of closeness with him enable her to convey an insider's sense of what Khan was like. In a compact space--only 122 pages of text--Cooper achieves her main purposes: familiarizing the reader with Khan's life and work while also evaluating his contributions to psychoanalysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dangerous liaisons: Sexual intimacies in supervision.

The existing literature concerning supervisor–supervisee sexual intimacies was reviewed before proposing a conceptualization of sexual contact in the supervisory relationship. Three definitions of sexual contact (sexual harassment, sexual involvement, and sexual discrimination) are presented. The nature of the supervisory relationship is defined by comparison with other professional relationships (instructor–student and therapist–client). The process of supervisor and speculation about vulnerabilities of trainees to sexual advances by supervisors are discussed in terms of the developmental model of therapist training. The damaging effects of sexual contact between supervisors and supervisees are discussed and suggestions for improved graduate education are noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Sexualities and homosexualities.

Reviews the book, Sexualities and homosexualities by Jaime P. Stubrin (see record 1994-97944-000). Stubrin's primary goal for this book is to outline the various theories that apply to an understanding of what he calls the sexual "deviations" ("perversions, neosexualities, and paraphilias"). He wants this consolidation of information to serve as a resource for psychoanalysts who may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the material on this topic. One theme repeated throughout the book is the need for analysts to approach "sexual deviants" with the "same affection and sympathy" which they feel toward obsessive, hysterical, borderline, or psychotic patients. Stubrin challenges the tendency in traditional psychoanalytic theory to assume mental illness or degenerative tendencies in those whose sexuality is not considered "normal." Throughout the book, Stubrin draws on literature, Freud's original work, and case examples to breathe life into his theoretical musings. The book is engaging and easy to read. At times, the translation (from Spanish) is quite choppy, but the ideas remain solidly stated. In summary, the reviewer believes that Stubrin accomplishes his primary goals of generating unrest and controversy through a challenging discussion of difficult psychoanalytic topics. The book will be of interest to those who hold very traditional psychoanalytic theoretical positions as well as those who work with the various sexualities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)