Therapy Demystified: An Insider's Guide to Getting the Right Help Without Going Broke

by Kate Scharff

Book Overview

From an experienced clinician passionate about opening up therapy to everyone -- an all-in-one, no-nonsense guide to the complex world of mental health. Therapy practiced well by the right professional is an effective way to sort out a wide range of troubles, but how do you know if it's right for you? In Therapy Demystified , Kate Scharff, an experienced clinical social worker and psychotherapist, decodes and destigmatizes psychotherapy for everyone who's ever considered it, proving that good, affordable help is available to those who want it. Among the key questions Scharff answers are: How do I know if I should see a therapist? What are the different kinds of therapy, and why should I care? Where can I find a therapist that I can afford? What should I expect (and ask) within the first few sessions? How can I tell if a therapist is right for me? How can I tell if therapy is working? Is there any truth to the bad things I've heard about therapy and therapists? What should I do if my child another other loved one needs therapy? Therapy Demystified empowers everyone to become an educated therapy consumer. If you've ever considered therapy but felt skeptical or confused, or if you are currently receiving therapy but aren't sure if you're getting the most out of it -- this book is for you.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569244235
• ISBN13: 9781569244234
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Psychologist recommends

This is a really helpful and straightforward guide to therapy - what it is, how to find it, and how to judge what you're getting. One of my favorite parts is the author's list of reasons people have for avoiding therapy, both for themselves and for their kids. I come across these reasons all the time and loved finding them spelled out. She also explains in clear language the differences between various types and credentials of therapists, styles of therapeutic interventions and approaches, and options of therapeutic modalities. She does an excellent job of describing qualities common to all therapies, as well as the basics of both CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and insight oriented psychodynamic approaches. (She is a psychodynamic therapist herself and her love of the process and its benefits comes across.) If you're in therapy and having any questions about the results or process, I'd highly recommend this book. I'd also recommend it to anyone considering starting therapy - it will answer questions and let you get off to a running start. For anyone considering a career in psychology, this is also a great look at what therapy is really about.

just what was needed

My significant other was ready to be a therapy user- but wanted to know how to find a therapist. This book provided a quick reference as to how to go about looking for a therapist, explaining the different theories and how therapy is approached depending on the theory. It also gave ideas as to how to ask questions of a potential therapist. It's difficult to take that first step of getting help, this book will help you get over the hump and make it less scary. He didn't finish it - just skimmed it over the course of an evening. Even as a good skim, it really did what he needed. Considering how expensive therapy is, this was a great!!!!! investment.

If I had read this book before starting therapy . . . .

This is a wondeful book to read to avoid becoming lost in the labyrinth of psychotherapy options. If only Kate Scharff had published it when I was trying to make such choices many years ago! I already have bought three copies for friends who have had doubts and fears about the process. As the title indicates, this easy-to-ready volume is a guide for choosing the right kind of therapy for an individual, couples, children, whether it might be psychoanalytically oriented, cognitive-behavioral, or even body-oriented psychotherapy! It also contains answers to questions one may feel too shy to ask during the first time in session, such as "Will talking about my problems actually make things worse?" or, "Isn't therapy really just for crazy people?" It also features a section on how to judge if a particular therapist is ethical and compliant with the law. An invaluable resource for approaching therapy as an informed consumer, this volume is highly recommended.

Finally-- a therapist tells it like it is!

I've been thinking about going into therapy for a long time, but have had no idea where to even start. This book makes the whole process of finding and choosing a therapist seem so manageable. It even gives concrete advice about where to find high-quality affordable therapy. Plus, it explains (in terms I can understand) the difference between the different kinds of therapy out there, and how to tell the difference between good therapists and bad. I especially liked the many "checklists," "tips," and "guidelines" that are sprinkled through the chapters. The author says she wants to take the mystery out of therapy, so the reader can be an "educated therapy consumer." I finally feel like I can be. Thank You, Ms. Scharff!

Therapy Demystified

This is a terrific book! I thought I knew everything I needed to know about therapy and therapists, but this book is so crammed with useful information that I learned something new on every page. It is great to have a therapist explain in a compassionate, balanced way the whole business of therapy so that it is understandable and not intimidating. Even the most skeptical, anti-therapy readers should think differently after reading this book. It is written in clear, accessible prose and is designed to empower and educate the consumer, taking you step-by-step through all of the things you need to consider in deciding whether therapy is right for you, to finding a therapist you can afford, to evaluating if therapy is working for you. This book would be a great gift to anyone who has a friend, spouse, or child who needs help, including those who may not even know they need it.