On Being a Master Therapist - by Jeffrey A Kottler & Jon Carlson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Bringing a breath of fresh air to the therapy profession, this compelling and thoughtful resource urges readers to move from competency to full mastery in the mental health field. Combining the findings of hundreds of previous studies, interviews with a wide range of master therapists, own unique experiences and perspectives, Jeffery A. Kottler and Jon Carlson have devised a guide that takes therapists out of their comfort zones.

Professionals in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work, and human services, as well as graduate students studying for these professions, will find a level of honesty and candor in this resource, which tackles a range of essential topics in a frank, personal tone, and closes with a meaningful discussion about the challenges of striving for mastery. Master therapists and authors Kottler and Carlson explore a range of hot-button topics, such as:

• Cultural misunderstandings
• Disliking your clients (or having clients dislike you)
• Receiving negative feedback from clients
• Injecting creativity into the therapeutic process
• Finding time for social justice and advocacy

On Being a Master Therapist provides a much-needed look at a range of topics that aren't often given such genuine and insightful treatment, with the goal of helping you attain the attributes that truly distinguish excellence in clinical practice. Start on your journey toward mastery with this thoughtful resource.

From the Back Cover

Take the first steps from competency to mastery in your clinical practice!

On Being a Master Therapist: Practicing What You Preach is an honest and accessible narrative that builds on Jeffrey Kottler's previous best seller On Being a Therapist. Kottler and Carlson use observations from a multitude of sources, including research studies, the sage advice of dozens of esteemed writers and scholars who have investigated facets of therapist mastery, as well as their own extensive experience. This book is filled with personal insights from two of the profession's wisest sages, discussing delicate and provocative issues with humor, candor, and honesty. On Being a Master Therapist takes a bold approach in which Jeffrey and Jon share compelling and engaging first-hand accounts that guide motivated therapists and counsellors down the road to becoming masters.

This is an outstanding resource for professionals in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work, and human services. It is also an excellent learning platform for graduate-level students and general readers interested in the helping professions, and offers insight in these key areas:

• What is known and misunderstood about excellence in therapy
• Important and neglected facets of mastery
• What distinguishes mastery in clinical practice
• Hot-button issues such as learning from failures, cultural misunderstandings, and advocacy
• Mastery-level clinical skills can be augmented and strengthened

This is a unique book about counseling and psychotherapy, and what matters most in creating and sustaining a superlative therapeutic practice. The personal tone and powerful honesty of On Being a Master Therapist: Practicing What You Preach invites readers to become as committed to their own personal and professional development as they are devoted to helping their clients make positive and lasting changes in their lives.

About the Author

JEFFREY A. KOTTLER, PhD, is Professor of Counseling at California State University, Fullerton and Founder of Empower Nepali Girls, an organization that provides educational scholarships for at-risk children in Nepal.

JON CARLSON, Psy.D, Ed.D, is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Governors State University, University Park, Illinois and a psychologist with the Wellness Clinic in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.