From his youth, Irwin Yalom studied the problems of existential psychology. He wrote books on the history and methodology of psychotherapy. And the most famous work of Irvin Yalom, “The Gift of Psychotherapy”, is read not only by professionals, but also by people who are eager to help themselves and their neighbors in solving life problems.
Short biography of Irwin Yalom
The future scientist and researcher was born on June 13, 1931 in Washington in a family of emigrants from Russia. In 1952, he graduated from George Washington University, and in 1956 - from the School of Medicine at Boston University. After receiving the specialty of a doctor, Yalom was sent to serve in the army at the Tripler military hospital in Honolulu.
Returning home, Irwin entered the service at Stanford University. Then he became interested in existential psychology, deduced the basic rules and described what the therapist does.
At 27, he married his school sympathy Marilyn, who later became a famous writer. Spouses have been happily living together for over 60 years. In the marriage, Yaloma gave birth to 4 children.
Popular books by the author
Dealing with the problems of existential psychology, Irwin Yalom devoted several works to the subject. Perhaps the most famous is Existential Psychotherapy, which has become a real textbook for most student students. The book examines the painful moments of human existence - the fear of death, a feeling of loneliness, a sense of the meaninglessness of being and inner freedom. Many examples show various human reactions to a particular event, as well as the mechanisms of transition from one state to another. The work reveals effective methods of influencing the subject's worldview in order to overcome personality problems.
"Inpatient group psychotherapy" will help doctors working in a hospital with patients. The novelty of this book is a call not to focus on the client’s illness, but on the nature of his interactions with other members of the group. The here and now principle is a fundamental tenet of group therapy techniques. All problems are solved on the spot within the group and are not taken out of it in the future.
Another interesting book by the author - “Psychotherapeutic stories” - is filled with funny and instructive stories from the life of Irwin Yalom himself. The work looks like a fascinating novel. At the same time, the documentary parts of the book describing the recollections of the doctor’s patient witnesses affect the reader like a lightning strike. Having studied labor, one can gain not only rich experience, but also adopt methods of helping oneself and one's neighbors.
What does a therapist according to Yalom
In his books, Professor Irwin considers not only therapeutic methods. Much attention is paid to what the therapist does, the nature of his relationship with the patient. In the novel "Liar on the Couch" in the main character, Dr. Ernest Yal, he personified himself, his views on life and principles of work. The work shows both the formal and informal side of psychotherapy, its pitfalls and diverse approaches. Particular attention is paid to the problems of the relationship between the patient and the therapist, namely their romantic side.
Is it moral for a client to fall in love with his doctor, and if such a feeling arises, then how to deal with it? The book emphasizes that the therapist also has the right to his own emotions. And yet, mutual love is fraught with regression in therapy, so informal relationships must be stopped at the beginning of their development. The same applies to the financial relationship between the client and the therapist. According to Yalom, the doctor always needs to remember his professional duty, not to encourage neither the whims of the client, nor his fleeting weaknesses. Otherwise, it is best to refuse psychotherapy sessions. It is advisable to transfer the patient to another specialist in order to avoid unpleasant incidents.
“The Gift of Psychotherapy” by Irvin Yalom: content and reviews
The book was written for young therapists and psychology students. The work was created in the usual manner for Yalom without any special dogma or postulates. The professor speaks to young colleagues not so much as a mentor, but as a wise adviser and assistant in difficult matters. Studying the “Gift of Psychotherapy” by Irvin Yalom, you can learn all the secrets of this amazing method. In addition, the work of a psychologist appears with a truthful, unadorned side, with all the difficulties and pitfalls. The book “The Gift of Psychotherapy” gives the reader a real picture of the work of a specialist in this field.
Many of the laws of the therapy process described in the work give rise to a great interest in the discipline for the reader, an understanding of whether it is worth devoting one's life to this work.
In addition to practicing therapists, consultants can also greatly benefit from reading work. The work contains 85 sections in which you can find recommendations for all occasions. The book "The Gift of Psychotherapy" by Irvin Yalom will make you fall in love with the profession of assistant psychologists.