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Therapy Demystified: An Insider's Guide to Getting the Right Help, Without Going Broke
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
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.
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
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.
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 21, 2012
*Therapy 101*
A straight-forward description on what therapy is all about. From determining whether therapy could be right for you, to "shopping" for a therapist, to getting the most out of your therapy, to knowing when the therapy's working (and when it's not), this book does an illuminating job at demystifying the therapeutic process. This book provides easy-to-understand steps for finding the kind of therapy that's likely to help you feel emotionally richer (and not financially poorer!).
Admittedly bent towards insight-oriented therapy, Kate Scharff nicely captures therapy in a nutshell with her comment that "The only road to lasting, substantial change is facing your emotions and dealing with them in a new way." I think her book serves as an informed and trusted tour-guide to finding where that road begins.
A straight-forward description on what therapy is all about. From determining whether therapy could be right for you, to "shopping" for a therapist, to getting the most out of your therapy, to knowing when the therapy's working (and when it's not), this book does an illuminating job at demystifying the therapeutic process. This book provides easy-to-understand steps for finding the kind of therapy that's likely to help you feel emotionally richer (and not financially poorer!).
Admittedly bent towards insight-oriented therapy, Kate Scharff nicely captures therapy in a nutshell with her comment that "The only road to lasting, substantial change is facing your emotions and dealing with them in a new way." I think her book serves as an informed and trusted tour-guide to finding where that road begins.
May 28, 2026
Comprehensive book on therapy in general discussing the types of therapy, theory, and how to navigate the mental health system of finding therapy for yourself. The author is a psychotherapist as well, so she is personally knowledgeable in this area.
It is sorely in need of an update/revision as it is somewhat dated by about two decades. It is most notably outdated on the sections discussing "online therapy" and "telephone therapy," especially with considering how widespread video telehealth therapy is nowadays and its proven effectiveness, which has vastly improved from what the author discusses in the book.
It was a good, informative book that covers the basics, however.
It is sorely in need of an update/revision as it is somewhat dated by about two decades. It is most notably outdated on the sections discussing "online therapy" and "telephone therapy," especially with considering how widespread video telehealth therapy is nowadays and its proven effectiveness, which has vastly improved from what the author discusses in the book.
It was a good, informative book that covers the basics, however.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews