The Myth of the Untroubled Therapist: Private Life, Professional Practice

by Marie Adams

Therapists are often expected to be immune to the kind of problems that they help clients through. This book serves to demonstrate that this is certainly not the they are no more resistant to difficult and unexpected personal circumstances than anyone else. In this book Marie Adams looks into the kind of problems that therapists can be afraid to face in their own lives, including divorce, bereavement, illness, depression and anxiety and uses the experience of others to examine the best ways of dealing with them.
The Myth of the Untroubled Therapist looks at the lives of forty practitioners to learn how they coped during times of personal strife. CBT, psychoanalytic, integrative and humanistic therapists from an international array of backgrounds were interviewed about how they believed their personal lives affected their work with clients. Over half admitted to suffering from depression since entering the profession and many continued practising while ill or under great stress. Some admitted to using their work as a ‘buffer’ against their personal circumstances in an attempt to avoid focusing on their own pain. Using clinical examples, personal experience, research literature and the voices of the many therapists interviewed, Adams challenges mental health professionals to take a step back and consider their own well-being as a vital first step to promoting insight and change in those they seek to help.
Linking therapists’ personal histories to their choice of career, The Myth of the Untroubled Therapist pinpoints some of the key elements that may serve, and sometimes undermine, counsellors working in private practice or mental health settings. The book is ideal for counsellors and psychotherapists as well as social workers and those working within any kind of helping profession.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Nonfiction, Social Work

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important addition to books about the practice of therapy for supervisors and therapists alike, the author explores how loss, illness, age, mental health issues affect those working with clients especially if they are also struggling with the same issues. She writes about the importance of knowing ourselves and our sensitivities in order to ensure that we can be there for clients. I was interested that depression can help the therapist deepen their empathy but that anxiety will impinge upon their ability to work. The book comes out of an extensive research project and sometimes the rigorous academic writing interrupts the flow of the narrative. I would have also liked more of a feminist/cultural perspective when the author was writing about the 'guru's' of therapy all of whom are white males, especially when she was deconstructing their approach to self-awareness. I like the way the author write about all modalities and the importance of having therapy whilst training as well as when needed post qualification. I really enjoyed the chapter on the purpose and importance of supervision which will be helpful to supervises and supervisors alike. Overall this is an important book, a way of helping therapists, whether in training or experienced, to keep an eye on their ability to work when life gets in the way, which it will, therapists are human after all.

[Radhika Haralalka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy New Year, folks! I wanted to start off 2018 by sharing one of my favorite books from 2017 - The Myth of the Untroubled Therapist by Marie Adams.
While the title of the book attracted me enough to buy it despite the steep price tag, the content kept me hooked enough to discipline myself to read only 1 chapter a day, savoring each thoroughly.
It talks about how the personal lives of psychotherapists also impacts their professional lives and how we can work with it. Immensely validating, informational - one of the best supervision sessions I have ever had :)

[Louise Hendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt serendipitous as I found it just when I needed it, however the themes, debates and reflections contained within it are validating and thought provoking for every person working in a therapeutic role. I would highly recommend giving it a read from whichever discipline, school of thought or level of experience you are coming from.

[Kate Ahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A welcome book, accessibly written. I would have liked a bit more exploration of the process of making decisions about disclosure, and means of assessing fitness to practice in times of difficulty, but of course that's going to be hugely variable across therapists, clients, and situations.

[Renetta Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A recommended reading for any therapist, a reminder for us all that we are human first! Life is no easier for us because we have insight or training and when the challenges arise we need support just like every other human!

[Amelia Clapham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very honest and eye opening

[VintageScorpioQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential for the training therapist, a weapon against imposter syndrome. Therapists dont exist alongside real life, so life issues affect us too. This book needed to be written.

[Ismaa Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for therapists and trainee therapists. Should be part of 'must to read books" for all therapists. Enjoyed the writing style and excellent learning.

[Diana Golo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if at the beginning of the book I had the feeling that there were a lot of Whys during the book I understood that its purpose is to make us understand that we are people who have similar pains and difficulties. It is normal to be vulnerable and to have problems.
Although the author brought to the fore a lot of aspects that therapists face, I would have liked to see the How, how to solve difficult situations.

[anarcho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colloquial and well-written. Covers important topics that are not necessarily covered in training courses.