The Portable Therapist: Wise and Inspiring Answers to the Questions People in Therapy Ask the Most...

by Susanna McMahon

“An inspiring book that can give guidance and comfort to the reader.”—Barbara De Angelis, Ph. D., author of Real Moments

The Journey to Self-Love, Self-Discovery, and Finding Life’s True Meaning Begins with . . . You
 
Each of us has the power to find true happiness, and to discover a sense of purpose in our lives. This remarkable book will help you find your own answers to life’s most difficult questions and guide you on your quest to change and grow, to live in the moment, and to feel the pure unadulterated joy of being alive.
 
Drawing from questions her patients ask most, psychologist Susanna McMahon teaches you how to deal with the issues you care about—from self-love to destructive behavior to loving relationships.
 
The Portable Therapist is more than a practical guide to emotional healing and wellness. It is effective medicine for the troubled soul. With compassion, wisdom, and enlightening ideas, it encourages you to be true to yourself, develop social interests, and discover the positive, capable, confident human being you are meant to be.
 
Discover the Answers to These and Other Essential

• Why don’t self-help books work for me?

• I have everything I need; why am I so miserable?
 
• How can I stop abusing alcohol? Drugs? Food? Sex? Others? Myself?

• Why can’t I have a good relationship?

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 1994

Reviews

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs a copy of this book to get them through life!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handy reference-style book with many helpful one-two page solutions on varied topics. I found portions of it clunky and out of sync with my reality, but that's okay. Easy enuf to skip 'em. Besides, my world view can, and likely will, change.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pulled this book off the shelf for a change of pace. It is a great little concentrated bundle of therapeutic concepts and tools and inspiration. It is going on my shelf as a great pocket reference. It has gotten me thinking about working in the mental health field in a more realistic way than anything has in a long while. The author distinguishes between Western and Eastern mindsets, between Doing and Being, between Weak Ego and Self Esteem. None of these are things I was taught in school -- but all of the underlying concepts are the connection points between the various schools of psychology. I recognize concepts that my therapist has taught me using different language and images. I can see myself recommending this book to others, although for some people it might feel a little too esoteric.

[Seeker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very wise compendium of questions and answers on how to face various challenges in life. I wish I had read this book while growing up, as it could have spared me some pain and helped make my journey in a life a little less bumpy.

What the book makes clear from the get-go is that it is the Eastern model of "being", rather than the Western model of "doing" that is central to helping us become happier. Additionally, the book underscores several critical insights, such as:
- We need to love ourselves first and then love others (which I've always had difficulty with, as I felt that loving myself first was selfish; however, the book managed to explain this idea in a way that was persuasive).
- The most important question to ask ourselves from time to time is: how am I feeling now?
- We may not be able to control how we feel but we can certainly control how we behave.
- Hurting too much after a breakup is an indication that the relationship was dysfunctional and was based on meeting our needs rather than desires (so, when our needs are no longer met, the break-up may feel even more painful).

I wish the book included some discussion on what constitutes a healthy relationship; while a healthy relationship may take different meaning for different individuals, it is unclear what can hold a relationship together if, as the book suggested, none of the partners in a relationship try to meet each other's needs (because they prioritize their own needs). While this idea may "sound" wise and practical, I struggle to see how a relationship based solely on excitement and without any willingness to sacrifice can sustain itself over the long haul.

Despite this caveat, I can confidently say that the advice provided in this book is, at times, considerably more useful than the counsel I've received from some therapists. So, please do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self-Esteem + Social Interest = Natural High

I found this for $1 at my local Goodwill. I hadn't heard of it before and picked it up on a whim.

That night, I stayed up until 2am devouring the whole thing. I've since reread it a few times and find myself returning throughout my week as I need a Self-Esteem boost and a reminder to keep my core relationships strong (Social Interest).

The Q&A format is compelling, and the straightforward, rational advice within is wise and helpful.

I'd recommend this to anyone, and in fact I've purchased 5 additional copies to distribute to friends in family. It's that good.

[Shahad Abonomai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit, it crashed me at the beginning, I realized tons of stuff but then it got me where I am now and I'm truly grateful for this book, it a portable book indeed.. i carry it everywhere I go :)

[Michael LaMarca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even when I may not have agreed with the assertions or explanations being made by the author, she offers a great range of thought-provoking questions that can really help you realize your own values and opinions.

[Mirela Stoimenova · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book of this kind.
Really basic and useless.

[Jessa White]

This is such a profound read for anyone who seeks therapy or is in the social service field. A simple yet challenging Q&A that will have you thinking.

[Eliana Calamiello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un manuale di autoanalisi che fa capire con semplicità che sbagliamo a pensare che c'è qualcosa che non va in noi, ma è il metodo con cui affrontiamo la vita ad essere difettoso.

[TuUba]

Rutin psikoloji ve kişisel gelişim kitaplarından farklı olarak verdiği örneklerle içselleştirebileceğiniz hayatınızda kolay uygulayabileceğiniz güzel tespitleri olan bir kitap.

[Katie Eckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Answers to questions that most of us wonder about or struggle with at some point. Though chapters are brief, they get you started, chewing on some important questions.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too repetitive in answer… I did appreciate reading different topics at my own pace.

[Davidlandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd be the last person to recommend a self-help book on thoughts and feelings. By the looks of this book, I thought it would be a fluffy feeling-fest of emotional strokejobs for people who are too cheap or lazy to get it from live humans. Boy was I wrong. With lucid ease, McMahon provides digestible 1-2 page "answers" to the biggest questions we ask when we feel stuck: "What is the meaning of life?" "How can I get over my past?" "Who am I?" "Why can't I say 'no'?". Her answers will surprise you with their plainspeak insight and surprising achievability. The people I've personally recommended the book to love it. There's no magic or miracles claimed anywhere here, just some well-delivered wisdom of creative self-accountability.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little book that addresses the main challenges people face in their lives. One theme that runs through the book is the need for self esteem. Another theme is the need to be connected to others. I think that nearly everybody can get something out of this book.

[Hippiemom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers some nice insights and aids in increasing self-awareness.

[Spider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm grateful to Dr. McMahon for this simply wonderful book of small but very helpful insights.
The cookie jar-self esteem analogy gave me insight on myself, and others.

[nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favorite books. I love how honest and straightforward it is. If I could sum this book up in a few random words, those words would be: acceptance, self-esteem, and reflection.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this a good book

[Ty-Orion · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basic and useless.

[Loubna Assiri]

i have not read it yet