Voicelessness and Emotional Survival: Notes from the therapy underground: A book for patients and therapists

Sadly, it is the rare person who can enter another person's world at the deepest and most vulnerable level. One of the main reasons the author of this book chose to become a therapist was to learn how to do just this. Naturally, he had expected that, as a result of their training, therapists would be far better than most at entering other people's worlds, overcoming whatever obstacles and barriers they found in the way. But, over and over again his psychology teachers, supervisors and personal therapists taught him that they were no better than others at entering another person's world, even though they believed they were experts. Why can't most therapists listen accurately and with empathy? And why do all therapists believe they can? The follow-up questions are even more important: Can therapists be re-taught to enter another person's world at the deepest and most vulnerable level? If so, how can this be done? Rather than fitting people into their theoretical "boxes," what is it that therapists need to devote their attention to? Specific examples of "Relationship Therapy for One" (CBS News' description of Grossman's work) are offered in this book. This very personal, concise and highly readable book addresses these crucial questions for therapists, people in therapy and people looking for a therapist. About the author: Working and teaching in the outpatient psychiatry department at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School by the age of twenty-four, psychologist Richard Grossman found himself silenced by the dogma, politics and quest for status in the psychiatry world. He quit Massachusetts General Hospital when he was thirty and retreated to a small basement office where he spent the rest of his career discovering what human beings truly need and how he could be most helpful. As part of his work, Grossman created the popular Voicelessness and Emotional Survival website and message board devoted to helping people free themselves from damaging relationships and find their own voice. Featured three times in New England Psychologist, Grossman's work has also appeared in Psychology Today, Boston Magazine, The Boston Globe, Cosmopolitan (UK) and CBS News.