'What brings you here?' is the standard question posed to patients at the outset of their therapeutic journey. In A Curious Calling, this question is posed to therapists themselves. Applicants to psychotherapy training programs commonly state that they wish 'to help people'—but this tells us very little. What are the unconscious factors underlying the decision to become a psychotherapist? Guilt, compassion, a sense of moral duty, a sense of power? Or a wish to be needed, or to enjoy vicariously the prospect of receiving aid and comfort? For each individual with a 'need to help' there exists a unique constellation of underlying motives and aims. Without exploring and facing up to these hidden sources of motivation, therapists run the risk of exploiting patients for their own needs. The only comprehensive text on this topic, Sussman's book presents a survey of motivations to practice psychotherapy, through an extensive review of the available literature and discussion of the results of a qualitative study of therapists conducted by the author.
What are the consequences of prolonged exposure to the mental andemotional sufferings of others? In what ways can the practice ofpsychotherapy impede a person's ability to form healthy, fulfillingpersonal relationships? Is it true that psychotherapists areunusually prone to mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, sexualacting out, workaholism, and suicide? Is there something aboutpeople who are drawn to a life in psychotherapy that puts them athigher risk of developing certain behavioral disorders? Now in a candid and revealing look into the private andprofessional lives of psychotherapists, a group of notedpractitioners attempt to answer these and other hard questionsabout the women and men who pursue this most perilous ofcallings. Throughout the pages of this fascinating book, nearly thirtypsychotherapists--including psychologists, psychiatrists,psychoanalysts, and social workers--provide intimate, at timespainfully frank, accounts of their inner experiences and struggles.In a series of compelling first-person narratives, written in avariety of styles, they explore such topics as the therapist'spersonal development and unconscious motivations for becoming atherapist, the emotional impact of clinical work on thepsychotherapist, the stresses and strains that the practice ofpsychotherapy can exert on a marriage, parenting and psychotherapy,disillusionment and the physical and psychic isolation of clinicalwork, the struggles of therapists who suffer from characterologicalproblems of their own, and the extreme perils of dealing withsuicidal patients. They also delve into a number of importantprofessional, ethical, and legal hazards practitioners face in thisage of the medical "quick-fix." A Perilous Calling offers readers unparalleled insight into thepsychotherapist's deepest concerns and conflicts. It reveals theperils of practice and candidly explores how some psychotherapistshave learned to cope with them. In reading this book, professionalswill learn how to take better care of themselves both in theirprofessional and personal lives and will find new ways to transformthose perils into opportunities for growth and mastery. At the sametime, their patients, friends, and loved ones will gain a deeperunderstanding of these complex and uniquely caring individuals.
Exposing the moral and strategic deficits of the Obama, Clinton and Kerry approach to world affairs, A Perilous Path takes a close look at American history, while at the same time providing fresh, thought-provoking analysis. It calls for renewal of the best American foreign policy traditions, which emphasize “peace through strength” and human rights. Anne R. Pierce tells the fascinating story of Obama administration foreign policy and illustrates its disturbing consequences. She shows that President Obama and his Secretaries of State expended more effort in improving relations with dictatorships than in strengthening ties with democracies or encouraging ideas of freedom. With meticulous research, Pierce documents the administration’s decisions and discusses its worldview. She reveals vital information regarding Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State, providing a cautionary account of what we can expect from a Clinton presidency. Whoever becomes president, A Perilous Path offers a moral and strategic compass for both policymakers and the public. A Perilous Path will make a substantial contribution to the discussion about America’s proper role in the world. This book is a must read for everyone concerned about the current state of the world, and interested in charting a better course.
Two years have passed since the conclusion of the Shenandoah Sisters series, and Katie and Mayme are young women with big dreams, running Rosewood with the help of their two uncles and their friends Emma, Josepha, Jeremiah, and Henry. Jeremiah proposes to Mayme, but she is hesitant to accept. She loves him but does not want to give up her life at Rosewood. Local whites are furious at the Daniels brothers for harboring blacks at Rosewood and treating them like equals. The newly rising KKK kidnaps Jeremiah and plans to hang him. Will the brothers rescue him in time? Or will Mayme live to regret not saying yes to Jeremiah when she had the chance? Carolina Cousins Book 1
The Poetics of Fear looks at how fear is used for political purposes, focusing on the binary logic of 'this is the way things are, and there is nothing (else) you can do about it' -- a logic that underlies the realist tradition in international relations theory. The Shield of Achilles from Homer's Iliad is used as metaphorical analysis to look at what the politics of fear is, how it works, and how it can be resisted. It aims to provide a human response to human security matters. The work first shows how the Shield works to paralyze its audience. How can it be resisted? One response is to offer a warning about the hazards of bearing the Shield. After looking at thinkers such as Plato, Baudrillard, and Nietzsche, the work concludes with an examination of ekphrasis as a critical tool.With a unique and fresh perspective, The Poetics of Fear will be relevant to those interested in security studies and critical theoretical approaches to political science.
