Irvin D Yalom The Gift Of Therapy Summary

The Gift of Therapy written by psychologist Irvin D. Yalom emphasizes key points in a therapy session focused on the attitudes and appropriate responses of both the patient and the therapist alike. Yalom directs his readers to consider the roles of both the patient and the therapist and recognize that both parties must be willing to learn from the other in order for a session to be most beneficial. Throughout this reading, I found myself mentally adjusting and applying his advice, mistakes, and successes to my interest in the field of applied behavioral analysis therapy. While not every chapter related directly to this field of therapy, each one held a concept able to be indirectly applied to specialized scenarios. Nevertheless, the following

Similar to the statement presented earlier about a diagnosis being counterproductive, therapists find that they are not able to offer beneficial services to those patients who believe that their problems are caused by circumstances outside of their control. Patients must learn that even in the midst of stresses that are outside of their control, it is how they respond to that distress that determines their overall quality of life. Even considering stresses that are outside of their control, they must learn to focus on the implications that are within their control. It is human nature to desire control over selves, and when we feel that we have lost that control, we begin to think and act in outrageous ways. Assuming responsibility allows us to gain back some of that control by recognizing our role in creating, adapting, and improving our life situations. In a school setting, students with disabilities often use their diagnosis as an excuse to turn from their responsibilities and release control. While a disability may limit them in some ways, guiding them back to the tasks they can complete and are in control of is a common function of teachers, therapists, and