Addressing himself to both general and professional audiences, a practicing psychotherapist and professor of psychiatry at Cornell Medical Center's Payne Whitney Psychiatric Center in Manhattan examines countertransference, the feelings and fantasies awakened in the therapist by the patient that almost invariably interfere with the healing process of therapy. In highly readable chapters with such titles as “The Dream of Rescuing a Damsel in Distress'” or “The Dream of Having the Perfect Child,” Myers offers accounts drawn from his 30 years as a supervising therapist in which other therapists have sought his help in dealing with troublesome cases. Urging practicing therapists to complete their own psychoanalytically based therapy in order to better understand the impact of their past on their responses to and treatment of patients, Myers also encourages patients to question therapists about their training. While the chapters have a schematic sameness and some of his interpretations seem pat, Myers's observations serve both audiences well. Psychotherapy Book Club alternate. —Publishers Weekly

A dramatic revelation of one of the best-kept professional secrets: What goes on behind the impassive face of a psychotherapist and how it affects the course and outcome of therapy. Bound to be controversial, Shrink Dreams offers insights, information, and warnings that are of vital importance to patients and therapists alike.

Manhattan self-help author Julia Goodman thinks she's got her addictive personality under control. Then her psychoanalyst moves away, her husband takes off to L.A. and her best friend moves to Ohio. Feeling lonely and left out, Julia fills in the void with food. This is a huge problem--especially since she's about to go on national television to plug her hot new self-help book about how she conquered her sugar addiction. Julia desperately sees eight shrinks in eight days, speed-dating for Dr. Replacement to help shrink back her body and anxiety in time for her close-up.

Enter the fascinating world of dreams, their mysteries, their meanings: To dream of a bird flying freely represents hopes and aspirations To dream of winter means a time in life that is not fruitful To be visited by someone in a dream can mean that there is information, warmth, or love available To be searching in a dream is an attempt to find an answer to a problem These are just a few of the 10,000 dream images and interpretations contained in this volume, a book that can bring insight, clarification, and guidance.

Mariam Gates has worked with hundreds of children over the past 20 years, and in her popular Kid Power YogaTM classes, the guided relaxation is always a favorite part. With Sweet Dreams, Gates teams up with illustrator Leigh Standley to present eight mini-adventures designed to send even the most restless sleeper off to a good night. Travel deep into the rainforest, dive down for an underwater adventure, or rocket to the moon! Each visualization uses mind and body relaxation techniques, taking your child on a fun and engaging invitation to dreamland. As you move through the imagery, breathing techniques, and simple motions, your child will quiet her mind, relax, and let go of the day’s worries. Part "choose your own adventure" and part calming ritual, these gorgeously illustrated guided journeys teach children to self-soothe and prepare for a good night’s rest.

'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.

The most authoritative and comprehensive book available on dreams and dreaming. Enter the fascinating world of dreams, their mysteries, their meanings: to dream of a bird flying freely represents hopes and aspirations; to dream of winter means a time in life that is not fruitful; to be visited by someone in a dream can mean that there is information, warmth, or love available; to be searching in a dream is an attempt to find an answer to a problem. These are just a few of the 10,000 dream images and interpretations contained in this volume, a book that can bring insight, clarification, and guidance.