Ready To Talk: A Companion Guide to Psychotherapy

Ready to Talk: A Companion Guide to Psychotherapy is a hands-on guide for anyone currently engaged in psychotherapy or considering it for the first time. It's also well-suited for those who've tried psychotherapy in the past but were dissatisfied with results. As an experienced psychotherapist, author Mary Sanger has often heard questions such as, "How does therapy work?" and "How long will I need to be in therapy?" Of course, the answers are different for everyone but Sanger recognized in her own practice that her clients could not only enhance but also expedite their therapy if they had ongoing access to some basic, pragmatic information about how the therapeutic process works. In straightforward language and an easy-to-read format, Sanger explains how one's past may inform one's present, but that it doesn't have to rule it. Essentially, each of us is the author of our own story. Ready to Talk helps you get the most out of therapy as quickly as possible.

In Ready to Talk, Sanger discusses in detail the difference between simply "feeling better" (which frequently occurs in the early stages of therapy) and "getting better" (which creates lasting positive changes but requires commitment and regular client participation). With an emphasis on the Family Systems Theory developed by Dr. Murray Bowen, Sanger streamlines the process of knowing and understanding the basic self - providing questionnaires, client examples and interactive exercises that give the therapeutic client opportunities to "do the work" between sessions as well as thoughtfully prepare for appointments so that the client can to make the most of them.

Readers will learn how to challenge current beliefs that are no longer serving them well, recognize and change unhelpful thought patterns and self-defeating behaviors, manage emotions so that relationships are more enjoyable, and understand how others' beliefs and emotions don't have to control their lives. It's an indispensable book for those seeking a healthier, richer, and more pleasurable daily life.

The chapter titles are:

Chapter 1 "What Brings You Here?": Why People Seek Therapy
Chapter 2 What Goes On in the Room?: How Does Therapy Work?
Chapter 3 What Are the Goals of Therapy?: Feeling Better vs. Getting Better
Chapter 4 Thoughts and Feelings: What's the Difference?
Chapter 5 Differentiation of Self: Come Here - Now, Go Away!
Chapter 6 Managing Feelings: Feelings Are Neither Good Nor Bad
Chapter 7 The Importance of Journaling: Seeing is Believing
Chapter 8 Relationship Patterns: Healthy Relationship Require Healthy People
Chapter 9 Growing a Basic Self: Meet Your New Best Friend - YOU
Chapter 10 Distorted Thinking: It's Not What You Think
Chapter 11 Defense Mechanisms: Are They "Evil" or Necessary?
Chapter 12 Boundaries: Respect for Others Begins with Self
Chapter 13 Communication: Ready to Talk - with Others
Chapter 14 It's Complicated: Setbacks, Obstacles and Stumbling Blocks
Chapter 15 Our Time is Up: Conclusion