Mental Health Books

This book is a "must read" for those who consider their pet a close friend or family member.

The book is an easy read, and I found myself 3/4 of the way through it the first night. Not only is the topic interesting, but the writing skill is commendable -- it is written with a nice balance of active/passive voice.

It explained to me, in easy layman terms, the physiological benefits of pet companionship. It also explains why we psycologically find pet 'ownership' so satisfying.

Other books have explored this human-pet relationship through pictures -- "Guys and Dogs", "Woman's Best Friend", "New York Dogs" and they have done a fine job with the pictures.

The authors of "Between Pets and People" have now given us the words and facts to explain our feelings for our pets, And through the facts and explanations emerges a legitimacy for the pet-people relationship that didn't exist before. As you read the book you discover as much about yourself as you do about animal companionship.

This book belongs on your bookshelf!

I would like to revise my original book review on this book.

This book is outstanding and I would highly recommend it for EVERY dog owner and POTENTIAL dog owner.

In addition to discussing the reasons why people choose pets, as well as discussing traits of pets themselves, the authors address other very important topics. Some of the topics discussed are: euthanasia; dog bites -- causes, statistics, solutions; strays -- how to identify them from wandering but owned dogs, and the health problems strays pose; dog packs -- how they operate and the dangers of packs. The authors included a table, The Urban Stray Dog, which is helpful in identifying the difference between an 'Owned Dog' and an 'Unowned Dog.' Also addressed are the diseases that dogs and pets can pass on to humans, their occurrence, and solutions to these disease threats. Not left out are issues such as dealing with people who have too many pets -- and how this type of multiple ownership causes problem for other urban dwellers; the traits of these multiple pet owners are also discussed. Dog laws are also discussed as are poop scoop laws.

The back of the book lists books and articles that the reader might find helpful under various topics discussed in the book; also listed are resource to be found on the internet on topics such as Pets in Therapy, Pet Information, Animal Behavior, Animal Care, Pet Loss, and Veterinary Education and Professional Services.

The book discussed other companion animals as well, but as a dog owner, I tended to focus my review on those issues relevant to me. I do not mean to bias you against the book by excluding mention of other companion animals addressed in the book. This book is probably one of the most comprehensive books I have read about companion animals and the issues surrounding them.

This book covers issues not dealt with in any other book I have read -- yet knowledge of these issues is necessary for being a responsible pet owner. No matter what your pet, you ought to give this book a read. It is a very easy and interesting read, the balance between active and passive voice tends to draw you into the context and makes it hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I found this book remarkable for two reasons: 1)the stories of patients and families struggling with Alzheimers, yet still being able use their sense of humor in positive ways, and 2) the author is giving all her profits to research for a cure.

So often books in this category are difficult to read, but this one is not only readable but enjoyable. The patients and families she writes about really come alive. I found myself deeply touched by their stories, including those about the author's mother.

This is a book for anyone who believes in the triumph of the human spirit and the need for laughter to overcome adversity.

"Ellen P. Young shows us how to rediscover our humanity in her writings on the lives of the Alzheimer patient and Alzheimer caregiver. She awakens us to see the dementia sufferer as a person still deserving of our touch and love. ..." -- Deidad Benincasa, Geriatrics NetworkLiving with and caring for those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia can be an agonizing experience for loving family members and caregivers. It may seem impossible to find the silver lining of hope during these difficult times. How can caregivers and family members lighten the load of grief brought on by such cases? And how do caregivers especially deal with the intensely difficult day-to-day work with those who are afflicted? Veteran hospital social worker Ellen P. Young, who saw both her mother and aunt struggle with Alzheimer's, says that though hard to find, humor is often the best medicine. "Between Two Worlds" is the first book to explore, through personal accounts and vignettes, the rare moments of humor that unexpectedly pop up during the caregiving of people suffering from Alzheimer's and related dementia. Young brings the courageous experiences of care providers and relatives to life as they encounter the challenges of dealing with these seriously afflicted patients. At the same time she reveals the touching and gently humorous moments that go a long way to ease the tension and pain. While respectful of the plight of affected families and patients, Young gathers a timeless collection of "fear busters" that "access mirth" with touching chapters such as "Please Don't Eat the Marigold," and "I've Just Found Out I'm in Baltimore." "By staring the Alzheimer's monster down and even laughing a little in the face of it," Young says, "we bolster our courage and release the chemicals (endorphins) in ourselves to gain a sense of well-being in the face of adversity." A must for all caregivers and families, this is truly a book that, once started, cannot be put down. Ellen P. Young (Lutherville, MD), who retired in 1997 from clinical social work at Union Memorial Hospital, continues to volunteer in the medical community and has written for National Catholic Reporter, among other publications. All royalties go to Alzheimer's research.

Ms Hynes shows her breadth of experience in this field, and the text would be invaluable as a training resource in many fields of supportive human development and therapy.

If you're looking for an intelligent and practical guide to facilitating bibliotherapy - with individuals, couples or groups . . . with adult populations or young people, there is no better blueprint for success than this. Mental health professionals, teachers, librarians and parents interested in the therapeutic application of literature will find Arleen Hynes' advice indispensable. As a practicing bibliotherapist, I have read virtually every book written on the subject and this is the only book I wouldn't live without.

Listening to BirthQuake changed my perspective about a great number of things, and is some remarkable and yet suttle way has shifted the very nature of my days. I tend to experience them differently now. The tapes were a gift from a friend and have clearly become a gift that just keeps on giving. I strongly recommend them.

"Birthquake comforts you while you listen, from the soothing voice of Tammie Fowles to the stories collected from experiences in her own life as well as others. It visits a number of issues that we deal with in our lives and brings joy, sadness, spiritual growth and empowerment. I highly recommend the series, it's a great learning tool for people in or coming out of crisis, as well as those who are healing or have healed from "quakes" in their lives. Birthquake is a stepping stone each time you listen to it, embracing you as you walk down different paths of life's journey."

This book is beautifully written. I kept reading until I'd finished it, pausing along the way for my own emotional encounters with the text. The softness of the language and the storytelling gift only brought the indescribable brutality and cruelty of Caiseal's early life into stark awareness. Those with the disability were his family, his community, his doctors -homophobic Australia at its worst- and its not so many years ago. His extra-ordinary full life experiences and his clear descriptors of fragmented personalities captured my imagination. He has an amazing intellect and an equally huge capacity to move beyond "survival". As a neurotypical I have much to learn from him. As a teacher, I often tell parents of autistic children about Caiseal's story - to encourage them to THINK BIG for their children. Please read his story.

Caiseal Mor courageously told the story of his difficult childhood, and how he has risen above it. A very inspiring, and at times shocking, autobiography.

Excellent self-healing book along the lines of the Louise Hay classic "Heal Your Body", a.k.a. the BlueBook. The chapters are seperated into chakra issues plus lots of other gems. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Enjoy!

I love this book! I have been using Annette Noontil's book regularly for years now. I catch some type of bug, I look it up, follow the directions (provided I follow the directions), it goes away.

I have found this to be the only book which will show a person directions to receive true solace, after a life calamity or life trauma, while at the same time it shows the reader how to limit the prolongation of time one has to endure suffering and pain.

See things from a different perspective. Marvel at the wisdom of this author. And then, rejoice in the prospect of seeing your loved ones in the next life.

This book cover all aspects of the ADD / ADHD child. Good recommendations on meds. for different types of ADHD and why.

I read a borrowed copy and was ordering my own book within 24 hours. Both as a professional working with "at risk" children and as the mother of a child with a psychobiological disorder, I whole-heartedly recommend Dr. Horacek's book. In a spare 211 pages he gives perhaps the clearest most readable discussion of neuroanatomy and neurotransmitters I have encountered. He covers medical management and includes a fascinating glimpse of drug manufacture and marketing, the FDA, and the quandry faced by medical practitioners (hence insurance companies and consumers) in labeling a collection of behavioral symptoms. This book's cost might give some pause, but in my experience one would have to combine 2 or 3 other less readable texts to approximate the content of this single volume. It's an ideal purchase for those who want to know "why".

How unfortunate that Harry Aponte has written only 1 book. His wisdom is something therapists covet. This book is a good sampling of this compassionate scholar.

Aponte does a great job of integrating theory with the "real world" of poverty. Students have found this book to be very helpful in understanding the struggles of multi-problem, chaotic families who present for treatment. Aponte uses a strength based approach to build on what they have vs. what they do not.

Bulimia is a complex syndrome primarily affecting young women. Treating bulimia poses a challenge to the therapist, who must consider how the interactions among sociocultural, individual, and family factors maintain the symptoms.

In this book beginning and experienced professionals will find a sensible and comprehensive approach to understanding and treating bulimia. This approach, based on principles of feminist family systems theory, has been proven successful in a clinical pro-gram devoted to the treatment of eating disorders.

The authors open with a discussion of the complex sociocultural, familial, and individual developmental factors that contribute to the development of bulimia. Family patterns related to eating disorders are traced through the family life-cycle and even through several generations.

Then the authors make a major conceptual contributionâ€"their classification of bulimic families into "perfect," "overprotective," and "chaotic" types. The dynamics and treatment of each family type are illustrated in extensive case studies.

While the focus is on families, the authors recognize that the treatment of bulimia, be-cause of the complexity of the syndrome, must be multidimensional. Their comprehensive treatment program includes thorough assessment (with special attention given to substance abuse and the sexual abuse that many of these women have suffered), consultation (which may open the door to family therapy), individual, couples, and group therapies. The relationship of bulimia to affective disorders and the possible need for medication are also discussed.

Above all, this is a clinical book, packed with intervention strategies and case examples. It will be invaluable to all family therapists and health-care professionals working with bulimic clients.

I feel that this book is excellent for the clinician, the patient, and the patient's family. It provides characteristic of the bulimic individual, their struggles and the family dynamics often envolved with this disease, as well as much more information that aids in treatment and understanding. This author is truely an expert in the area of eating disorders. I only wish that she would write a book on Anorexia Nervousa, not that this book can't be helpful in a variety of eating disorder cases, a book on Anorexia would just better suit my specific needs. I read it a long time ago, and I had to borrow it from someone. This is why I can't be more specific about its content. I just must emphasize that I know that this author is an expert in eating disorders!