Mental Health Books

Life is easy, we just make it difficult! This refreshing book shows you a way to really know the true nature of your spirit, not your "learned" nature. As a psychology/life student with a keen interest in how we create illnesses such as cancer, and even zits, poor relationships and corporate stress,The I That Is We epitomizes how life truly is in it's simplist form. How everything we thought of as paramount, no longer has meaning. This book has been around for many years, but it seems particularly important in today's fast-paced lifestyle. An easy read, but a depth comes to those who understand it's meaning. It has changed my life, or rather, my life has changed dramatically as a result of reading this. I was ill, now I am well. Thank you Richard Moss.

Richard Moss is a disciplined writer, thinker, teacher, and experiencer of life. There are no pat answers and easily carried out suggestions in this book--for that reason, it is not what I'd call a New Age book, although it deals with a New Age topic--the spiritual transformation of individuals and groups toward what some call the "Christ consciousness," the dimension of unconditional love. The author is comfortable with ambiguity, with not knowing all the answers, with not providing a complete roadmap through this often disruptive and frightening process of transformation. He writes as an expert--what he teaches I believe he has experienced himself on a very deep level. This book is for anyone interested in transformation, mystery, ambiguity, and in being challenged to give up the ego's most comfortable and defensive habits. I've read it a few times, and each time I get more out of it than the last.

Alfred Kinsey's work elevated the conversation about sex. Timothy Leary's work elevated the conversation about drugs. Now, Nick Smith gives us his thorough study of apologies, a work that promises to elevate the conversation about what it means to say "I'm sorry."

"I Was Wrong: The Meanings of Apologies" exposes how contemporary gestures of contrition demand our critical attention. Smith, who teaches Philosophy at the University of New Hampshire, examines the significance of various forms of regret. From collective apologies for the holocaust to a pet owner's apology for forgetting to fill his dog's bowl, all remorse receives scrutiny. Smith writes with the learning and patience of a benevolent professor. His message persuades a reader that today's public and private apologies are playing fast and loose with morality.

Smith wants to move the conversation beyond what he regards as the juvenile exchange of "I'm sorry." "No you're not." His book challenges readers to consider the moral force, or lack thereof, behind any act of contrition. His purpose is to guide a reader through an exercise that assures her moral sensibility will grow more sophisticated upon confronting the meanings of apologies. Smith leads us on a journey through a quagmire of questions. For example, who--precisely--is responsible for the 2006 Abu Ghraib torture scandal, and what would be the most suitable redress to those who were injured?

I realized the full urgency of Smith's work when considering blame, redress, and emotions. Smith illuminates the contemporary practice of blaming corporations for wrongs when culpability lies with individuals and their complex social associations. Blaming an automobile manufacturer for a death caused by an SUV that rolled over, or blaming a television network for one commentator's sexist comments, appear to be comparable to X throwing a rock that injures Y and Y asking the rock to apologize? Corporations, like rocks, cannot be held morally accountable for injuring someone. Can throwing money at the loss of human life or dignity restore moral decency? These are some more issues that Smith's work helps us approach with clearer thinking.

"I Was Wrong" also gives a reader a fresh perspective from which to read the newspaper. All the lip service people pay to newsworthy remorse reveals a glaring shortcoming--most apologies fail to address moral culpability. For instance, a recent article in the San Diego Union-Tribune reported the misdemeanor of a City council candidate John Hartley. Two women complained Hartley was masturbating and urinating into a cup inside his truck while parked in front of their house. The paper reported "an apologetic mailer [in which] Hartley admitted he had to `take a leak' but denied he was masturbating." Hartley's apology rivals an excuse a potty trainee might give when nature calls. The news article simply relates that Hartley said the voters will decide whether or not they accept his apology. Beyond the question of whether the apology will be accepted, Smith's work encourages one to wonder to what degree the candidate's apology contributed to the dropping of an indecent-exposure charge.

Another example from the local news here was a story about Chinese Americans rallying outside CNN's Hollywood office to demand the firing of Jack Cafferty for calling China's goods "junk" and its leaders "a bunch of goons and thugs." The article reports how China "snubbed an apology from CNN over the remarks, which Cafferty said were in reference to China's government, not its people." This snubbed apology raises all kinds of problematic issues discussed in Smith's book. First, for CNN to apologize for remarks made by one commentator raises questions about whether a collective can or should apologize for one person's remarks. In this situation, CNN's apology looks that much more suspicious when Cafferty further tries to justify the target of his comments. This is a clear case in which an apology is only making matters worse.

Anyone who has a moral debt to pay, or is owed a moral reckoning will want to read this book and embrace its wisdom. As Smith suggests, the work of a satisfying apology for many injuries and injustices in the world could take lifetimes to fulfill. Those committed to moral justice will want to begin this tremendous work with "I Was Wrong."

Dr. Nick Smith has done us all an enormous favor. Apologies are a dime a hundred these days, but this central ritual in our civilization has become more confused than ever.

"Much of our private and public moral discourse occurs in the giving, receiving, or demanding of apologies, yet we rarely make explicit precisely what we expect from a gesture of contrition. As a result, apologizing has become a vague, clumsy, and sometimes spiteful ritual," Smith writes in his introduction.

Smith is a scholar - an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of New Hampshire - and has marched bravely into the swamp of contemporary apologies with a machete and a clipboard. The good news is that he has cleared away a lot of debris and clearly outlines the dozens of complex issues surrounding the process of apology in a way that makes this book ideal for discussion groups.

In fact, it's also a great choice for congregational discussion groups, because this certainly is a spiritual issue. Smith makes that point himself in a fascinating chapter about various cultural and religious approaches to the practice around the world. This book is not an in-depth religious analysis of the issue, but Smith gives us enough analysis here so that the thousands of congregationally based discussion groups across the country could build from his framework - agreeing or disagreeing with his analysis as they consider his book.

The best thing about the book is that it never reaches a point at which Smith inserts a page labeled something like "The 5 Steps to a Perfect Apology." Early in the book, he does talk about various scholars' attempts to come up with a concise set of rules. What he does, instead, is argue that there are many factors closely associated with apologies, forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation that we tend to lump together into our assumptions about the practice.

The rich and powerful in our world haven't helped the confusing situation by offering some of the lamest possible apologies in recent years - many of which amount to excuses or self-justification masquerading as apologies. When you're done reading Smith's book, you'll be able to talk about dozens of issues that such shallow attempts to shift blame have completely overlooked.

And, here's the best part! You'll actually be a better person after reading this book - well, at least theoretically if you've taken Smith's advice to heart. The next time you've had an unfortunate accident, made a mistake, or willfully committed a violation of someone's rights - you'll know they're all morally different categories of behavior requiring, from the start, different forms of apology.

I'm sorry, but you really do need to buy - and read - this book.

My knowledge of the subject had been limited to a few magazine articles and my own illness until I read a few books on eating disorders. I now feel pretty much up-to-date, and this was easily the most useful book I read. While it's medically sophisticated, it is also easy to read, clear, and compassionate. And that has really helped me get going on my treatment. Thanks.

Having read quite a few books on this subject, I found this book to be accessible, thoughful, and perceptive. Highly recommended.

This book not only made me think about what the people in the book have to struggle with but also made me think about what it would be like to have a mental illness and deal with the challenges that come with it. I found this book very powerful and recommend it for anyone as it not only addresses people with mental illness but actually people in general and what some understanding and compassion can do to enhance not only the life of the person receiving it but your own as well. I found myself thinking about the photos and stories in it long after I first read it.

I loved this book! It's a great collection of visually compelling and moving photo's. I've followed Marc Hauser's work for a few years and I think these photos represent some of his best work. He really brings out each subjects unique personality and gives you an insight into their lives. He's a true artist. When I looked through this book, I wanted to cut out and frame each photo. The text written by Alisa Hauser is also wonderful. The fact that Marc and Alisa are cousins who never met until they worked on this book gives the book and added emotinal dimension. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who admires fine photography.

this book i read in '80s after 3 years of Primal sceam therapy at home with family & friends into self-healing. It helped me learn how birth effects all humans, tho few truely believe it with feeling compassion for newborn or remember birthing with mother. Only one other book explains lifelong birthing patterns into adulthood relationships by 2 Rebirthers, that Janov always rejects as spiritual illusions of bias defences. I disagree for me, but maybe true for others? The midwives & homebirthers also know some patterns of imprints, tho its so deep & forgotten,most deny birth-trama lasts long now. However PTSD is now considered normal for hospital-born babies, grown up & sleep-walking thru life unconscious of most causeffects patterns & cycles. Real crying & screaming are natural instincts of babies & children, that adults have lost & forgotten how good it feels afterwords, even realizing the causes of pain & lettingo into flowing, growing & glowing love!

I read this book back in the eighties when it came out. Since then, I've probably read it three more times. Janov has written many books on primal therapy and early childhood trauma. Obviously, this book is more specific to birth and its life-long effects. We owe Janov a lot of thanks for his research into early trauma.

Most people are skeptical. After all - if we can't remember something - how could it affect us?

But it does. Most people go through life never understanding their symptoms. Their symptoms always seem to be some mysterious "it" they can never explain. That mysterious "it" is early trauma that has yet to be resolved. Too bad mainstream psychology has never accepted what Janov has discovered, even though it is well documented.

That being said, there are a couple of mistakes Janov has made in his conclusions about the resolution of early trauam. (1) Only a trained therapist (read expensive) is capable of safely helping people access & resolve their earliest traumas. (2) You must eventually be able to feel the full emotional intensity of the original trauma.

This has been proven wrong with Redirecting Self-Therapy (RST) as discovered by retired neuroscientist Ellie Van Winkle. Her therapy is producing the same results as Primal Therapy - but as a free self-therapy. Ellie has proven that anger - and only anger - must be discharged to completely resolve past traumas. Ellie's therapy offers a unique way of doing this. One does NOT have to experience/feel the other emotions of the original trauma - like fear or catastrophic loneliness. It is only suppressed anger that need be expressed. RST has been called "primaling made easy" by some. It is much faster and easier than Primal Therapy. Can't provide a link here, but you can do your own search later for Redirecting Self-Therapy.

The authors do a wonderful job of connecting with the incest victim. They obviously are very skilled in listening to their clients and learning from them. I felt they were inside my head, writing my story. The guidelines for healthy sexuality addresses the concerns of incest victims very accurately. The presentation of the sequence of events in healing is very helpful to those not knowing what to expect or how to approach the pain an incest victim feels. I highly recommend this book for anyone that works with or is an incest victim. I also highly recommend Wendy Maltz's book--The Sexual Healing Journey. Cherie Swaters

"Incest and Sexuality" sympathetically and incisevely explores the effects of incest on survivors and offers both they and their intimate partners a great deal of information on ways to get past the abuse. The work deals with a wide range of incestuous circumstances, and either a survivor or one itimately involved with a survivor should find the book well worth the read.

This book uses detailed case material to illustrate the various concerns experienced by patients who are dealing with infertility. It provides clear descriptions of the specific interventions that address many of these patient concerns. Deveraux and Hammerman have presented material in such a way that therapists are able to select appropriate specific interventions so that therapy can be individualized to address the concerns of a particular patient or couple. Infertility and Identity also describes effective interventions for patients who may still be struggling with the issue of infertility years after a successful pregnancy or adoption. This book is especially relevant at a time when financial constraints often necessitate therapy to be focused and time-limited. This book will be an excellent resource for clinicians who are helping patients deal with the many issues related to infertility.

This is a much-needed resource for a major problem area for many couples. Deveraux and Hammerman have written an informed and useful book about a seldom-addressed problem. Of particular interest are their challenges to traditional thinking. As a psychologist often working with clients with infertility problems I found their concepts challenging and useful, full of practical information. Although directed to the professional this book is quite readable and down-to-earth, and will be as valuable resource for individuals and couples struggling with this problem. Highly recommended. Ronald J. Scott, Ph.D.

Fast delivery and in good to great condition at a good price! Can't wait to read it.

Every time I pick up a Yalom book I ask myself why I have waited so long to read another one. His books are a pleasure to read and speak to people on all levels of experience and expertise. The title of this book says it all and is the perfect book for someone who will be working in an inpatient setting. This is a must-read for all professionals working with this population and speaks to the challenges and frustrations of this environment.

I purchased this book with some initial reservation as it is often the case that books dealing with forensic psychology require perseverance to read.

It was a relief to find that my money was well spent on this book as the writing style makes the subject matter not only fascinating but easy to read.

The insanity defense is rarely attempted and even more rarely successful. Even when someone is floridly psychotic with an unequivocal history of severe mental illness, proving that he or she did not know the difference between right and wrong is extremely difficult. One study found that the defense was used in less than 1% of cases, and was successful only about one-fourth of the time. Another public misconception is that successful use of the insanity defense allows people to "get off" for the crime. In reality, most insanity acquittees go to locked state hospitals, often for the rest of their lives.

In this book, Charles Patrick Ewing attempts to correct the many public and professional misperceptions through case studies of 10 high-profile insanity cases, including those of Jack Ruby, David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz, John Wayne Gacy, and Andrea Yates.

Each case is fascinating, and demonstrates the disconnect between public perceptions and the real world of law. In some cases, the defense is attempted as a last resort, when a killer is caught red-handed and has no other plausible explanation. In others, the defendant is crazy as a bedbug but still not found insane.

Whatever the factual circumstances, most insanity trials come down to a battle between competing experts. Ewing vividly portrays these battles, some involving luminaries in the fields of forensic psychiatry and psychology, bringing us lengthy excerpts from the actual trial transcripts of the expert testimony. Don't miss, for example, the epic WWF Smackdown-style confrontation between prominent forensic psychiatrists Park Dietz and Dorothy Otnow Lewis in the trial of Arthur Shawcross.

Tracing the cases from pretrial competency motions to postconviction appeals, Ewing demonstrates the unpredictable influences of state laws, attorney acumen, jury composition, and judicial opinion on real-world outcomes.

Several of these chapters could stand alone as excellent teaching tools for forensic psychologists and psychiatrists or criminal attorneys. One of these is the torturous case of Scott Panetti of Texas, who represented himself while floridly psychotic and was convicted and sentenced to death before undergoing several rounds of high-level appeals. I do wish Ewing had included more geographic breadth; eight of the ten cases are from New York and Texas. But that is a minor quibble with an outstanding volume.

Ewing is a master writer, having brought us the equally engrossing case study volume, Minds on Trial: Great Cases in Law and Psychology, as well as other forensic psychology texts on family violence, battered women, children who kill, and several others. I highly recommend this latest offering.

Pretty good book though I was surprised about the author's comment about the late, great osteopath Larry Jones who actually developed positional release through strain/counterstrain.I remember Larry as being a friendly, helpful chap who was much more flexible regarding his techniques rather than the rigid clinician that the author describes. Regardless, the British Osteopath Chaitow goes into details of the various positional release techniques such as strain/counterstrain, functional release etc. which helps clarifies all the terminology. Chaitow also has a video which is a good acompaniment to the book. Kind of wish I had this for the boards.

On a very complete way, once more, Chaitow shows on Positional Release Techiniques important ways to restablish functional state of different structure, such as muscle spasm, enhacing circulation and more. A very fine book that will be usefull for many manual trehapists. If you have any doubt, don't wait more, acquire it !