On Being a Master Therapist Practicing What You Preach

Bringing a breath of fresh air to the therapy profession, this compelling and thoughtful resource urges readers to move from competency to full mastery in the mental health field. Combining the findings of hundreds of previous studies, interviews with a wide range of master therapists, own unique experiences and perspectives, Jeffery A. Kottler and Jon Carlson have devised a guide that takes therapists out of their comfort zones.

Professionals in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work, and human services, as well as graduate students studying for these professions, will find a level of honesty and candor in this resource, which tackles a range of essential topics in a frank, personal tone, and closes with a meaningful discussion about the challenges of striving for mastery. Master therapists and authors Kottler and Carlson explore a range of hot-button topics, such as:

• Cultural misunderstandings
• Disliking your clients (or having clients dislike you)
• Receiving negative feedback from clients
• Injecting creativity into the therapeutic process
• Finding time for social justice and advocacy

On Being a Master Therapist provides a much-needed look at a range of topics that aren't often given such genuine and insightful treatment, with the goal of helping you attain the attributes that truly distinguish excellence in clinical practice. Start on your journey toward mastery with this thoughtful resource.

JEFFREY A. KOTTLER, PhD, is Professor of Counseling at California State University, Fullerton and Founder of Empower Nepali Girls, an organization that provides educational scholarships for at-risk children in Nepal.

JON CARLSON, Psy.D, Ed.D, is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Governors State University, University Park, Illinois and a psychologist with the Wellness Clinic in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Chapter 1 What IS a Master Therapist Anyway. . . And How Do You Get to Be One?

What IS a Master Therapist Anyway?

Different Standards of Mastery

Client and Therapist Perceptions of Outcomes

Definitions of Mastery by Experts on the Subject

Chapter 2 What We (Think We) Know So Far

A Movement Toward Consensus

What Does Make a Difference?

Talking to the Masters

What Famous Therapists Appear to Have in Common

Chapter 3 Deep Compassion and Caring

Creating Connections

Commitment and Investment

The Growth Edge

Chapter 4 Sophisticated Interpersonal Skills: Really, Really Listening

“How’d You Do That?”

Little Things Make a Huge Difference

Listening Differently

Being in the Moment

Chapter 5 Being Fully Present While Focusing On the Other

Altered States of Being

Mind Chatter

A Way of Being

Staying Present with Ourselves

Chapter 6 Knowing What Maybe/Probably/Mostly Makes a Difference

What Makes a Difference?

Beyond Understanding: Honoring Magic and Mystery

Chapter 7 Speaking the Truth

Lies in Therapy

Confronting Deception

Hard Truths

Taking Risks and Exploring the Unknown

Chapter 8 Making Mistakes—But Not the Same Ones Over and Over

Making Mistakes isn’t the Problem

Practicing Self-Compassion

Most Common Mistakes

Mistakes or Just Data to Process?

Chapter 9 Inviting and Responding to Constructive Feedback

Sources of Feedback

Clients are the Best Teachers

Feedback That’s Most Helpful

Processing Feedback Gratefully

Being Accountable to Ourselves, Our Colleagues, and Our Clients

Life-Changing Feedback

Recruiting Master Coaches and Mentors

How We Know What We Know

Chapter 10 Who You Are is as Important as What You Do

Who We Are Versus What We Do

Qualities of Master Therapists

Practicing Self-Compassion

Modeling As Best We Can

Chapter 11 Acknowledging Commonalities, Responding to Differences

Multiple Cultural Identities

An Individual’s Multiplicity of Cultures

What We Share in Common

Metabolizing Theory and Embracing Complexity

Chapter 12 Love is a Four-Letter Word in Therapy

Multiple Dimensions of Caring

Owning Our Personal Motives

Learning How to Love

Love is Always Possible

Chapter 13 Getting Wild, and a Little Crazy: Promoting Creative Breakthroughs

When Models and Theories Limit Our Creative Options

Sorting Out All the Voices in Our Heads

On Being Creative

Seeking New Knowledge While Embracing Mystery

You’ve Never Heard of the Most Creative Therapists

Thinking Differently About Problems

Where Has Creativity Gone?

Chapter 14 Promoting Social Interest and Advocacy

Who Has Time for This?

Real Master Therapists in Action

Consistent Themes Related to Advocacy Efforts

Let’s be Honest, Really Honest

Full Circle

Chapter 15 Being a Work in Progress

A Voracious Curiosity

Confronting Despair Versus Hope

What  Has Been MostHelpful Along the Way

What Has Been Least Helpful Along the Way

It’s About Relationships, Not Content

Mastery Means Being Able to Accept Mystery

Epilogue

References

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