Listening to Patients

In this gem of a book, master teacher and psychiatrist Richard G. Druss stresses a flexible and humane approach to psychotherapy. Using clinical anecdotes as a method of teaching, Druss presents some of his own early cases--failures as well as successes-and through these moving vignettes gives us fresh insights into both the therapeutic process and the healing relationship between therapist and patient. As he has to generations of supervisees, Druss describes the value and beauty of learning how to listen to patients. The chapters in this volume follow a logical and chronological sequence--from the initial establishment of rapport with a new patient to the realization of goals at the end of therapy. Along the way, Druss examines such topics as "Conflict, Personality, and Culture in Psychotherapy," "The Spiritual Life of Patients," and Patients Who Return to Psychotherapy After Termination." This book is written for psychiatry residents, medical students, and practitioners of clinical psychology, social work, nursing, and primary care medicine. This beautifully written volume, totally free of jargon and arcane terminology, would be of equal interest to any educated person who wishes to know more about modern dynamic psychotherapy.