Main description:

Why do people want to become a psychotherapist? How do they translate this desire into reality?

On Becoming a Psychotherapist explores these and related questions. Ten leading therapists write about their profession and their careers, examining how and why they became psychotherapists. The contributors, representing a wide cross-section of their profession, come from both Britain and America, from different theoretical backgrounds, and are at different stages in their careers. They write in a personal and revealing way about their childhoods, families, colleagues, and training. This absorbing and fascinating book offers a fresh perspective on psychotherapy and the people attracted to it.

This Classic Edition of the book includes a new introduction written by the authors and will be invaluable for qualified psychotherapists and those in training.

Contents:

Introduction to the Classic Edition. Contributors. Preface. Part 1: Introduction. Gilbert, Hughes and Dryden, The Therapist as a Crucial Variable in Psychotherapy. Part 2: The Contributions. Mahoney and Eiseman, The Object of the Dance. Bloomfield, Through Therapy to Self. Thorne, The Blessing and the Curse of Empathy. Heppner, Chance and Choices in Becoming a Therapist. Karp, Living vs. Survival: A psychotherapist's journey. Strupp, My Career as a Researcher and Psychotherapist. Fransella, A Fight for Freedom. Street, Challenging the 'White Knight'. Rowan, A Late Developer. Chaplin, Rhythm and Blues. Part 3: Commentaries. Spurling and Dryden, The Self and the Therapeutic Domain. Norcross and Guy, Ten Therapists: The process of becoming and being. Appendix. Author Index. Subject Index.