Becoming a Therapist

Revised and expanded for the digital age, this trusted guidebook and text helps novice psychotherapists of any orientation bridge the gap between coursework and clinical practice. It offers a window into what works and what doesn't work in interactions with patients, the ins and outs of the therapeutic relationship, and how to manage common clinical dilemmas. Featuring rich case examples, the book speaks directly to the questions, concerns, and insecurities of novice clinicians. Reproducible forms to aid in treatment planning can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8½“ x 11” size.

New to This Edition

• Reflects two decades of technological changes—covers how to develop email and texting policies, navigate social media, use electronic medical records, and optimize teletherapy.
• New chapters on professional development and on managing the impact of therapist life events (pregnancy and parental leave, vacations, medical issues).
• Instructive discussion of systemic racism, cultural humility, and implicit bias.
• Significantly revised chapter on substance use disorders, with a focus on motivational interviewing techniques.
• Reproducible/downloadable Therapist Tools.

See also other essential resources for new clinicians—The Mental Health Clinician's Workbook, by James Morrison, which takes a learn-by-doing approach to building diagnostic skills, and The Therapist's Journey, by Robert Taibbi, which offers guidance for navigating professional development, boundaries, self-care, and more.