Robert Taibbi, LCSW, is an experienced clinician, supervisor, and clinical director who has been practicing almost 50 years. He is the author of numerous books, including The Therapist's Journey, Doing Family Therapy, Fourth Edition, and Doing Couple Therapy, Second Edition, as well as over 300 magazine and journal articles, and writes a column titled “Fixing Families” for Psychology Today online. Mr. Taibbi provides training both nationally and internationally in couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy, and clinical supervision. He has a private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"This book distills deep clinical wisdom, gained over a lifetime, into a collection of absolute gems. Several dozen (wonderfully short) chapters each capture a vital aspect of transformative therapy. Others provide profoundly helpful morsels of wise, pragmatic guidance for the journey of becoming a good therapist. This book is a gift to beginning therapists."--Patricia L. Papernow, EdD, author of Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships"This wise and informative book will teach you what it is like to become a therapist, and how to be a good one. It is chock-full of excellent advice."--Michael P. Nichols, PhD, author of The Lost Art of Listening"Every therapist (or would-be) needs this highly personal, insightful, painfully honest book. Taibbi writes in a conversational tone, spilling his own story in engaging detail and inviting the reader to look deeply into their own motives and expectations about the profession. Fifty-nine short chapters make the book useful as a reference work: Don’t like your supervisor? Chapter 33. Sexual feelings for a client? Chapter 31. Thinking about going private? Chapter 50. There is a ton of really good, real-world clinical guidance in this book, but Taibbi also has a deeper focus. He helps readers look inward and be open to their own emotional experience, rather than find ways to 'fix' people. Taibbi emphasizes the intimate, personal nature of the work and the therapist’s full engagement--and that is what makes the book so valuable."--David Waters, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine, University of Virginia"This comprehensive, wide-ranging, practical guide provides a window into the actual experience of becoming a therapist. Based on decades of clinical experience, it outlines the joys and challenges of the adventure, providing clear guidance, engaging exercises, and sensible dos and don’ts for every step of the way. Simultaneously wise and playful, and full of honest, real-life examples, this is a 'must read' for beginning therapists and their mentors alike."--Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance-

• I. Starting Out1. Why Do You Want to Be a Therapist? A Question & Answer in Two Parts2. Reflections: My Becoming a Therapist3. Why Doing Therapy is Hard Work4. Transitions: From the Academic to the Agency World5. Piling On: Common Clinical Challenges6. Reflections: My First YearII. Your Work7. Six Ways to Build Rapport8. Be the Adult9. What Can’t You Do?10. Coping with Anxiety: Approach, Avoid, or Bind?11. The Relationship Triangle12. Making the Most of Parallel Process13. Shifting Focus: How Therapy is Different from Normal Conversation14. Therapy’s Many Voices15. Therapy as a Pragmatic Sport16. Creative Formats: Thinking Outside the Box17. Therapy as Performance18. Handling Self-Disclosure19. Sounds of Silence20. Everything to Know About Resistance21. Getting on Track and Staying There22. Changing the Emotional Climate23. The Challenge of Couple Therapy24. Three Big Obstacles in Relationships25. Children, Families, and Therapy26. Working with Play27. Time to Check In28. First Aid for Those Awful Sessions29. When a Client Is in Crisis30. Working with Clients Who are Different From You31. Handling Sexual Attraction: It’s Gonna Happen32. Those You Can’t HelpIII. Your Workplace33. So, You Don’t Like Your Supervisor?34. What Your Supervisor’s World Is Like35. Time to Leave Your Therapist?36. Clients Are not Vicarious Outlets37. When You Don’t Like Your Clients38. Working in Challenging Environments39. When You're Having a Hard Time40. So, What Do You Do All Day?41. Organization One: Taking Control of Your Day42. Organization Two: Setting PrioritiesIV. Your Career43. Your Work: A Job, a Career, a Calling44. One Year Out: Moving from Content to Process45. Moving On: Coming into Your Power46. A Voice of Your Own47. How to Use Trainings48. When You Outgrow Your Job49. Transitions: Clinician to Supervisor50. Going Private51. Reflections: Looking Back at a CareerV. You52. Are You a Builder or a Discoverer?53. Creating a Balanced Life54. Getting Closure: Writing to Heal Old Wounds55. Reflections: My Big Day in Court56. Run Toward What You Fear57. Your Life as a Movie58. What’s Your Relationship with Your Life?59. How to Be WiseReferencesIndex

Robert Taibbi, LCSW, is an experienced clinician, supervisor, and clinical director who has been practicing almost 50 years. He is the author of numerous books, including The Therapist's Journey, Doing Family Therapy, Fourth Edition, and Doing Couple Therapy, Second Edition, as well as over 300 magazine and journal articles, and writes a column titled “Fixing Families” for Psychology Today online. Mr. Taibbi provides training both nationally and internationally in couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy, and clinical supervision. He has a private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"This book distills deep clinical wisdom, gained over a lifetime, into a collection of absolute gems. Several dozen (wonderfully short) chapters each capture a vital aspect of transformative therapy. Others provide profoundly helpful morsels of wise, pragmatic guidance for the journey of becoming a good therapist. This book is a gift to beginning therapists."--Patricia L. Papernow, EdD, author of Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships"This wise and informative book will teach you what it is like to become a therapist, and how to be a good one. It is chock-full of excellent advice."--Michael P. Nichols, PhD, author of The Lost Art of Listening"Every therapist (or would-be) needs this highly personal, insightful, painfully honest book. Taibbi writes in a conversational tone, spilling his own story in engaging detail and inviting the reader to look deeply into their own motives and expectations about the profession. Fifty-nine short chapters make the book useful as a reference work: Don’t like your supervisor? Chapter 33. Sexual feelings for a client? Chapter 31. Thinking about going private? Chapter 50. There is a ton of really good, real-world clinical guidance in this book, but Taibbi also has a deeper focus. He helps readers look inward and be open to their own emotional experience, rather than find ways to 'fix' people. Taibbi emphasizes the intimate, personal nature of the work and the therapist’s full engagement--and that is what makes the book so valuable."--David Waters, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine, University of Virginia"This comprehensive, wide-ranging, practical guide provides a window into the actual experience of becoming a therapist. Based on decades of clinical experience, it outlines the joys and challenges of the adventure, providing clear guidance, engaging exercises, and sensible dos and don’ts for every step of the way. Simultaneously wise and playful, and full of honest, real-life examples, this is a 'must read' for beginning therapists and their mentors alike."--Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance-

• I. Starting Out1. Why Do You Want to Be a Therapist? A Question & Answer in Two Parts2. Reflections: My Becoming a Therapist3. Why Doing Therapy is Hard Work4. Transitions: From the Academic to the Agency World5. Piling On: Common Clinical Challenges6. Reflections: My First YearII. Your Work7. Six Ways to Build Rapport8. Be the Adult9. What Can’t You Do?10. Coping with Anxiety: Approach, Avoid, or Bind?11. The Relationship Triangle12. Making the Most of Parallel Process13. Shifting Focus: How Therapy is Different from Normal Conversation14. Therapy’s Many Voices15. Therapy as a Pragmatic Sport16. Creative Formats: Thinking Outside the Box17. Therapy as Performance18. Handling Self-Disclosure19. Sounds of Silence20. Everything to Know About Resistance21. Getting on Track and Staying There22. Changing the Emotional Climate23. The Challenge of Couple Therapy24. Three Big Obstacles in Relationships25. Children, Families, and Therapy26. Working with Play27. Time to Check In28. First Aid for Those Awful Sessions29. When a Client Is in Crisis30. Working with Clients Who are Different From You31. Handling Sexual Attraction: It’s Gonna Happen32. Those You Can’t HelpIII. Your Workplace33. So, You Don’t Like Your Supervisor?34. What Your Supervisor’s World Is Like35. Time to Leave Your Therapist?36. Clients Are not Vicarious Outlets37. When You Don’t Like Your Clients38. Working in Challenging Environments39. When You're Having a Hard Time40. So, What Do You Do All Day?41. Organization One: Taking Control of Your Day42. Organization Two: Setting PrioritiesIV. Your Career43. Your Work: A Job, a Career, a Calling44. One Year Out: Moving from Content to Process45. Moving On: Coming into Your Power46. A Voice of Your Own47. How to Use Trainings48. When You Outgrow Your Job49. Transitions: Clinician to Supervisor50. Going Private51. Reflections: Looking Back at a CareerV. You52. Are You a Builder or a Discoverer?53. Creating a Balanced Life54. Getting Closure: Writing to Heal Old Wounds55. Reflections: My Big Day in Court56. Run Toward What You Fear57. Your Life as a Movie58. What’s Your Relationship with Your Life?59. How to Be WiseReferencesIndex

Robert Taibbi, LCSW, is an experienced clinician, supervisor, and clinical director who has been practicing almost 50 years. He is the author of numerous books, including The Therapist's Journey, Doing Family Therapy, Fourth Edition, and Doing Couple Therapy, Second Edition, as well as over 300 magazine and journal articles, and writes a column titled “Fixing Families” for Psychology Today online. Mr. Taibbi provides training both nationally and internationally in couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy, and clinical supervision. He has a private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"This book distills deep clinical wisdom, gained over a lifetime, into a collection of absolute gems. Several dozen (wonderfully short) chapters each capture a vital aspect of transformative therapy. Others provide profoundly helpful morsels of wise, pragmatic guidance for the journey of becoming a good therapist. This book is a gift to beginning therapists."--Patricia L. Papernow, EdD, author of Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships"This wise and informative book will teach you what it is like to become a therapist, and how to be a good one. It is chock-full of excellent advice."--Michael P. Nichols, PhD, author of The Lost Art of Listening"Every therapist (or would-be) needs this highly personal, insightful, painfully honest book. Taibbi writes in a conversational tone, spilling his own story in engaging detail and inviting the reader to look deeply into their own motives and expectations about the profession. Fifty-nine short chapters make the book useful as a reference work: Don’t like your supervisor? Chapter 33. Sexual feelings for a client? Chapter 31. Thinking about going private? Chapter 50. There is a ton of really good, real-world clinical guidance in this book, but Taibbi also has a deeper focus. He helps readers look inward and be open to their own emotional experience, rather than find ways to 'fix' people. Taibbi emphasizes the intimate, personal nature of the work and the therapist’s full engagement--and that is what makes the book so valuable."--David Waters, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine, University of Virginia"This comprehensive, wide-ranging, practical guide provides a window into the actual experience of becoming a therapist. Based on decades of clinical experience, it outlines the joys and challenges of the adventure, providing clear guidance, engaging exercises, and sensible dos and don’ts for every step of the way. Simultaneously wise and playful, and full of honest, real-life examples, this is a 'must read' for beginning therapists and their mentors alike."--Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance-

• I. Starting Out1. Why Do You Want to Be a Therapist? A Question & Answer in Two Parts2. Reflections: My Becoming a Therapist3. Why Doing Therapy is Hard Work4. Transitions: From the Academic to the Agency World5. Piling On: Common Clinical Challenges6. Reflections: My First YearII. Your Work7. Six Ways to Build Rapport8. Be the Adult9. What Can’t You Do?10. Coping with Anxiety: Approach, Avoid, or Bind?11. The Relationship Triangle12. Making the Most of Parallel Process13. Shifting Focus: How Therapy is Different from Normal Conversation14. Therapy’s Many Voices15. Therapy as a Pragmatic Sport16. Creative Formats: Thinking Outside the Box17. Therapy as Performance18. Handling Self-Disclosure19. Sounds of Silence20. Everything to Know About Resistance21. Getting on Track and Staying There22. Changing the Emotional Climate23. The Challenge of Couple Therapy24. Three Big Obstacles in Relationships25. Children, Families, and Therapy26. Working with Play27. Time to Check In28. First Aid for Those Awful Sessions29. When a Client Is in Crisis30. Working with Clients Who are Different From You31. Handling Sexual Attraction: It’s Gonna Happen32. Those You Can’t HelpIII. Your Workplace33. So, You Don’t Like Your Supervisor?34. What Your Supervisor’s World Is Like35. Time to Leave Your Therapist?36. Clients Are not Vicarious Outlets37. When You Don’t Like Your Clients38. Working in Challenging Environments39. When You're Having a Hard Time40. So, What Do You Do All Day?41. Organization One: Taking Control of Your Day42. Organization Two: Setting PrioritiesIV. Your Career43. Your Work: A Job, a Career, a Calling44. One Year Out: Moving from Content to Process45. Moving On: Coming into Your Power46. A Voice of Your Own47. How to Use Trainings48. When You Outgrow Your Job49. Transitions: Clinician to Supervisor50. Going Private51. Reflections: Looking Back at a CareerV. You52. Are You a Builder or a Discoverer?53. Creating a Balanced Life54. Getting Closure: Writing to Heal Old Wounds55. Reflections: My Big Day in Court56. Run Toward What You Fear57. Your Life as a Movie58. What’s Your Relationship with Your Life?59. How to Be WiseReferencesIndex