1st Edition
Getting Started as a Therapist 50+ Tips for Clinical Effectiveness
Getting Started as a Therapist provides students and new therapists a bridge between education and practice. Written for a transtheoretical audience, the book explores questions and struggles common to students and new therapist supervisees. Readers can find pointed guidance in 52 chapters, spanning five categories. Categories include:
• Establishing better therapeutic relationships
• Increasing diagnostic accuracy, understanding why diagnosis is not a dirty word, and how it is critical to good outcomes
• What to avoid saying to patients
• Specialized topics like how to more effectively talk about self-injury and learning to use metaphors
• Professional development such as making the most of supervision and how to limit liability
The succinct chapters come alive with real-life examples and are often followed by suggestions for further reading and worksheets that help readers to refine their practice.
SECTION I: Setting the Stage 1 It’s Not Like on TV; 2 Be Yourself; 3 Therapy isn’t a Race; 4 Don’t Forget the Basics; 5 Forget About Being So Formal; 6 Mastering Your Therapeutic Presence; 7 Body Language Basics; 8 How to Polish Your Summarizing; 9 Find Value in Silence; 10 Strive to Cultivate Substance in Each Session; 11 Ask About Meaning; 12 Be Attentive to Your Intuition; 13 Don’t Rely on Psychological Archaeology; SECTION II: Things Therapists Shouldn’t Say 14 The Big Three; 15 Beware of the "Suck‑It‑Up" Trap; 16 What Not to Say to Anxious Patients; 17 What Not to Say to Depressed Patients; 18 What Not to Say to People Who Hear Voices; SECTION III: Demystifying Diagnosis 19 Ignore Popular Culture Portrayals of Mental Illnesses; 20 In Defense of Diagnosis (Part 1); 21 In Defense of Diagnosis (Part 2); 22 Post‑Diagnosis Considerations; 23 Never Diagnose Based on One Chief Symptom; 24 Re‑Evaluate Historical Diagnoses; 25 Five Quick Tips for More Thorough Assessments; 26 Always Consider Medical Mimicry; 27 How to Evaluate for Medical Mimicry; 28 How to Discuss Diagnoses with Patients; SECTION IV: Special Topics 29 Interview, Don’t Interrogate; 30 Try Not to be Alarmist; 31 Be Familiar with the Defenses; 32 Approach Trauma Lightly; 33 Learn About Self‑Injury; 34 Exploring Therapist Self‑Disclosure; 35 There’s No Need to Rescue; 36 Why Therapists Must Be Salespeople; 37 Learn to Reframe; 38 Getting Friendly with Metaphors; 39 What if Someone Implies, "You’d Never Understand"?; 40 Pay Attention to the Role of Culture; 41 Talk About Medications; 42 Personality Disorders Are Important; 43 Ask for Feedback; SECTION V: Professional Development 44 Consider an Integrative Approach; 45 Limiting Liability; 46 Clinical Supervision Is Vital for Therapist Growth; 47 Take Continuing Education Seriously; 48 Have Clinical Heroes; 49 Improve Your Clinical Skills After Hours; 50 Do Therapists Need Therapy?; 51 Protecting Your Own Mental Health; 52 You Can’t Save Them All
Biography
Anthony D. Smith is a licensed mental health counselor, certified juvenile court clinician, professor, clinical supervisor, and trainer with more than twenty years of experience. He maintains “Up & Running,” a popular Psychology Today blog for new therapists.
"This is a very user-friendly book that’s sure to become a guiding light for students and new therapists who want to stand out from the start! Highly recommended."
Bill O’Hanlon, Oprah-featured author of 41+ books, including in Search of Solutions and Do One Thing Different
"In a wise and thoughtful manner, Anthony Smith has crafted a remarkable book of effective strategies for conducting psychotherapy and growing professionally. Beginners and seasoned professionals alike will benefit from his perspective on best therapeutic practices."
Richard P. Halgin, PhD, ABPP, professor emeritus of psychology, UMass Amherst, and textbook author
"This book is so comprehensive and well-written. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to seasoned mental health practitioners and graduate-level instructors for their use with students who have an eye on clinical practice."
Joseph W. Shannon, PhD, teacher, consultant, and psychotherapist in private practice in Columbus, Ohio
"In the style of a metaphor-making storyteller with the clear-thinking, staccato delivery of someone with decades of experience, Anthony Smith has crafted a delightfully provoking and informative resource for new therapists and supervisors alike."
Emma E. Redfern, MA, psychotherapist, supervisor, author, workshop presenter, and podcast co-host
