This book provides an ideal course for psychotherapists who are interested in sharpening their people caring skills. The insights are helpful to therapists of all ages and experience. Dr. Mary Pipher is an excellent supervisor who provides for therapists a bag of wisdom to share with their clients. She also reminds the more seasoned clinicians of the vital things in the work of therapy and in the living of life that can be obscured in the busy pace of one’s practice.

Mary Pipher likes to quote Margaret Mead’s definition of an ideal culture as one in which there is a place for every human gift. It is obvious that one of Mary Pipher’s gifts is helping clinicians find the rich place psychotherapy can have in the lives of their clients. This unique book peals back the walls of clinical supervision and gives the clinician a seat alongside Mary Pipher as she supervises a PhD intern. The book is Mary Pipher’s journal of supervision notes written as a candid, warm and insightful dialogue. The course presents a picture of effective therapy that connects affect, behavior and thinking in the context of culture and relationships. Her practical approach to helping clients provides a wealth of resources for therapists to take into their counseling practices.

Citations: Mary Pipher credits the following clinicians for influencing her life,practice,supervision and writing

Frankl, V. (1969). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logo therapy. New York: Washington Square Press

Maslow, A.H.(1965). A philosophy of psychology: The need for a mature science of human nature. In F.T. Severin (Ed.) Humanistic viewpoints in psychology, New York: McGraw-Hill

May, R.(1975).The courage to create.New York:Harper

Rogers, C.R.(1980).A way of being.Boston:Houghton Mifflin

Educational Objectives

• Identify the behaviors clinicians must demonstrate to be effective in helping clients resolve emotional impasses
• Understand how the ‘world of nature’ promotes a therapeutic effect and how to motivate clients to intentionally connect with nature
• Be able to articulate the reasons ‘connection’ is an important therapeutic factor and how to help clients connect with their own thoughts, feelings, behaviors and with others
• Be cognizant of the therapeutic effect of metaphors and how to facilitate clients learning the steps in creating their own personal and extended metaphors
• Identify the three ways therapists get themselves into ethical problems and how to avoid these missteps across a career span
• Assess the elements critical in balancing personal life-goals and a sustainable clinical career

Syllabus / Course Instructions

• The Course consists of reading the selected book, successfully completing an online posttest and filling out a course evaluation.
• The book is not included. It must be purchased separately. We have supplied a link to Amazon.com for your convenience.
• Purchasing your course will give you access to both a printable copy of the test and an online version. Print the test to use as a companion as you read the book and answer the questions.
• You cannot exit the online test once you begin, so have your answers available.