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| He said - She said Ad policy Media Books Archive |
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Media Highlights
Recently, I have had several inquiries by Minnesota therapists-authors asking if I would be willing to review their published materials in the newsletter. Since there is limited room available in the newsletter, we have decided to create a separate section on the Web site to highlight briefly the systemic-focused media of local therapists-authors. We also hope that the media presented here will inspire other Minnesota therapists to develop and to share their therapeutic media with the MAMFT community in particular and the Minnesota community at large! Peace, Doug Greenlee
(Do not attempt to contact these mental health clinicians if you have an emergency or are in crisis. Call 911.)
Dr. Jan Hoistad, who is the author of Big Picture Partnering, has recently published a unique and useful set of conversation cards to assist couples in exploring their dreams together. Dr. Hoistad's instructions encourage each partner to draw at random one card from the set and listen quietly to the partner's response, asking questions only after the partner has shared his/her views. This non-threatening and delightful process not only affords the couple an opportunity to practice their listening and communication skills, but it also has the real potential for enhancing their intimacy awareness of each other. Dr. Hoistad's topics include questions about home, family, work, money, travel, spirituality, fun, friends, and caring-all of which are interesting and deserve further clarification, updates if you will, for partners regardless of their length of relationship time. In addition, Dr. Hoistad will send a new question every month if you sign-up for it via her web page www.twofold-publications.com . Finally, if you have further questions, then feel free to contact her via info@bigpicturepartnering.com. Reviewed by Doug Greenlee, MAMFT Book and Media Review Editor
O'Fallon & Vaillancourt have gathered together a touching and powerful collection of remembrances written by women who have lost their mothers at an early age. Their collection is a tribute to the powerful relationship between mother and daughter and the subsequent grief and loss as the result of their mothers' untimely deaths. Yet, contained within their grief, there is the daughters' desire to share and to celebrate those telling moments of each mothers' love and commitment for them, which the daughters have expressed through pictures, poetry and short stories. O'Fallon & Vaillancourt's collection of loving remembrances is not only a tribute to the power of relationship as it stands the test of time, but it is also a nod to the effectiveness of bibliotherapy as a tool for capturing resiliency in the midst of painful loss. The editors collection is truly awe-inspiring, as their collected works illustrate the power and challenges associated with relationships that have come and gone but nevertheless live on through pictures, poetry and short stories. This is a lovely text that family therapists could use as inspiration for themselves or for others who are struggling with grief and loss of a loved one and who are in search of demonstrated resilience through personal remembrance. Reviewed by Doug Greenlee, MAMFT Book and Media Review Editor Drs. Metz and McCarthy have done it again! In the tradition of their previous text, Coping with PE, 2003, their current text is a delight to read because it is written in a similar style that is supportive of the man who is struggling with sexual dysfunction issues and who is searching for solid, well-rounded information that he can apply to himself and his relationship. Furthermore, their text is an exemplary model of how to approach and discuss male sexual dysfunction issues. They incorporate the use of self-inventory tools for identifying ED types/causation, provide sound education about the bio-psycho-social aspects of ED, and develop on point information about the impact and available interventions regarding the maintenance of the man's relationships about which ED so clearly impacts. As a result, the information contained in their text provides hope not only for the man but also for his partner because of the authors specific therapeutic focus upon the importance of including and educating the man's partner as a critical component to the overall success of the man's ED treatment. Also, Metz and McCarthy identify a variety of resources that are available to the reader, ranging from books, websites and social-professional support services. Finally, the authors have created a wonderful and caring text that family therapists can easily access and incorporate into therapeutic sessions with clients who have sexual dysfunction and relational issues. Reviewed by Doug Greenlee, MAMFT Book and Media Review Editor
Recently, Mary provided a two hour workshop at my facility (Recovery Plus, St. Cloud) in which she discussed the importance and related difficulties associated with unconditional love demonstrated by forgiving others and oneself. Although forgiveness and unconditional love can be prickly issues for individuals and families with substance dependence and mental health issues (let's not leave out case managers and therapists!), Mary delineated a therapeutic approach that is both realistic and useful for the client, family members, case manager and therapist. It is an holistic/systemic approach in which she uses a step-by-step process that involves the recognition of an intentionality that includes willingness, cognitive awareness and reappraisal, emotional honesty and spiritual awareness/support. Just as no one therapy works for all persons, so too is it true that this therapeutic model may not work for all clients. However, it is a powerful and systematic approach for addressing strongly held resentments and hurts directed at others and oneself. Mary's therapeutic model may well be an effective tool for marriage and family therapists who work with clients who are struggling with unconditional love and forgiveness issues. For further information, see her website www.maryhayesgrieco.com Reviewed by Doug Greenlee, MAMFT Book and Media Review Editor Author/therapist Betsy Sansby, MS, LMFT: “The Art of Conversation: Instructions and Process”; “STOP: Anger Management Style and Alternative Responses”; “The Ouchkit: A First Aid Kit for Your Relationship” WWW.theouchkit.com 1-800-898-8036If you are using Betsy’s toolkit for couple’s and family issues, then there is no shortage of compassionate and creative interactions available for the therapist and clients to effectively problem solve their communication conflicts. The “Art” of her process begins with the couple’s or family members willingness to engage each other in “A-B” conversation in which one person speaks for approximately twenty minutes while the other listens attentively and asks questions. Once completed, the conversants switch roles and restart the conversation. The content of the conversation focuses upon an identified issue (initially an issue that is not too difficult or contentious) in which Person A answers questions with honesty and openness, demonstrates a willingness to set limits and to give positive feedback, and if necessary, is willing to ask for a time out. Person B is encouraged to ask questions without an agenda, to listen deeply for partner’s needs, and to mirror or to take correction gracefully.
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