The Heart of Being Helpful: Empathy And the Creation of a Healing Presence

by Breggin, Peter R.

• ISBN13: 9780826102744
• ISBN10: 0826102743
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-28
• Publisher: Springer Pub Co

Summary

Based on more than 30 years of clinical experience as a psychiatrist and a therapist, Dr. Breggin illustrates the importance of developing a therapeutic bond-or healing presence-between helping professionals and their clients. The author provides useful vignettes, case studies, and personal insights to help both beginning and experienced therapists develop more empathy in therapeutic relationships. He asserts that the first step toward effective treatment is empathic self-transformation in the therapist. It is empathy and self-transformation that lie at the heart of being helpful. Topics include vulnerability, nurturing, helplessness, forgiveness, and spirituality, as well as tips for working with: clients in extreme emotional crises; children and families; and patients of culturally diverse backgrounds.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
1 Creation of Healing Presence	1	(10)
2 Being in Someone Else's Presence	11	(10)
3 Acceptance of Our Own Personal Inadequacy	21	(8)
4 Nurturing of Human Nature	29	(10)
5 Does Empathy Hurt Too Much?	39	(12)
6 Does Empathy Make Us Too Vulnerable?	51	(10)
7 Beyond the Quick and Easy Cure	61	(10)
8 From Fear and Helplessness to Love	71	(12)
9 How to Help in Extreme Emotional Crises	83	(12)
10 Creation of Healing Aura in Families	95	(14)
11 Helping People Who Seem Very Different from Us	109	(12)
12 Empathy and the Reform Spirit	121	(6)
13 Finding Ourselves Through Principled Living	127	(8)
14 Empathy and Forgiveness for Grievous Misdeeds	135	(10)
15 Empathy for Children and Childhood	145	(12)
16 Importance of Empathy for Ourselves	157	(10)
17 Grateful Healer	167	(8)
18 Is Love Enough?	175	(6)
Index	181