The practice of psychotherapy has an unfortunate history of maintaining silence around certain topics. Therapists and therapists-in-training learn and perpetuate the myths and unspoken rules that make it difficult to think clearly and speak openly, honestly, and directly.
When certain topics become taboo, classroom professors, clinical supervisors, and other educators tend to skip right over them, give them only cursory attention, distract, or even actively discourage discussion if the topic is brought up. New generations of psychotherapists inherit these codes of silence and move into practice with a lack of awareness, knowledge, or skills to respond when these topics emerge in their work with clients. Therapists may then be at a loss for an empathic nonjudgmental response, fall silent, change the topic, say something unintentionally harmful, or plow on with an undermining, counterproductive intervention, which puts the therapeutic alliance at risk for rupture.
Speaking the Unspoken describes, documents, and discusses the history and current context of how silence around taboo topics affects psychotherapists and their clients. It addresses the internal and external factors that maintain the silence and provides information, strategies, and exercises to help readers explore various unspoken topics and learn to speak up in psychotherapy and beyond.
- ISBN10 1433841592
- ISBN13 9781433841590
- Publish Date 26 May 2023
- Publish Status Forthcoming
- Publish Country US
- Imprint American Psychological Association
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Language English