Therapy Revolution: Find Help, Get Better, and Move on Without Wasting Time or Money

A licensed mental health counselor specializing in the treatment of anxiety and addiction, Zwolinski (with help from coauthor C.R.) steps back to take a broad view of the therapy industry, and the growing problem of patients caught in the ""therapy trap"" by unproductive, inept or unethical therapists who ""wallop"" a client with inaccurate or exaggerated diagnoses in order keep that client coming back. In this guide to hiring ""a great therapist,"" Zwolinski reminds patients that they should be ""savvy consumers"" when considering therapy, just as they would for any other important expense. He suggests a preliminary phone interview to check out prospective therapists' credentials, references, fee, approach, and other details. He also suggests that, after a few appointments, a patient work with his therapist to develop a written treatment plan, including a proper medical diagnosis (which can be looked up in a professional reference like the DSM IV), a general time-frame for the length of therapy, and agreed-upon ""goals."" Zwolinski's provocative call for a ""therapy revolution"" is authoritative and instructive, fleshing out the common wisdom stating patients are their own best advocates, and must be proactive in all aspects of healthcare.