Every Day Gets A Little Closer

I love the idea of this book, and I love the book itself for the insight into the slow, frustrating and painful process of psychotherapy, and that's where my warning comes in. Unless you know either of these two people or have an interest in the mundanity of psychotherapy, this will be a slog. What I found myself thinking throughout was how I think this should be a regular part of serious therapy - just not for publication. How much better all therapy would be if patients and their therapists sat down to review what they think happened in the last session and what was important about it, and most of all the thoughts and feelings that arose in and after the therapeutic hour. How much we can learn from this very smart and on the patient's part incredibly brave, project. Yalom does an admirable job of noting what tools he tried to use and did use in the end. However, if you're reading just for the fun of it, this isn't the Yalom book to read.

I have read this book more than once; it is a bit outdated and concerning that the spouse of the author is making money from a client story. I realize it is meant to be a learning text, but it was published posthumously by the author spouse. I prefer the Yalom Reader, much better text.

Love Dr. Yalom's works, and this does not disappoint. I have heart criticism regarding the book being boring or slow. I disagree, I found the read to be enjoyable and thought provoking. I would recommend to any new or experienced therapist interested in getting a first hand account of the differences in experience of the client therapist relationship. Dr. Yalom also provides a comprehensive account of his method and analysis of his therapeutic approach at the end of the book which allows for much insight into his thought process during treatment.

it is rarely one gets the opportunity to sit and listen to the relationship between two people when one is the therapist and the other his patient. However, in this delightfully open and exploratory work, Yalom (the Therapist) reveals a great deal about what goes on behind the usually closed doors of a therapeutic experience. There is a great deal of honesty,, insightfulness, and clarity for anyone wanting to see how insight and change work their way out in this (as always with Yalom) beautifully and easily read fragment of reality.

I love Yalloms Books and this one, like most, is a great read. I love that it so clearly shows the process not just from the clients perspective but also honestly explains what goes on for the therapist.This book is great for anyone interested in how therapy works and it gives a clear case study example of the therapeutic process. I like the style in which it is written showing each session from thetwo different perspectives. A good read.

I am a huge Irvin Yalom fan; and this is his first and only book to which I have not given five stars. The problem is Ginny Elkin. The chapters alternating between them bring into sharp relief the night-and -day difference in writing and reflecting skills between Yalom and Elkin. I found myself getting more and more angry that this woman was given two extraordinary gifts she couldn't or wouldn't live up to. The first was free therapy from a master. The second was getting published no matter how insipid was her own part in the deal. Did she even TRY to put her mind to the task? Yalom's chapters were vivid and compelling, then the color goes away and we get her shallow thoughts that are infinitely below those of her therapist. When Yalom struck this unfortunate deal with her, what caused him to assume her writing could hold a candle to his? After the project was completed, did he have any regrets about it or consider blowing the whole thing off?One minor detail in Yalom's sections I found puzzling and irritating was his hyper detail in describing every wrinkle in her clothes Why the intense fascination with what she wore, since it had no bearing on the personality or the case?

Love Irv's writing

A lyrical flow between therapist and client. Intriguing.

This book, along with Finding A Guy Like Gilbert kinda changed my life as a recovering bulimic and as someone who consistently chose the wrong men. I never believed that you could overcome an eating disorder completely. Now, I know it can be done. I also felt I'd never be wise enough to know a good man when I saw one. Again, another misconception put to bed. Yahoo and Winters are a terrific writing duo!

I've read this twice - I find the writing interesting, and the overall message (I'm a therapist) useful that irrespective of what I think is going on in therapy, the client may have a completely different idea. I have ethical issues with the whole concept, which Yalom seeks to address, without fully managing to in a convincing way.I would recommend this to any therapist however as a lesson in the limitations and fruitlessness of therapy, and the limited nature of our perception given the subjective view the client will hold.

I love Irvin Yalom's books so it was inevitable I was going to enjoy this. Those who have read his later work will be able to see that his writing has improved over time - and this book has interest because it talks about his feelings about his developing skill as a writer.At times I found the story became a bit frustrating and boring but that could be seen as reflective of what was happening for the (real) characters.Anyway, it's an interesting read and anyone who has been in the therapist or client role will relate to many of the feelings and topics discussed.,

What a compelling and fabulously wonderful journey and read. Both Dr Yalom and 'Ginny Elkin' contribute to this book. To be on the journey of both psychologist and client within the pages of this book has been complex and a continual revealing of the humanmind; both parties contributing further thoughts to open more platforms of feelings to consider. This is one book I really dont want to finish as we are picturing in the words the inner worlds of both Ginny and Irvine. Amazing read.

An interesting read but struggled with the format of therapists debrief notes followed by client. Yalom is an excellent story teller and I have read all his other books. Worth a read, but am not as taken with this one