The Humanity of Therapists

Many therapists readily recognize their challenges. Among many that could be named, some are common, including the suicidal client, deflated and failed parents, the enraged substance abuser, the victimized child, the borderline client, and the defiant and identity-confused adolescent. Practicing therapists could readily add numerous other challenges. No matter which therapists compose the list of challenges, they also recognize that their respective lists evoke the demands of managing their humanity. The plain reality is that the humanity of therapists and their clients pose immense challenges for therapists. At least, they understand that their humanity in their clinical work compels them to cope with the multi-layered ambiguities that attend their humanity. They must be energized, even when they are tired. They must think clinically, even when they are sexually frustrated. They must conscientiously attend to the needs of their clients, even when their spouse is medically compromised. They must show appropriate confidence in the services they deliver, even when they harbor potentially crippling doubts. These things and more characterize the humanity of therapists as they live their professional and personal lives.

This book offers a refined, precise, and useful orientation to the humanity of therapists. In it, Dr. Martin has drawn from his long experience as a therapist, teacher for emerging therapists, clinical supervisor, researcher, and, no doubt, his humanity. He engages readers with the issues of his and their humanity. As he does this, he captures both a scholarly analysis of the humanity of therapists and the existential immediacy of the humanity of therapists.

Therapists who avail themselves of this book will very likely gain several outcomes for themselves. They will feel the affirmation and confirmation of their humanity. They will gain personal respect for their typically well-known experience of their grounded confidence and their nagging doubts. They will feel the validation of many of the stressful realities with which they cope. They will re-imagine and experience the enjoyment of seeing the value of their humanity translated into effective clinical work. And, they will gain new appreciation for their personal humanity, the humanity of their colleagues, and the humanity of their clients.