I cannot wait to tell you the effect he and his work has had on me! His inspiration and legacy lives on in the many therapists who continue to further his work in group psychotherapy and existential psychotherapy.

These days, Irvin Yalom is retired from teaching and practicing (to my knowledge). This would prove to be successful, as group psychotherapy is a highly used form of therapy these days!įrom scientific works to fictional works, Irvin Yalom has a rich body of literary work that has slated his place in the world of psychotherapy. Mainly, Irvin Yalom focused on writing works to train therapists in his group psychotherapy approach. Many of his early works were scientific articles. “The Gift of Therapy” is a non-fictional book focusing on how to get started as a therapist in practice. How can we be curious together?Īlso from a young age, Irvin Yalom knew he wanted to write-both fictional and non-fictional. Many of my practices, along with what I tell my students, are based on this approach. He writes about this in “The Gift of Therapy”.

Like Irvin Yalom, I was a young student who already knew what I wanted out of school.Īs a psychotherapist, Irvin Yalom promotes a sense of wonderment with his patients. This was before he made it to medical school! I think this is why I identify with him so much. He decided from a very young age to go into psychiatry. He also is known as a leader in the modality of group psychotherapy. Primarily, Irvin Yalom is known for his existential approach. Irvin Yalom, MD is a psychiatrist, professor emeritus of Stanford University, highly accomplished author, and psychotherapist. Irvin Yalom, MD A Brief History of Irvin Yalom Reading the book was as much fun as digesting its content and writing about it, so I hope you enjoy this article! Having read this book at the beginning of my own practice a few years ago, I felt it was necessary for this to be my first book review, as well! In this article I will discuss a brief history of Irvin Yalom, his approach, the book’s outline and content, and finally my opinions on his writing. It does, however, apply to all levels of practice. This book is primarily for new therapists. In particular, his book “The Gift of Therapy-An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients” is one of many works where he offers his insights on mental health practice. Most notably, Irvin Yalom’s favorite is writing. In that time came a breadth of professional and personal experience that he has lent to us all through many forms of media. His writing spans over 5 decades of work as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in the United States. Throughout his career, Irvin Yalom has inspired mental health and medical professionals across the globe. Irvin Yalom “The Gift of Therapy” – A Book Review

The gift of therapy book