The Making of a Therapist

Louis Cozolino

Praise forThe Making of a Therapist:

"This is clearly a book written by an expert therapist… [F]ull of practical advice, common-sense wisdom and self-disclosure… His advice to and support for beginning therapists is not only compassionate but also inspiring… [E]xtremely readable and the cases so interesting that it could be read also by non-specialists, by anybody who is interested in human nature and human relationships. Highly recommended for pscyhologists as well as for educators."
—E-Streams

"The Making of a Therapist is a very refreshing and honest book that seeks to support and inform therapists starting out and in practice of the vital importance of self-awareness, self-monitoring and self-care. . . . Cozolino takes his reader back to his own hesitant beginnings as a qualified therapist launching out into practice with real clients. His accounts are sensitively humorous, honest and very reassuring, offering genuine empathy, which the author believes would inspire any practitioner of a talking intervention. Dealing with the important issues of getting through the initial sessions, understanding one's own competence and what to do if there is concern in this area with a client are all treated with common sense wisdom and practical advice. 'Each mistake is an opportunity to make a good mistake. It all depends on how you handle it' is an enlightened way to help any human being to stop trying to be perfect and to know that whatever happens, they can learn from it and move on. . . . Cozolino has also produced a work that I would recommend that a practicing coach read also. The Making of a Therapist is a valuable read for any one involved in a talking intervention."
—Pam Richardson, UKCLC

"The clear writing style makes it easy to read and sensiitively approaches a variety of subject areas. . . . A must buy for those in training and also for lecturers."
—Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy

Hear Louis Cozolino's interview on PsychJourney

Overview – Table of Contents

The difficulty and cost of training psychotherapists properly is well known. It is far easier to provide a series of classes while ignoring the more challenging personal components of training. Despite the fact that the therapist's self-insight, emotional maturity, and calm centeredness are critical for successful psychotherapy, rote knowledge and technical skills are the focus of most training programs. As a result, the therapist's personal growth is either marginalized or ignored. The Making of a Therapist counters this trend by offering graduate students and beginning therapists a personal account of this important inner journey.

Cozolino provides a unique look inside the mind and heart of an experienced therapist. Readers will find an exciting and privileged window into the experience of the therapist who, like themselves, is just starting out. In addition, The Making of a Therapist contains the practical advice, common-sense wisdom, and self-disclosure that practicing professionals have found to be the most helpful during their own training.

The first part of the book, 'Getting Through Your First Sessions,' takes readers through the often-perilous days and weeks of conducting initial sessions with real clients. Cozolino addresses such basic concerns as: Do I need to be completely healthy myself before I can help others? What do I do if someone comes to me with an issue or problem I can't handle? What should I do if I have trouble listening to my clients? What if a client scares me?

The second section of the book, 'Getting to Know Your Clients,' delves into the routine of therapy and the subsequent stages in which you continue to work with clients and help them. In this context, Cozolino presents the notion of the 'good enough' therapist, one who can surrender to his or her own imperfections while still guiding the therapeutic relationship to a positive outcome.

The final section, 'Getting to Know Yourself,' goes to the core of the therapist's relation to him- or herself, addressing such issues as: How to turn your weaknesses into strengths, and how to deal with the complicated issues of pathological caretaking, countertransference, and self-care.

Both an excellent introduction to the field as well as a valuable refresher for the experienced clinician, The Making of a Therapist offers readers the tools and insight that make the journey of becoming a therapist a rich and rewarding experience.

About the Authors

Louis Cozolino, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University and a private practitioner. He is the author of The Neuroscience of Human Relationships, The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy, and The Healthy Aging Brain: Sustaining Attachment, Attaining Wisdom. He lives in Beverly Hills, CA.

Advance Acclaim

'Starting a new profession in the healing arts goes beyond the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. The Making of a Therapist offers clinicians-in-training the compassionate support of a wise and experienced practitioner who guides their exploration of the subjective realms of emotion, memory, and insight, as well as the integral function of the therapist's own self-understanding and interpersonal connection with the client/patient in the therapeutic process. Lou Cozolino charts an inner map to the earliest stages in a therapist's experience and he acts as an important companion for all therapists on their continuing journey of growth and development. I anticipate that many readers will find that Cozolino's sage advice and warm voice becomes an integral part of their self-soothing inner thoughts as they mature into their emerging roles as mental health practitioners. What an important contribution to our field!'
—Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., author of The Developing Mind and Parenting from the Inside Out.

'The Making of a Therapist is simply a wonderful book. In his previous book, Lou Cozolino skillfully presented the science of psychotherapy. Now he shows us the heart of therapy. The Making of a Therapist inspired me again and again-not just because the themes presented were uplifting and even lofty, but because this loftiness was always joined with the day-to-day practicality of how to be effective at helping people through therapy. While ostensibly directed at those who are beginning their careers, this book has the power to inspire fresh and appreciative minds. I believe therapists of all degrees of experience will find much of value here.'
—James Sacamano, M.D., the Haven Institute, British Columbia

. 'Dr. Cozolino's The Making of a Therapist conveys clearly his familiarity with the struggles and anxieties of therapists-in-training. With great sensitivity and appropriate humor, Dr. Cozolino addresses many of these concerns. His clear writing style and candor make this a text that will be greatly appreciated by students and their instructors.'
—Faith H. McClure, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, California State University, San Bernardino, and coauthor of Child & Adolescent Treament: Cultural & Familial Contexts.

ISBN: 0-393-70424-6
Fall 2003
Cloth; 240 pages