Listening to Patients

“Dr. Richard Druss is one of psychiatry’s most humane and eloquent teachers on the value and healing power of the psychotherapies. This accessible and inspiring book describes crucial aspects of the therapy process and the lives of people who are transformed by it. Its wisdom and insights deserve to be savored by a wide audience of those in the helping professions, students, and interested laypersons.” - Kathryn Zerbe, MD, Jack Aron Professor of PsychiatricEducation and Women’s Mental Health, the Menninger Clinic”The thesis of Richard Druss’ book is simple: that therapeutic effectiveness is directly dependent on the working alliance between the patient and clinician and that the alliance can only be accomplished by listening to patients. A simple assertion, but one increasingly overlooked in this era of one-hour evaluations, DSM-IV “formulations” and fifteen minute “med checks.” Dr. Druss’ method of teaching is by clinical anecdote and in doing so he documents histhesis. But he teaches more than listening skills and how they aid psychodynamic understanding. In his case histories he presents a role model for the good clinician: warm, empathic, flexible andthoughtful. He states that the book is directed at psychiatric residents, medical students, and trainees in clinical psychology, social work and nursing, but I think this book will be read with pleasure, and quite possibly profit, by the experienced clinician as well.” - Paul H. Wender, MD, University of Utah School of Medicine”The author epitomizes what a true teacher is. His credibility and knowledge are unquestionable, and his warm compassion for patients shines ever so brightly through his writing. The author guides readers in a logical and chronological sequence from the establishment of rapport to more complicated issues of psychotherapy such as conflict and transference. In an era where clinicians are pressured to be both efficient and provide quality care, the importance oflistening may sometimes be neglected. This book is a back-to-basics approach in an easy-to-follow format, and the author reminds clinicians to listen and promote empathy, flexibility, and imagination intherapy. A book such as this is rare; it is one which I found personally difficult to put down, and one which I had to read from cover to cover. I was moved and inspired by the author and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any clinician.“–Doody’s”This excellent journey into modern dynamic psychotherapy emphasizes the various and sometimes overlooked facets of the working alliance between patient and therapist. … Readers are guided in a logical and chronological sequence from the establishment of rapport to more complicated issues of psychotherapy such as conflict and transference. … This book is a back-to-basics approach in an easy-to-follow format, and the author reminds clinicians to listen andpromote empathy, flexibility, and imagination in therapy. A rare book; this reviewer found it difficult to put down. Readers will be moved and inspired by the author. Targeted toward psychiatryresidents, medical students, and trainees in clinical psychology, social work, and nursing, this book is an exceptional piece of psychiatric work. The author epitomizes what a true teacher is. His credibility and knowledge are unquestionable, and his warm compassion for patients shines ever so brightly through his writing.“–Choice”Dr. Richard Druss is one of psychiatry’s most humane and eloquent teachers on the value and healing power of the psychotherapies. This accessible and inspiring book describes crucial aspects of the therapy process and the lives of people who are transformed by it. Its wisdom and insights deserve to be savored by a wide audience of those in the helping professions, students, and interested laypersons.” - Kathryn Zerbe, MD, Jack Aron Professor of PsychiatricEducation and Women’s Mental Health, the Menninger Clinic”The thesis of Richard Druss’ book is simple: that therapeutic effectiveness is directly dependent on the working alliance between the patient and clinician and that the alliance can only be accomplished by listening to patients. A simple assertion, but one increasingly overlooked in this era of one-hour evaluations, DSM-IV “formulations” and fifteen minute “med checks.” Dr. Druss’ method of teaching is by clinical anecdote and in doing so he documents histhesis. But he teaches more than listening skills and how they aid psychodynamic understanding. In his case histories he presents a role model for the good clinician: warm, empathic, flexible andthoughtful. He states that the book is directed at psychiatric residents, medical students, and trainees in clinical psychology, social work and nursing, but I think this book will be read with pleasure, and quite possibly profit, by the experienced clinician as well.” - Paul H. Wender, MD, University of Utah School of Medicine”The author epitomizes what a true teacher is. His credibility and knowledge are unquestionable, and his warm compassion for patients shines ever so brightly through his writing. The author guides readers in a logical and chronological sequence from the establishment of rapport to more complicated issues of psychotherapy such as conflict and transference. In an era where clinicians are pressured to be both efficient and provide quality care, the importance oflistening may sometimes be neglected. This book is a back-to-basics approach in an easy-to-follow format, and the author reminds clinicians to listen and promote empathy, flexibility, and imagination intherapy. A book such as this is rare; it is one which I found personally difficult to put down, and one which I had to read from cover to cover. I was moved and inspired by the author and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any clinician.“–Doody’s”This excellent journey into modern dynamic psychotherapy emphasizes the various and sometimes overlooked facets of the working alliance between patient and therapist. … Readers are guided in a logical and chronological sequence from the establishment of rapport to more complicated issues of psychotherapy such as conflict and transference. … This book is a back-to-basics approach in an easy-to-follow format, and the author reminds clinicians to listen andpromote empathy, flexibility, and imagination in therapy. A rare book; this reviewer found it difficult to put down. Readers will be moved and inspired by the author. Targeted toward psychiatryresidents, medical students, and trainees in clinical psychology, social work, and nursing, this book is an exceptional piece of psychiatric work. The author epitomizes what a true teacher is. His credibility and knowledge are unquestionable, and his warm compassion for patients shines ever so brightly through his writing.“–Choice

Richard G. Druss is at Columbia University, New York.