The Beginning Psychotherapist's Companion
Update: Third edition published in December 2024 with extensive telehealth revisions!
With a reassuring and clear writing style, this third edition of The Beginning Psychotherapist’s Companion offers practical suggestions and clinical examples to address the professional development and emotional concerns of the beginning psychotherapist. Guidance is provided in managing their relationships with their supervisors and diverse clients. This book educates readers on managing their personal well-being and discusses the foundations of ethical practice, including informed consent, confidentiality, and documentation. Extensive coverage of boundary issues includes self-disclosure and the reader’s online presence. Guidance is provided regarding electronic communications and data management. The reader is guided on how and when to refer clients for medication and other health care. Professional advice is provided on contemporary concerns such as telehealth, social networking, online searches of clients, the psychotherapist’s internet presence, and other important emerging challenges. Approaches to behavioral health emergencies are introduced. Comprehensive, practical, and thoroughly updated, The Beginning Psychotherapist’s Companion, Third Edition, is the ideal resource for students and early career psychotherapists.
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Reviews for the Second Edition:
“This book is an absolute gem. It provides all the secrets for being a successful psychotherapist that every practicing psychotherapist wishes they were told when they were first starting out. Well, the secret is out! Every psychotherapist-in-training and every early career psychotherapist should read this book and learn from its many wise lessons. You’ll be glad you did!”
Jeffrey E. Barnett, PsyD, ABPP
Professor and Associate Department Chair, Director of Practitioner Masters Programs, Department of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, and Past-President, Division of Psychotherapy of the American Psychological Association
"This book is equally valuable to beginning and more seasoned psychotherapists, as well as supervisors. It is expansive in its coverage and does what it sets out to do—assist new practitioners with a number of pragmatic and professional issues before they start to practice psychotherapy. I have used the previous edition with my supervisees and it has provided a valuable guidebook and a catalyst for discussion. It is truly a companion and I recommend it very highly as a relevant and helpful resource."
Christine A. Courtois, Ph.D., ABPP
Psychologist, Independent Practice, Washington, DC; Author of Treatment of Complex Trauma
“Dr. Willer has updated her valuable guide to an amazing diversity of topics that can trip up therapists as they begin to practice: self-doubt, self-presentation, fees, HIPAA, charting, referrals, informed consent, crisis readiness, medications, mandated reporting, electronic communications, and burnout, to name but a few examples. Beginning psychotherapists of all disciplines and theoretical orientations will find here an immensely useful and user-friendly resource.”
Kenneth S. Pope, PhD, ABPP
Diplomate in Clinical Psychology
“Expanded and enriched in this second edition, this highly instructive primer for actual practice covers even more of the clinical bases than the first. Like a ‘supervisor on the shelf’ this book rewards the beginning psychotherapist (as well as many more experienced practitioners) with explicit strategies, pitfalls to avoid and ethical dimensions of the real world of clinician-patient negotiations. Still a necessary book.”
Thomas G. Gutheil, MD
Professor of Psychiatry, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston