We live in a world obsessed with problems. In Western societies, psychotherapy is used to solve problems and make people function better. But instead of focusing on the problems, psychiatrist Phil Stutz focused on the solution. He saw problems as opportunities to tap into hidden resources, using simple techniques he called “tools”.
Co-author Barry Michels, a psychotherapist, found these extremely effective with his clients. The tools are more than just a change in attitude. Stutz explains, “It takes you beyond what happens in your head. It connects you to a world bigger than you are, a world of limitless forces.”
If these words seem a bit New Age, don’t worry. The book is cleverly written using both authors’ voices. Michels, with a BA from Harvard and a law degree from UC-Berkley, is not only an intellectual but also had atheist parents. Initially sceptical, he became a staunch believer in Stutz’s tools upon seeing the change in his clients and his own life.
Five chapters discuss each tool, citing real-life stories of clients who used them successfully. If you need to act on something you’ve been avoiding, can’t shake off rage against another person, find difficulty in expressing yourself or connecting with other people, or are filled with negative emotions, then this book is for you. It has received rave reviews in the US, and will suit Asian sensibilities, putting the transformative power into your own hands. And
at US$25, it certainly offers a cheaper alternative to hiring a therapist.
Maida Pineda
