mugunthkumar's review against another edition

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inspiring medium-paced

3.75

im_thehbic's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

mileyae's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

cpalmerpatel's review against another edition

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Too much personal backstories starting the book. After the intro and the first chapter where the author started going into their teenage obsession with Freud I bailed

royvdb's review

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5.0

"It's Not Always Depression" by Hilary Jacobs Hendel is a remarkable and transformative book that delves into the intricacies of the therapeutic process, emphasizing the significance of psychological safety between therapist and patient. With a compelling narrative and relatable case studies, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand the complex landscape of mental health.

One of the key aspects of this book that resonated with me is the importance of fostering a sense of trust and psychological safety in the therapeutic relationship. Hendel masterfully highlights this through her real-life examples and insightful commentary. By doing so, she effectively illustrates how essential it is for both therapist and patient to establish a connection that nurtures open communication and vulnerability.

Hendel's writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy for readers to absorb the valuable information presented in each chapter. The case studies she shares are realistic and believable, providing readers with an authentic glimpse into the lives of people grappling with a variety of emotional challenges. These stories serve to humanize the therapeutic process, demonstrating that growth and healing are possible for everyone.

What sets "It's Not Always Depression" apart from other books in the genre is its practical, actionable approach. Hendel offers concrete tools and strategies that can be applied in real-world situations, empowering readers to take control of their emotional well-being. These techniques, grounded in the groundbreaking Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) model, have the potential to revolutionize how we approach mental health treatment.

In conclusion, "It's Not Always Depression" by Hilary Jacobs Hendel is an exceptional and transformative book that will undoubtedly benefit anyone interested in mental health, whether as a professional, patient, or curious reader. The insights provided on the importance of psychological safety, combined with the practical, actionable advice, make this book an invaluable resource for navigating the complex world of therapy. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the healing potential of the therapeutic process.

nome's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

boygirlparty's review against another edition

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informative

3.25

Verbatim from my text to a friend who asked my thoughts about this:

It’s alright, it was recommended to me by my therapist. it mostly focuses on a method of identifying and processing our real emotions hiding beneath anxiety, shame or guilt — because the author says suppression of emotions (while sitting in defenses like anxiety, shame, or guilt) is what causes depression and conflict.

I didn’t love the book but it was informative.
Don’t audiobook it.

hooknthorn's review

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2.0

A lot of repetition, and doesn't take into account that many people are able to identify which core emotion is causing their anxiety or depression but that doesn't make it go away for them.

I for instance am aware very often that my anxiety comes from illogical fear but that doesn't make my anxiety go away. It is also said that once you experience a "core emotion" you can then move on from it to a relaxed state but thats also not always the case, for instance greif sadness from loss of a loved one isn't an emotion you can simply feel for an hour then move on from If I stay in that emotion and don't throw up a "defense" as the author calls it I could be crying for days.

Overall the book gives an interesting view into how to identify emotions and how to acknowledge them but not helpful for those with chronic mental illness issues, this seems like a book aimed at the neurotypical who are dealing with emotional issues for the first time.

spongebobbiii's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Still one of my favorite clinical books!

deathprofessor's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0