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cheryl6of8 's review for:
Extraordinary Relationships: A New Way of Thinking about Human Interactions
by Roberta M. Gilbert
My therapist is currently out on maternity leave and I am enjoying more free time because my internship is done. I figured this would be a good time for individual study and asked her to recommend reading that would be beneficial based on my therapy goals and personal issues. This was her strongest recommendation. I think it was an excellent choice. I would give it 4.5 stars, but not the full 5 because it is a little too academic-- I think it would be helpful for a lot of people I know, but not sure they would read it because of the academic tone. I will probably recommend it anyway with that caveat.
I would be interested in knowing if the author wrote any implementation or guide books on the theory. I can see definite applications in my life but I am not sure how to go about it. Certainly much of Bowen's theory and approach are incorporated in therapeutic practice these days, regardless of theoretical orientation, because it is quite sound. Achieving or maximizing true self really does empower one to bring their best to everything else in life, including interpersonal relationships. And I see the value in addressing the emotional relationships with family of origin in order to reduce the impact of the patterns learned in that environment. But I think that a person should work on clearer differentiation first in order to avoid getting sucked back into toxic roles.
Will definitely read this again because there is much to be gained in my own differentiation journey and in future mental health work. I will also look for additional readings on the theory that are hopefully more contemporary. There are aspects of the modern world and multiculturalism that are not addressed which I think are valuable. And the incorporation of Toman's theories on sibling positions was helpful if incomplete (I saw some solid stuff that pertained to my own family although our blended variation was not accounted for), and entirely too heteronormative and patriarchal for a lot of people to be comfortable with
I would be interested in knowing if the author wrote any implementation or guide books on the theory. I can see definite applications in my life but I am not sure how to go about it. Certainly much of Bowen's theory and approach are incorporated in therapeutic practice these days, regardless of theoretical orientation, because it is quite sound. Achieving or maximizing true self really does empower one to bring their best to everything else in life, including interpersonal relationships. And I see the value in addressing the emotional relationships with family of origin in order to reduce the impact of the patterns learned in that environment. But I think that a person should work on clearer differentiation first in order to avoid getting sucked back into toxic roles.
Will definitely read this again because there is much to be gained in my own differentiation journey and in future mental health work. I will also look for additional readings on the theory that are hopefully more contemporary. There are aspects of the modern world and multiculturalism that are not addressed which I think are valuable. And the incorporation of Toman's theories on sibling positions was helpful if incomplete (I saw some solid stuff that pertained to my own family although our blended variation was not accounted for), and entirely too heteronormative and patriarchal for a lot of people to be comfortable with