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northwardspirit
, September 10, 2012
On first glance this book may appear to be an outmoded potboiler written by some egotistical hack - faded and stamped as "Discarded" at a library book sale. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The author, Dr. Abraham Low, was a classically trained psychiatrist of the utmost integrity and compassion for his patients - so much so that he was willing to risk his career, reputation and license on the highly refined - yet simple - technique that he explains in this book. He calls it the Recovery Method.
Dismayed at the numbers of people needing mental health support and how few people he could personally attend to in his practice, Dr. Low pioneered several innovations in the practice of psychotherapy. One innovation was group therapy. Another was peer "counseling" (not to be confused with giving advice). Most important was his introduction of "will training" as opposed to in-depth psychoanalysis. Hence the title of the book.
Dr. Low never asked his patients to believe in the Recovery Method. Some commentators describe it as cognitive-behavioral therapy or as a type of reality therapy. But those terms are misleading. Simply put, it is largely action-oriented. These actions are referred to as "tools" in Recovery lingo. They involve observation, practice, persistence and self-acknowledgement. A small sampling of these tools is illustrative: "Act in a cultured manner;" "take part steps;" "move your muscles;" "do what you fear;" and "endorse your efforts."
Dr. Low makes clear that it is not enough to make affirmations - such as "there is nothing to fear" or "I am courageous and strong." To manage your fears, you have to learn by experience that most of what we fear is not dangerous or harmful.
The tools are derived from the scores of detailed case stories in this book and his other published lectures. Dr. Low's approach to directing his patients to take control of their mental health is disarmingly straightforward, but highly effective. It is like homework assigned in class and then skillfully critiqued by the teacher when the student returns with the results of his effort.
Dr. Low's tools are now used by some 500 or 600 lay meetings around the world today - attended by people of all walks to life and with various so-called "nervous" disorders. The book is meant to be used in conjunction with a Recovery meeting and generally makes more sense when utilized in this fashion.
Mental Health Through Will Training is a must read for any person, patient or practitioner who wants results rather than elaborate insights on the source of dysfunctional habits.
Hopefully, this ground-breaking book will be resurrected from the dusty shelves on which it has long rested and take its place in the post-pharmaceutical revolution of psychiatry. If not, it is a highly useful manual for the laypeople who want to take charge of their mental health.
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