As if the decision to see a therapist isn't stressful enough, the very next decision-how to choose a stranger with the qualifications and effectiveness to really help-is even more so. Romanovsky, a registered marriage and family therapy intern, helps readers navigate the process, from finding a therapist to handling insurance issues, from coping with the stigma of seeing a therapist to measuring results. She begins with an overview of several major theories of psychotherapy, from venerable names ranging from Freud to Adler to Jung, and explores therapeutic approaches, including Gestalt, transpersonal, and integrative. Romanovsky details the suitability of therapies to personality, situation, and expectations, noting that all treatment methods are effective if practiced by a therapist who believes in and is committed to them. She offers perspective on individual versus group therapy and the incorporation of other practices, including meditation. Romanovsky also includes case studies to help readers grasp how patients interact with therapists and achieve awareness of inner struggles. An insightful resource that answers questions many are reluctant to ask.
Booklist
I recently read the book Choosing Therapy by Ilyana Romanovsky. I can honestly say it is the most thorough book on psychotherapy that I have ever read. And while I haven't read every book about going into therapy, choosing a therapy (and therapist), and getting the most out of therapy - I think it is a safe bet to say that Choosing Therapy is one of the most thorough books ever written on the subject. In fact, the book is so darn thorough, that I felt like I was back in graduate school reading about various theoretical orientations, transference, counter transference, and the many modalities of treatment.
drstephaniesmith.com
The decision to enter into psychotherapy is rarely taken easily and frequently it is made at a time of great distress. But as if this isn't stressful enough, the would-be patient is then faced with a bewildering choice of therapies and therapists and no easy way to unpick baffling and inconsistent therapist training standards. Written in an accessible style, enhanced by helpful case vignettes and rooted firmly in the perspective of the patient, Ilyana Romanovsky guides us through the main choices and anticipates the questions users of therapy should ask but sadly often don't. This book empowers the reader, enabling, and indeed, encouraging them to make informed choices as wise consumers of what may well turn out to be the most important thing they ever bought. I always recommend that patients shop around before choosing a therapist. This book serves as an invaluable guide in that process.
Alan Priest, MA, DPsych, UKCP Registered Integrative Psychotherapist Ilyana Romanovsky puts the client at the center of the psychotherapeutic journey, describing how patients find the best fit with a therapist and a therapeutic approach driven by evidence-based methods. A worthwhile read for anyone considering psychotherapy.
Petra Steinbuchel, MD, psychiatrist Finally, a book that provides well-written, informative content in an easy to read and understandable format to an underserved audience, the general public, on a topic of significant importance, psychotherapy. Ilyana Romanovsky has gone to great lengths to provide her readers with important and useful information for those who are considering doing therapy for the first time, or for those who have done therapy but still feel overwhelmed about making choices around this work going forward. This is a rich resource for consumers wishing to understand what this form of self-improvement is all about.
Carol Wood, MA, LMFT