The Mummy at the Dining Room Table: Eminent Therapists Reveal Their Most Unusual Cases

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Wiley, Feb 7, 2003 - Psychology - 325 pages
A wife pretends to hang herself in the basement so she can time how long it will be before her husband comes to rescue her...a woman whose dead aunt was made into a mummy so the family could better grieve her passing and on occasion dine with her at family gatherings...a man wants his nose cut off to escape an annoying smell that haunts him...a teenage boy would only come to therapy if he could bring his pet snake

These and other fascinating and revealing stories are told by some of the most famous therapists in the world. Collected in this extraordinary book, well known practitioners recount the most memorable case histories of their illustrious careers. Engaging and surprising stories of human behavior are dramatically and often humorously portrayed. Each chapter gives a behind-the-scenes look at how therapists work with clients whose problems and behaviors aren't found in standard psychology textbooks. The book also shows how these eminent therapists often cure these apparently intractable problems and learn something about themselves in the process.

Written with compassion and a healthy dose of wit, this book illustrates how these unusual clients have persevered and coped with their demons and clearly show how the relationship between therapist and client can be transformative for both parties. While The Mummy at the Dining Room Table reveals the enigmatic nature of the human condition, it ultimately celebrates the triumph of the spirit and demonstrates the power of understanding, insight, hope, and hard work from both sides of the therapeutic encounter.

From inside the book

Contents

Introduction
1
Cut Off
7
The Mummy at the Dining Room Table
21
Copyright

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