The Good Psychologist

"Noam Shpancer portrays the oft-hidden world of psychotherapy with unparalleled authenticity, compassion, and wit . . . An astonishing debut."—Jonathan Kellerman Noam Shpancer's stunning debut novel opens as a psychologist reluctantly takes on a new client—an exotic dancer whose severe anxiety is keeping her from the stage. The psychologist, a solitary professional who also teaches a lively night class, helps the client confront her fears. But as treatment unfolds, her struggles and secrets begin to radiate onto his life, upsetting the precarious balance in his unresolved relationship with Nina, a married former colleague with whom he has a child—a child he has never met. As the shell of his detachment begins to crack, he suddenly finds himself too deeply involved, the boundary lines between professional and personal, between help and harm, blurring dangerously. With its wonderfully distinctive narrative voice, rich with humor and humanity, The Good Psychologist leads the reader on a journey into the heart of the therapy process and beyond, examining some of the fundamental questions of the soul: to move or be still; to defy or obey; to let go or hold on.

Reveals small but significant actions people can take to lead happier lives, offering reflections on such topics as family, relationships, work, school, sports, emotions, and experiences.

The Good Psychologist insists on preserving an optimum clinical distance. He's always aware that the unshakeable conviction that disaster is approaching has become the real disaster in the lives of the anxious. But take a closer look at the Good Psychologist. Who is that waving to him seductively from his past? What's beckoning him to rekindle extinguished hopes for the future? As the shell of his detachment begins to crack, he finds himself pulled where the boundaries between professional and personal are dangerously blurring.

FIND OUT HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE . . . Do you long for happiness? Do you worry too much? Are you contentin your romantic relationships? Do you wish you felt better aboutyourself? Now you can discover exactly what's stopping you from living thelife you long to lead-and what you can do about it. Based on thelatest research, this inspiring guide by renowned author andpsychologist Dr. Louis Janda presents twenty-four psychologicaltests that will help you identify the barriers standing between youand a more fulfilling personal and professional life-and figure outhow you can overcome them. Developed by behavioral researchers forprofessional use, these tests are divided into threesections-personal barriers, interpersonal barriers, and one'scapacity for change-and cover every aspect of personality, fromself-esteem, impulsiveness, and self-efficacy, to intimacy, anger,and romantic relationships. Best of all, at the end of each test,Dr. Janda provides expert advice that will help you use yourresults to make changes for yourself or help you decide whether youshould seek professional help. Refreshingly candid and insightful,The Psychologist's Book of Personality Tests will not only help youachieve greater personal and professional success-it will show youhow to get what you want out of life.

How does a boy from a financially and intellectually impoverished background grow up to become a Harvard researcher, win international acclaim for his groundbreaking work, and catch fire as a pioneering psychologist? As the only person in the history of the American Psychological Association to have won all three of its highest honors -- for distinguished research, teaching, and writing -- Elliot Aronson is living proof that humans are capable of capturing the power of the situation and conquering the prison of personality. A personal and compelling look into Aronson's profound contributions to the field of social psychology, Not by Chance Alone is a lifelong story of human potential and the power of social change.

Can you spot a psychopath? Will smiling make you happy? Can you be bored to death? How can we motivate ourselves to succeed? Take a peek behind the curtain of the mysterious human mind in this fascinating guide. The 15-Minute Psychologist introduces readers to many universal aspects of psychology which affect our day-to-day lives, written in an accessible Q&A format. Drawing on the theories of psychologists such as Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget and Abraham Maslow, this engaging and accessible book covers dreams, the psychology of motivation and more. In understanding these concepts, readers will be able to apply them to their own lives get insight into common dilemmas. ABOUT THE SERIES: Ideas to Save Your Life takes concepts from academic subjects and applies them to your everyday life. Written in an engaging Q&A format, these books will help you answer fundamental questions and improve your day-to-day living.

The New York Times bestseller! A New York Times Notable Book “The tale of how Konnikova followed a story about poker players and wound up becoming a story herself will have you riveted, first as you learn about her big winnings, and then as she conveys the lessons she learned both about human nature and herself.” —The Washington Post It's true that Maria Konnikova had never actually played poker before and didn't even know the rules when she approached Erik Seidel, Poker Hall of Fame inductee and winner of tens of millions of dollars in earnings, and convinced him to be her mentor. But she knew her man: a famously thoughtful and broad-minded player, he was intrigued by her pitch that she wasn't interested in making money so much as learning about life. She had faced a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance had led her to a giant of game theory, who pointed her to poker as the ultimate master class in learning to distinguish between what can be controlled and what can't. And she certainly brought something to the table, including a Ph.D. in psychology and an acclaimed and growing body of work on human behavior and how to hack it. So Seidel was in, and soon she was down the rabbit hole with him, into the wild, fiercely competitive, overwhelmingly masculine world of high-stakes Texas Hold'em, their initial end point the following year's World Series of Poker. But then something extraordinary happened. Under Seidel's guidance, Konnikova did have many epiphanies about life that derived from her new pursuit, including how to better read, not just her opponents but far more importantly herself; how to identify what tilted her into an emotional state that got in the way of good decisions; and how to get to a place where she could accept luck for what it was, and what it wasn't. But she also began to win. And win. In a little over a year, she began making earnest money from tournaments, ultimately totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. She won a major title, got a sponsor, and got used to being on television, and to headlines like "How one writer's book deal turned her into a professional poker player." She even learned to like Las Vegas. But in the end, Maria Konnikova is a writer and student of human behavior, and ultimately the point was to render her incredible journey into a container for its invaluable lessons. The biggest bluff of all, she learned, is that skill is enough. Bad cards will come our way, but keeping our focus on how we play them and not on the outcome will keep us moving through many a dark patch, until the luck once again breaks our way.

Becoming a Clinical Psychologist: Everything You Need to Know?brings together all the information you need to pursue a career in this competitive field. This essential guide includes up-to-date information and guidance about a career in clinical psychology and gaining a place on clinical psychology training in the UK. It answers the questions all aspiring psychologists need to know, such as: What is clinical psychology? What is it like to train and work as a clinical psychologist? How to make the most of your work and research experience. How to prepare for clinical psychology applications and interviews. Is clinical psychology the right career for me? By cutting through all the jargon, and providing detailed interviews with trained and trainee clinical psychologists,?Becoming a Clinical Psychologist?will provide psychology graduates or undergrads considering a career in this area with all the tools they need.?