A twice told tale Yalom

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Has anyone read this? I’m guessing this will not receive any replies, which is fine.

Is this the book (Goodreads link)?
It may be of special interest as it offers a dual account of therapy, from the perspective of both the therapist and the patient/client.

Yes, I've read it. I'm a huge Yalom fan.

I've never heard of it. Kit

Yalom is worth reading imo for anyone who is interested in “good” therapy. He respects his clients.

I've read this book and honestly, I wasn't impressed. Comparing to my own therapy experience, the therapy described in this book seemed way too superficial to me. I guess I expected something deeper and more meaningful. I finished the book but it became quite boring to me half way through.

Almost any therapy experience is “better” than what I experienced. Tbh

I’ve read “Love’s Executioner” by Yalom which I enjoyed.

I read a lot of Yalom, and I loved the case of the aging dancer, who suddenly forgot to love her life with her husband in the present, so lost was she in the past. The one in which he confesses to being repelled by an overweight female client and explores his revulsion was very controversial. I respect him greatly, although I heard his son on a podcast, Victor Yalom, and he was off-putting.

Never read
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I also remember reading about where he confesses to being repelled by an overweight female client and how he explored his revulsion. From what I remember, he always treated this client with respect despite his feelings.

I respect his honesty in his writings and how he keeps any negativity towards his clients “under control” - to use the lingo some in this forest use. Ugh...

I haven’t heard his son on a podcast.

Thanks for sharing

Aww Fuzzy.

I have not heard of Yalom but thank you for the recommendation. It sounds like a lot of others enjoyed his work.

I can't stand the guy and do not find him respectful at all, but I know he is popular.

I’m sure plenty don’t like him.. he saved my life once when a (edit) irl was repeatedly ...... me

Thanks PurpleMirrors

I read it and found it very tedious and pedantic. I think it was the first Yalom I'd read. I came to loathe him after reading more of his writing.

He is a gifted writer, but I can't call him a good therapist based on what I've read in his stories. On a contrary, I consider his methods dangerous. They look impressive and moving as fictional stories, but I'd never want to be his client. I didn't see his behavior as respectful. What others might consider impressive therapy break throughs in his stories to me looks more like posturing and theatrical performance. I don't believe those were true stories. Too much drama and exaggeration that has nothing to do with the realities of therapy.

i've read 'Loves Executioner' because my ex-T had read it and he talked highly of Yalom. the stories were 'entertaining', but similar to what IDIMY said, i do question he validity of those stories and, similar to what hollywood is famous for, believe they were embellished to make them more interesting. i do believe that my ex-T strove to be more like Yalom, quite transparent and authentic, but the dynamics (ethics and boundaries) of therapy definilty prevent this from ever being easily achieved.

Well.. if anyone loathes Yalom I don’t know what words would be used for T1 that this format won’t censor.. **** him



I found his books interesting. Thanks for the replies

Wait, did you see Yalom as a patient?

I’ve never seen Yalom as a patient

I worked in Palo Alto and have interacted with him in real life. Almost hired him for a few consultation sessions when my therapist and I were stuck at an impasse, but ended up not doing it because I felt like I'd be cheating on my therapist and it made me feel guilty. Dr. Yalom is an incredibly genuine and compassionate person.

I love all of his books. Everyday Gets a Little Better was actually my least favorite of his books. I don't understand at all why people would not think he's a good therapist. His courage, strength of character, compassion, intelligence, and deep caring for his patients are all clearly evident from his writings.

There are very few therapists whom I consider better than my own. Yalom is one of them. He is also more expensive, but that's because he charges the standard hourly rate of Bay Area psychiatrists.

Strong language indeed. Would you be willing to share more of your thinking about him?

For some reason, people hating on Yalom really annoys me. It doesn't make any sense at all. Such a good person, full of wisdom and compassion.

It used to drive me crazy that Irvin Yalom, who was not my therapist, would respond to my emails more quickly than my therapist did. How could you hate someone like that?

I don't think anyone has criticized those who like that guy. I could not abide yalom, but am not trying to talk those who do like him out of it.
I tried reading several of his books but found him to be narcissistic, self involved, self aggrandizing, condescending and smug every time. I would never hire a therapist like he presented himself to be in his books. I did not find anything about him to be wise, kind or compassionate.