How Therapists Diagnose Seeing Through the Psychiatric Eye

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0312130872

An essential book for all who are considering or are in some form of psychotherapy. Take control of the therapeutic process. Get the high-quality treatment you and your loved ones deserve! Dr. Bruce Hamstra cuts through the jargon and the smoke-and-mirrors routines used by mental health professionals. He explains how to spot the symptoms of psychological disorders. He tells you what a therapist does-and how to make any therapist respond to your needs. In "How Therapists Diagnose, Dr. Hamstra: -Reveals the new diagnostic guidelines used by professionals and uses clear-cut, easy-to-understand examples and case illustrations to explain what the diagnoses really mean-Includes confidential diagnostic code numbers used by insurance companies-Demystifies the actual diagnostic process and divulges the techniques and clues used by therapists-Explores misconceptions and myths surrounding diagnosis, and explains why some self-interested professional groups twist the truth-Discloses, for the first time in any book, how therapists are routinely forced to alter and abuse the diagnosis for insurance purposes-often without the patient's knowledge-Provides you with important tools to avoid misdiagnosis and hold professionals accountable