Book Analysis
Robert J. Barnett
Olivet Nazarene University
Theories and Techniques of Counseling II
MAPC 20 - PSYC 611
Professor Tina Burton
September 25, 2014

Certification of Authorship: I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance I received in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper. I have also cited any sources from which I used data, ideas, or words, either quoted directly or paraphrased. I also certify that this paper was prepared by me specifically for the purpose of this assignment.

Robert J. Barnett
Introduction:
What Jim Collin’s epic book Good to Great is to the business and leadership world, Len Sperry and Jon Carlson’s book, How Master Therapists Work (2014) is to the field of psychotherapy and counseling. Both books tell us with vivid accuracy what key qualities separate the best of the best from simply being good at what you do. Len Sperry, MD, PhD, ABPP and Jon Carlson PsyD, EdD, ABPP. and their subject matter are of great interest to me. The subtitle captures the heart of the book’s content and the quintessence of what I want to learn more about, Effecting Change from the First through the Last Session and Beyond. I felt very inadequate as I began practicum concurrent with starting the MAPC program in August, 2013 (still do). Adding the privilege of doing practicum in a real clinic right from the start with real clients resulted in a high motivation to learn quickly in order to be effective and helpful. One of my supervisors at that clinic, in her first formal assessment of me wrote in response to the category/rating: uses theories appropriately: Rating 4 (out of 5) “but unknowingly” (Fountain, 2013. p.4). My interest in acquiring tools, techniques, and knowledge of the counseling process was and remains very high. This book is a means toward that end.