Are Women More Caring and Empathic Than Men, and thus Better Prepared to Be Psychotherapists?

"I recommend this unusual and valuable book to all therapists intrigued with the possible differences between male and female therapeutic work, and to those curious about the differences between therapeutic approaches. Following the literary examples of the New Testament and of Rashomon, four female therapists representing four theoretical orientations respond to the same two cases, producing a fascinating volume and one that offers a wonderful chance for therapists-in-training to sample four divergent viewpoints and to be helped in their choice of practice. It is a chance for all psychotherapists to get a glimpse of alternative approaches to their own and per-haps to incorporate some new techniques into their stan-dard repertoire. The reader is treated to a thorough review of the literature on therapist gender and a summary of each theoretical style, before dining on a feast of ap-proaches, each with a valuable understanding of the dynamics. One is left with broader insight into the cases and a sense of the value of integrating the best from each theory.

"More and more practicing psychotherapists are women, resulting in what has been called the feminization of psychotherapy. Are women more caring and empathic than men, and thus better prepared to be psychothera-pists? If so, how does this affect their practice? These questions are addressed and will be of avid interest to all mental health professionals."

-CharlotteAre Women More Caring and Empathic Than Men, and thus Better Prepared to Be Psychotherapists?

"I recommend this unusual and valuable book to all therapists intrigued with the possible differences between male and female therapeutic work, and to those curious about the differences between therapeutic approaches. Following the literary examples of the New Testament and of Rashomon, four female therapists representing four theoretical orientations respond to the same two cases, producing a fascinating volume and one that offers a wonderful chance for therapists-in-training to sample four divergent viewpoints and to be helped in their choice of practice. It is a chance for all psychotherapists to get a glimpse of alternative approaches to their own and per-haps to incorporate some new techniques into their stan-dard repertoire. The reader is treated to a thorough review of the literature on therapist gender and a summary of each theoretical style, before dining on a feast of ap-proaches, each with a valuable understanding of the dynamics. One is left with broader insight into the cases and a sense of the value of integrating the best from each theory.

"More and more practicing psychotherapists are women, resulting in what has been called the feminization of psychotherapy. Are women more caring and empathic than men, and thus better prepared to be psychothera-pists? If so, how does this affect their practice? These questions are addressed and will be of avid interest to all mental health professionals."

-Charlotte