East Reads West Literature Podcast

Nils von Below & Anne Hardy
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Western (Professional) Literature Read for Eastern Therapists

Episodes

  1. 10/14/2022

    Medicine with heart

    Like no other, Abraham Verghese knows how to describe medicine as an art that demands all our heart and mind. He tells the story of adopted twins who are raised by a pair of Indian doctors in an Ethiopian mission hospital. The setting is a feast for the senses: the vastness of the ethiopian landscape, the spice-rich cuisine and "Tizita" - music, which captures the Ethiopian soul. Verghese, who is himself of Indian descent and grew up in Adis Ababa, writes autobiographical experiences. Like his main character Marion Stone, he had to interrupt his medical studies in 1974 because of the military coup and emigrate to the USA. In his novel "Cutting for Stone" he transmits his passion for medicine. Marion, who sees his parents' medical work every day in the mission hospital, adopts their empathetic attitude towards the patients. And also their commitment to more social justice. Verghese points to the fact, that whether in the chronically underfinanced mission hospital or in the Bronx in New York: the poor and socially disadvantaged are still sicker and die earlier. A doctor's love for medicine "Cutting for Stone" is not only a declaration of love for medicine, however, but also a wonderful family story. And the suspenseful relationship of the twin couple Shiva and Marion Stone. Vergheese's characters are full of life and warmth. They struggle with relationships, run away, love and hate each other - and yet ultimately find each other. Through all of life's ups and downs, their vocation to medicine sustains them. Or in Verghese's words: "Medicine is a demanding mistress, yet she is faithful, generous, and true. […] she gives meaning to everything I do." Related podcasts: The podcast "My schizophrenic brother" is also about the difficult and yet loving relationship of a pair of twins. Here, the narrator's brother has schizophrenia. More information: Currently, Verghese is committed to focusing on healing in an era where technology threatens to overwhelms the human side of medicine. He also comments on this in the podcast "Medicine and the Machine". Read more on the website of Abraham Verghese.

    55 min

  2. 10/07/2022

    East reads West

    "Clean language" is a non-judgmental questioning technique designed to help patients tap into unconscious knowledge. Philip Harland and his therapeutic school are convinced that the patient knows the solution to his or her problem. In his book "Trust me, I'm the Patient", author Philip Harland explains the approach of his teacher David Grove, who developed the "Clean language" technique. It is based on two rules: Operate from a state of not knowing. And ask questions that have no imputation of meaning beyond the questions themselves. This approach puts the patient center-stage. The therapist has the role of a midwife, helping the unconscious to cross the threshold to consciousness. We step back and do not contaminate the process with our own assumptions, suggestions or emotions. In this way we shift the power imbalance in the therapist-client relationship. And we strengthen the patient's trust in the process, which opens up his or her own dormant resources. The theory section of the book is followed by a practical section in which Harland reproduces exemplary therapeutic conversations. He provides a large catalog of "clean language" questions. In doing so, Harland, who is also a screenwriter, raises awareness of ambiguity and word play. He encourages asking questions in order to tap into the "parallel worlds" in the subconscious. For from the wealth of associations, sensations and experiences, we can only communicate partial aspects with language at a time. For Philip Harland, a key to the unconscious is metaphors. "If we suppose metaphor to be the coded message, then Clean language is a formula for deciphering the code," Harland says. And with that knowledge, we open up the possibility for our patients to heal and change. Even if one does not regard the approach as the only possible way to proceed in therapy, in our opinion the book is a must-read for therapists. It encourages us to take a critical look at the influence we have on our patients. Taking into account that, in our view, therapeutic action is not possible without a relationship - of whatever kind - with our patients. More about Clean language To learn more about Clean language see the Website of Penny Tompkins und James Lawley. This Podcast might also interest you Michelle Weiner Davis also assumes that patients know the solution to their problems. However, she consciously influences the perception of her clients by showing them where they have already successfully changed something in their lives. And she encourages them to try new things. Podcast Change your life by brief therapy

    52 min

  3. 06/26/2022

    East reads West

    Having a schizophrenic brother is hard for his twin Dominik. As long as he can think, he feels responsible for Thomas. He fears that the illness could break out in him, too. And he has feelings of anger and guilt because he longs for a completely "normal" life. The twins Dominik and Thomas grow up with their mother and stepfather in Connecticut. Thomas, the narrator's schizophrenic brother, attracts attention at the beginning of the story with a drastic act: in protest against America's entry into the Gulf War, he cuts off one of his hands in the local public library. Domenik, who has felt responsible for his brother for as long as he can remember, is on the edge of his strength. For more than six months he fights to get his schizophrenic brother out of the forensic psychiatrie. There he meets Dr. Patel, an Indian psychiatrist. For Nils, Dr. Patel is the model of a good therapist. She accompanies her patients with equanimity, humor and wisdom. She quickly understands that not only her schizophrenic patient Thomas "got lost in the woods", but also his brother. In flashback, the reader learns the family's history. There is the Italian grandfather who has worked his way up in America. Dominik's and Thomas' relationship with his mother and stepfather comes up. The mystery of the unknown father. And Dominik's failed marriage. Wally Lamb convincingly tells the story of Dominik's anger and despair. Of his feelings of guilt and overwhelming responsibility. Of his desire to be strong, which cuts him off from feeling grief and loss. It is a story full of strong emotions. With all the ups and downs of real life. And a story of healing. Of becoming whole. Because in the end Dominik, like the hero in the fairy tale, finds his true identity. About Wally Lamb Wally Lamb is an author who write about difficult subjects with great humanity and warmth. He helps women in prison to come to terms with their history through writing. His book has recently been turned into a mowie. More on the cast of "I know this much is True" in the CNN-interview: The Truth within the story.

    46 min

  4. 01/22/2022

    Change your life by brief therapy

    An important discovery: Patients often make first changes before their first therapy session. In "Change Your Life", Michelle Weiner-Davis explains how we can support this departure in a sustainable way. Her solution focussed brief therapy (sfbt) is inspired by psychiatrist Milton Erickson. He applied hypnotherapy in brief therapy. His case histories invite readers to be creative. Weiner-Davis book is very practical. In order to help her patients solve problems she uses a variety of questions: What have you noticed about your situation? If something has changed: Is this the kind of change you would like to continue to have happen? Notice what works and do more of it. When the same problem keeps coming up over and over in your life: Go beyond more of the same and do something different. Or - most important for therapists with a tendency to be a "hyperactive problem-solver": Do nothing. Execpt for taking a deep breath. Trance in brief therapy Milton Erickson, born in 1901, became best known for his work on hypnosis. Unlike Freud, he developed an individualized approach for every patient. For him "trance" is a state that everyone has experienced: daydreaming, meditating, or jogging (meditation in motion). These are situations in which one is aware of the vividness of inner mental and sensory experiences. The trance is intended to enable the patient to mobilize unconscious self-healing powers and to use creative resources. And Erickson assists them in breaking out of their mental patterns and crossing boundaries. Both authors rely on the fact that the patient knows the way out of the crisis. Brief therapy with or without hypnosis gives them the bit of skilful support needed. They work in a solution-oriented way and do not waste much time looking for the causes of problems in childhood. In our podcast we appreciate this approach but we also recommend Tara Brach's "Radical Compassion" in order to deal with painful memories from the past. Links: Michelle Weiner-Davis became known for her sequel Divorce busting. Tom Butler-Bowdon on Milton Erickson in Psychology Classics.

    41 min

  5. 11/03/2021

    Nothing is as erotic as an affair

    Nichts ist so erotisch wie ein Affäre. Und so erschütternd. Anregungen zum Umgang mit den Herausforderungen in Beziehungen für die therapeutische Arbeit.

    53 min
  6. Radical Self-Compassion

    07/21/2021

    Radical Self-Compassion

    Selbst-Mitgefühl ist etwas, das viele Menschen in einer leistungsorientierten Gesellschaft verlernt oder gar nicht kennengelernt haben.

    38 min

  7. 07/20/2021

    Desiderata & Great Bell

    Desiderata, ein Gedicht über Lebensweisheiten von dem amerikanischen Dichter und Juriste Max Ehrmann, wurde durch Leonard Nimoy weltberühmt. Für uns als TCM-Therapeuten ist es ein wertvoller Begleiter.

    48 min

  8. 04/19/2021

    Why western specialist literature for TCM therapists?

    In our first episode we give several answers to this question. As practionners of Chinese Medicine, we take a look at the person on the physical and emotional level. And we also consider their relationships and social context. Very much in accord with the WHO definition of Health: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." If we want to help people to be healthy in this broad sense, we cannot count only on the Classis of Chinese literature. They were written about 2000 years ago for people living in a different culture. And there is another aspect As TCM therapists and passionate readers we do not only bring specialist knowledge to our patients. We also count on our life experience and interessets. This is why we feel free to discuss literature in a broader sense, talking about books that have formed us as humans.

    24 min
  • 8 Episodes

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Western (Professional) Literature Read for Eastern Therapists

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