"Hard-headed (but non-cynical) self-help for those wanting to get a grip!", by Mr Rubio,
August 17, 2011
I came to this work after much reading of and reflection on 'popular psychology'. This included
some of the works of the late Albert Ellis and other REBT-ists. Like many others, I was attracted
by the snappy title and this led me to the author's website, which I found informative and
refreshingly straightforward.
In my view Dr Edelstein manages well to present some of the REBT techniques more crisply
even than their originator, the late Dr Ellis, who was by no means given to rambling or prolixity
himself! Dr Edelstein does so without omitting essential theory and explanation; and the abundant
examples and real-life case stories used give life to what, in other authorial hands, could become
a somewhat dry manual of cognitive correction. The discerning reader will note with pleasure the
authors' judicious use of humour. Whether your weakness of choice is addiction or excessive worry,
there is a chapter here for you; and, what's more, the authors have got what they call 'secondary
disturbances' covered too.
Impressed with reading the work, and realising that my own attempts at doing the 'three-minute
exercises' would benefit from a little coaching, I hired Dr Edelstein and have had regular
sessions on skype going over the methods in the light of my personal circumstances. I quickly
became a more committed and sharper 'three-minute exerciser', which is now as firmly rooted as
my twice-daily toothcleaning. In my better moments I like to think that I am becoming, slowly
perhaps but surely, more of a sober realist in life. I have found Dr Edelstein professional,
friendly and value for money. He is, manifestly, well-qualified, experienced and 'walks the
talk'.
In my opinion, this work and Dr Edelstein's approach will particularly suit strong thinkers
who are are quick to spot vagueness,mumbo-jumbo and absence of common sense in self-help books.
I would also recommend browsing the three-minute therapy website and viewing the videos there.
In them Dr Edelstein elaborates on the methods and adds other material. It's all free too.
"FINALLY a HELPFUL self help book --!!" by Patricia Bergin
Three Minute Therapy is based on the tenets of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and work by other
authors, most notably Dr. Albert Ellis. Having read many other books about CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
and REBT I can say with authority that Dr. Edelstein/Dr. Steele's book offers something new to those of us
who haven't quite "gotten it" until now.
Of course one has to be skeptical! Can I help myself with MY insurmountable problems in three minute
increments? Well, after only a few days with his book I am buoyed and optimistic, and with good reason!
Prior to ordering this book I was well on my way to becoming a recluse! After reading the book and doing
only 4 three minute exercises I see my perceived "horrors" are being replaced with garden variety
frustrations and strong preferences. I am working through my aforementioned "insurmountable" problems and
realizing they are not insurmountable at all! Unbelievable that I am getting this much ACTUAL help from a
book! What Dr. Edelstein offers that has not been offered before is the stunning news that therapy can
indeed be "brief" (three minutes!!???) but totally effective! Three Minute Therapy dispells cultural
myths related to therapy, myths that hold many of us back and keep the psychologist's offices cash
registers clanging! If all this wasn't enough, I emailed Dr. Edelstein to thank him for writing his book.
and he emailed me right back! I had included a bit of personal information about myself and he actually
provided a few more specific helpful ideas for me personally! Talk about a guy who loves his work! Here is
an author who is 110% committed to providing people with valuable tools for dismantling our self defeating
and seemingly destructive ways. Imagine! we can make room for other things in our lives besides a steady
stream of "analysis". If you are confused and don't know what to do --BUY THIS BOOK.
"Strongly Recommended" by John Pugsley (Carlsbad, CA, United States)
As an author in the field of economics (a behavioral science), a lifelong student of human behavior, and after observing many friends and relatives go through months and years of psychotherapy without alleviating their psychological problems, I long ago concluded that traditional psychotherapy was an ineffective pseudoscience.
Traditional psychotherapy, popularized by Freud, is rooted in the hypothesis that psychological problems stem from early experiences. Yet months or often years of lying on a couch and dredging up the traumas and anxieties of childhood does little more than satisfy our need be heard...to have someone listen. Nor have the majority of other branches of psychotherapy been more successful. From behaviorists like Watson and Skinner to psychoanalysts like Freud, Jung, Adler and Horney, millions of hours have been invested by patients with scant evidence (at least evidence that satisfies me) that the relief of any emotional symptoms is not just a placebo effect.
Several years ago a psychologist friend introduced me to the work of Albert Ellis, the originator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). As a cognitive-behavioral approach, REBT focuses on the here-and-now cause of your problems: your irrational thinking. Numerous studies support the efficacy of this approach for a wide range of problems: anxiety, depression, procrastination, relationship problems, and addictions.
Thanks to its clear effectiveness, cognitive-behavioral therapy is rapidly gaining favor in the field of psychology. Dr. Helen Mayberg, a senior scientist at The Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest and the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Neuropsychiatry at the University of Toronto noted: "Anti-depressant drugs change the chemical balance in the brain through effects at very specific target sites. Cognitive behavioral therapy also changes brain activity, it's just tapping into a different component of the same depression circuit board." With CBT, patients learn to evaluate emotional provocation in their environment in a new way. They are taught cognitive strategies for reducing automatic reactivity to negative thoughts.
The Milton H. Erickson Foundation every five years since 1980 has sponsored a major conference to explore modern psychological treatments. The last one in December brought together some 9,000 psychologists along with many of the world's most celebrated living therapists. Among them, the two men who developed cognitive behavioral therapy, Dr. Albert Ellis, a psychologist in New York, and Dr. Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania. Both speakers brought crowds to their feet.
Dr. Ellis has written a number of books on REBT, most of which I've read, but the most readable and actionable of all books on the subject is Dr. Michael Edelstein's Three-Minute Therapy: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.
A student of Dr. Ellis, and a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years experience, Dr. Edelstein's book is a step-by-step guide offering the reader the practical and effective techniques of REBT for overcoming the major psychological problems of our age: addiction, depression, anxiety, anger, procrastination, and panic attacks.
As Dr. Edelstein points out on his website (www.threeminutetherapy.com), it takes significantly longer than three minutes to dislodge the many dysfunctional aspects of a troubled personality. But these clear and simple exercises will gradually eliminate psychological distress from your life.
As Dr. Ellis himself says, "Of all the books that explain REBT in simple, clear, and highly usable form, Three Minute Therapy is one of the very best." I think it is the best. If you or someone you care about is struggling with psychological distress, I strongly recommend you read one book, Three-Minute Therapy. Read it, and practice the simple, three-minute exercises. It will change your life.
John Pugsley
Founder, The Bio-Rational Institute; Chairman, The Sovereign Society.
MORE REVIEWS