This article was published in Psychiatric Times, Dec 2007, Vol 23 No 14. I love it and you will soon see why. By Steve Frankel Making Psychotherapy Work: Collaborating Effectively with your Patient is the book reviewed by Danny Wedding PhD, MPH.. Steve Frankel is a psychiatrist who practices psychoanalytic training.
Frankel uses many unconventional methods to support a model that challenges traditional practitioners. For example, He provides direct advice to patients, and accepting advice from them, extensive self disclosure on the part of therapist, accepting gifts, and giving them in return, arranging for contact with patients outside therapy through email, phone, fax or home visits.
This article and book crack me up. Among psychologists, there is a psychologist who has argued for more flexible boundaries, Dr. Ofer Zur in Santa Rosa, CA. So these guidelines are not new to me. In fact, I have done this for awhile and have found it to be useful and refreshing for my clients. Any time you get real with a client or level with them, they appreciate it.