This book provides a good overview of the field of psychology, how therapy sessions are conducted, what treatments are given and who has authority to provide certain treatments, and what symptoms might be associated with various psychological conditions. In addition, this book provides examples of where fiction gets it write and where fiction gets it wrong.
It's not an exhaustive resource, but as an overview text, this is a handy resource for writers, written with writers in mind.
Goodreads Review:
This book was reviewed by the JLM Book Club in June 2022. This book provides a good generalized overview of the topic, providing examples where fiction gets it wrong (and where they get it right). While it's just an overview, there is enough detail present so writers can understand the buzz terms, assisting in their research if they need to dive deeper into any of the topics presented.
The JLM Book Club recommends this book for all writers at all levels.
A unique and indispensable reference guide for writers.
Writers frequently write about mental illness and psychological motivations, but all too often they use terms and concepts that are clichéd, outmoded or just plain wrong. Written by a clinical psychologist who is also a professional writer and writing coach, The Writer’s Guide to Psychology is an authoritative, accessible, fun, and easy-to-use reference to psychological disorders, diagnosis, treatments, psychotherapists’ work and what really makes psychopathic villains tick.
Did you know that serial killers are almost never psychotic? That modern electroshock therapy doesn’t cause convulsions? That many psychotherapists think examining your childhood is unimportant―or even irrelevant―to therapy? Those are just a few of the hundreds of myth-busting facts in The Writer’s Guide to Psychology. The only reference book on clinical and counseling psychology designed specifically for the needs of writers, The Writer’s Guide to Psychology presents specific writing dos and don’ts to avoid the psychobabble clichés and misunderstandings frequently seen in popular writing. The book’s extensive sidebars include Q&As from real writers, information on controversial treatments and issues, tips for using realistic psychology to create complex and compelling characters, and Don’t Let This Happen to You! boxes that humorously expose mortifying mistakes in fiction, film and TV―and teach you how to get it right in your own writing.
Written in an approachable, easy-to-understand style that’s perfect for both in-depth study and quick answers to specific questions, The Writer’s Guide to Psychology is a unique combination of accurate psychology, myth-busting information and practical guidance that belongs on every writer’s reference shelf.