OCD Treatment Through Storytelling: A Strategy for Successful Therapy

The power of the story was brought home to the psychological community with the analysis of the stories of psychiatrist Milton H. Erickson in the beginnings of the family therapy movement  Uncommon Therapy: The Psychiatric Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D.  and the return of hypnosis to psychological favor  My Voice Will Go with You: The Teaching Tales of Milton H. Erickson . Allen Weg's book solidly brings examples of the storytelling method to the cognitive behavioral community with stories that have the power to help patients who struggle with thoughts and behaviors that have seriously compromised their quality of life. Dr. Weg in a clean,crisp manner tells each teaching story and then describes what lessons can then emerge from it. His story of the "Bee Trap" is in itself worth the book purchase since it is a powerful metaphor and allows many teaching tales to evolve from it. As an aside, while on the train reading the book, the woman who had sat down next to me started reading it over my shoulder. She commented, "Wow that is so interesting, what is its title?" Of course I told her. My only disappointment with the book is that Dr. Weg only speaks of OCD treatment as desensitization of thoughts and behaviors in exposure or flooding perspectives so many of his stories are designed to get the patient to engage in treatment that he himself labels as sometimes bizarre and as I may add sometimes dependent on ill conceived processes. I would have preferred he'd added some discussion of other possible therapies to blend with his stories such as hypnosis, EMDR and the thought field therapies. Nevertheless, I recommend this book as a valuable tool for therapists to add to their therapeutic tools and to the public to help those struggling with OCD to get a firmer handle as to what it is they struggle.Sheila Sidney Bender, PhD co-author  The Energy of Belief: Psychology's Power Tools to Focus Intention and Release Blocking Beliefs  and  Evolving Thought Field Therapy: The Clinician's Handbook of Diagnoses, Treatment, and Theory

This is an amazing book. I recommend it to anyone who treats individuals with OCD. I read it multiple times and have used some of the metaphors myself in my practice.

This is great to use with all clients! Super helpful way to educate clients and families. Allen Weg is awesome if you ever have the opportunity to hear him tell a story!

GOOD