Unwrapped: Integrative Therapy with Gay Men... The Gift of Presence

Empathetic, touching, and at times humorous, Rick Miller s Unwrapped is both timely and unique in that the author s own history echoes the universal history of many gay men. And from this perspective, Miller gently but boldly addresses the challenges and issues gay men face and how therapists can rise to the occasion, healing not only the their clients, but evolving and changing themselves, becoming more in tune and more able to work with this minority. Childhood scars of having to hide in and remain secretive, strained relationships with parents and family, growing up in a religious environment, internalized and external societal homophobia, challenges with authority figures, pressures to conform to impossible gay ideals, working through loss and grief from the AIDS epidemic, sex and love in the gay world, sexual compulsion and addiction, the fear of aging Miller leaves no stone unturned and discusses these topics relevant to gay men with honesty and integrity. He explains that gay men most often live from the outside in rather than the inside out. And although great strides have been made for gay men, there is still much to do in order to help them to live life wholly and fully. Offering case examples intertwined with therapeutic hypnosis scripts, Miller presents real life clients and shares their progress and outcomes. Through pointed questions, he encourages therapists to carefully review their own motives, beliefs, and bias before working with gay men, and to then become prepared, informed, and willing to use their intuition and open their hearts. Unwrapped is an excellent book and Rick Miller is the clear voice of a minority that has struggled so much for freedom and the right to live a peaceful, loving life. This is a must-read for all clinicians.