AEDP for the Common Man: A Review of Living Like You Mean It

My only caveat (and it’s not a serious one because the book did not have this as its intent) is that Living Like You Mean It is in no way a substitute or alternative for experiencing real AEDP therapy. The part of AEDP that is left out of this book, and any other book for that matter, is the rich, experience-based attachment bond that develops between patient and therapist. Such a bond can only be proximally described by language, but language can never fully capture the richness and complexity of the actual attachment experience, which is a major component of successful AEDP treatment.

I strongly recommend Living Like You Mean It as a beautifully written self-help book, replete with numerous practical guidelines in how to lead a more emotionally engaged life. The book is unique in its practicality and readability for both lay people and psychotherapists, myself included, who sometimes get too caught up in psychological jargon. Ron Frederick’s book is the first to translate AEDP principles for the common man. Bravo!

References

Fosha, D. (2000). The transforming power of affect: A model for accelerated change. New York: Basic Books.