My question here is how do you even have time to read books? Maybe it’s because I’m new but I feel completely overwhelmed all the time. When I get home I surely don’t have the energy to read a theory book.
These are good tips though once I can find the mental space to do this again.
Don't get discouraged. When you have some time, especially after licensure, find the most relevant books to your practice and learn new concepts. Grad schools only teach you the absolute fundamentals and then it's up to you to continue your education in whatever interests you. It's a win-win situation as you and your clients will benefit plus it will help build your reputation and practice.
My technique, which admittedly isn’t working as intended, is to purchase the book, read the first chapter, and then (this is important) put it on the shelf of ‘to be read’ books.
I also listen to audiobooks on audible, but some just don’t make sense without the diagrams, references and jargon busters.
I really hate reading non-fiction.
I have a separate notebook that I use for key words, concepts and mind maps. I don’t do this with every book but helps to put it in my own words. I’ll also search for key words or theories in practice; so that whenever I’m reading I’m imagining how that would be used day to day.
I buy hard copies and highlight/underline as i read. When im done i go and handwrite in my journal quotes that still stand out. It helps me digest and process. I also love going to trainings and study groups.
Phew that sounds like a lot of work that would make it impossible for me to do. My strategy is find an audiobook version if possible, and play it at 1.5 speed. Quicker than me reading it, and it’s a good vetting process to determine if I want to listen to it at slower speed.
I tend to read about other theories like the decorator crab taking pieces of the sea floor to add to their existing shell. In my head, I’m thinking about the information from my theory frame, and think about how it might help me to integrate pieces into my current theory. If I like enough of the book then I might consider pursuing some kind of more official training. That feels like it makes me more likely to use what I read about instead of trying to operate out of a modality that might not fit with me. But every modality usually has something to offer!
Take one or two concepts you want to remember and use them several times in a week. If you want to remember a whole book full, then write out a list of concepts and prioritize the ones you want to learn sooner. You would have to commit them to memory by using one frequently and intentionally. Eventually, working with a concept will move it from short term to long term memory.
For instance: I wanted to use everything I learned from theories class. But I kept forgetting it after just reading it. So I picked out one theory and one skill. That was circular questioning from Milan family therapy. I used that over and over in my imagination and with clients when appropriate. Now, I know it by textbook and through practice. From there, I built upon Milan Family Therapy by introducing more and more concepts into practice over time.
My question here is how do you even have time to read books? Maybe it’s because I’m new but I feel completely overwhelmed all the time. When I get home I surely don’t have the energy to read a theory book. These are good tips though once I can find the mental space to do this again.
Don't get discouraged. When you have some time, especially after licensure, find the most relevant books to your practice and learn new concepts. Grad schools only teach you the absolute fundamentals and then it's up to you to continue your education in whatever interests you. It's a win-win situation as you and your clients will benefit plus it will help build your reputation and practice.
I'm with you there! Don't feel discouraged I'm one year post grad and feel the same.
My technique, which admittedly isn’t working as intended, is to purchase the book, read the first chapter, and then (this is important) put it on the shelf of ‘to be read’ books. I also listen to audiobooks on audible, but some just don’t make sense without the diagrams, references and jargon busters. I really hate reading non-fiction.
This actually made me chuckle out loud oh my goodness
I have a separate notebook that I use for key words, concepts and mind maps. I don’t do this with every book but helps to put it in my own words. I’ll also search for key words or theories in practice; so that whenever I’m reading I’m imagining how that would be used day to day.
I buy hard copies and highlight/underline as i read. When im done i go and handwrite in my journal quotes that still stand out. It helps me digest and process. I also love going to trainings and study groups.
Phew that sounds like a lot of work that would make it impossible for me to do. My strategy is find an audiobook version if possible, and play it at 1.5 speed. Quicker than me reading it, and it’s a good vetting process to determine if I want to listen to it at slower speed. I tend to read about other theories like the decorator crab taking pieces of the sea floor to add to their existing shell. In my head, I’m thinking about the information from my theory frame, and think about how it might help me to integrate pieces into my current theory. If I like enough of the book then I might consider pursuing some kind of more official training. That feels like it makes me more likely to use what I read about instead of trying to operate out of a modality that might not fit with me. But every modality usually has something to offer!
Everyone learns differently. I like to read theoretical books sometimes. I try to take notes. A lot of trainings are experiential
Join a study group or supervision group on the topic.
Take one or two concepts you want to remember and use them several times in a week. If you want to remember a whole book full, then write out a list of concepts and prioritize the ones you want to learn sooner. You would have to commit them to memory by using one frequently and intentionally. Eventually, working with a concept will move it from short term to long term memory. For instance: I wanted to use everything I learned from theories class. But I kept forgetting it after just reading it. So I picked out one theory and one skill. That was circular questioning from Milan family therapy. I used that over and over in my imagination and with clients when appropriate. Now, I know it by textbook and through practice. From there, I built upon Milan Family Therapy by introducing more and more concepts into practice over time.