Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/2023)

5 Stars — Relieving pain from past traumatic events and moving into a more fulfilling life.

“Life Skills: Improve the Quality of Your Life with Applied Metapsychology, 2nd Edition,” is part of the Explorations in Metapsychology five book series. In this updated edition, author Marian Volkman provides readers with steps to use to enrich the quality of their lives. This will help them relieve pain from past traumatic events and move forward into a more fulfilling life. The techniques presented will enable us to help ourselves and also improve our relationships. The Applied Metapsychology (AMP) techniques are person centered. It is up to the reader to do the work that is presented in the exercises.

“Life Skills,” is written in a warm compassionate manner that is easy to follow. I felt like the author was speaking directly to me.  Each chapter has a series of inner-directed exercises that will helped me apply the information being discussed to my own thoughts and experiences. I found the exercises to be introspective and valuable. I feel that it is very important to use a journal as a tool so that I can reflect back on what I wrote as I went through the initial process. I hope to use “Life Skills,” as a tool that will be used, in the future, as I feel the need.

While most of the material is timeless, having an updated edition is extremely helpful, especially dealing with traumatic stress regarding recent emotional or physical events, such as one caused by a pandemic. As a counselor, I see that many of my students, friends and colleagues have been seriously impacted from the traumatic stress caused by the pandemic, especially because my county was the epicenter at one point. They have been affected in many ways, including financial and emotional from isolation or loss of loved ones, and from their own health issues. I was reminded to use awareness rather than judgement when observing how another person reacts to situations. This helps me not take things so personally. I also feel that these people would benefit greatly with AMP!  “Life Skills: Improve the Quality of Your Life with Applied Metapsychology, 2nd Edition,” is a valuable work for practitioners who are interested in learning more about facilitating AMP. Readers who are seeking to improve their quality of life will benefit greatly as well. I feel this would be an excellent resource for a study group. I would have enjoyed listening to the experiences and perspectives of others as I went through the exercises. This work, plus a journal, would make a valuable gift!

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Life Skills: Improve the Quality of Your Life with Applied Metapsychology
Marian K. Volkman
Loving Healing Press (2022) ISBN: 978-1615996803