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Simply Relax: An Illustrated Guide to Slowing Down and Enjoying Life
By Sarah Brewer. Berkley, CA: Ulysses Press, 2000, $15.95.
Simply Relax is one of the most readable, client friendly resources currently available to introduce psychotherapy clients to the benefits of relaxing the body and mind. Filled with beautiful illustrations and utilizing simple language, Dr. Sarah Brewer provides a wealth of information as well as specific exercises to help clients begin to experience relaxation in a comfortable, guided manner. Simply Relax is a valuable resource that can be used both in session and independently by clients.
This six-chapter, 142-page book is a brief read; most topics are covered in one to two pages and are accompanied by an equally brief but informative applied exercise. Brewer covers such basic topics as defining and identifying stress, how to begin journaling, proper breathing techniques, using the senses to regain calmness, and beginning guided imagery work. Additional chapters focus specifically on fear, grief, and workplace stress. The benefits of relaxation are demystified, and simple explanations of mind-body connections are provided throughout the book.
Each chapter begins with descriptions of specific stress-inducing factors common to most individuals. Strategies for addressing specific forms of stress follow, with accompanying exercises. A total of sixteen different exercises are provided in the text, and each chapter also includes a few basic sentences summarizing the key points of the chapter. Simply Relax is an aesthetically pleasing book, and is easily accessible to even the most unfamiliar with relaxation or bibliotherapy.
While this book is an excellent introduction to relaxation, and is very conducive to psychotherapists and clients working through the book together, the exercises provided are not reproducible; therefore, clients will have to borrow or purchase the entire book even if they are working on only one particular technique. Clients may also need to be cautioned that this book, while easy to read in one evening, should not merely by read cover to cover. This book is designed to be experienced, and should be read slowly. Psychotherapists may wish to assign specific sections for clients to read, and specific exercises to practice, depending on each client’s needs and the issues they are working on together in psychotherapy. This book will be very helpful for those clients seeking practical exercises to augment the counseling they receive concerning anxiety and stress- related difficulties. However, this book may not be ideally suited for all clients who are in treatment for stress-related difficulties. Much of the information may be too basic for clients experienced in relaxation and stress-management techniques. For them, selecting relevant exercises from the book may be the extent of its benefit for them. But, it may still prove valuable as an added resource to their ongoing psychotherapy.
Nevertheless, Simply Relax is an excellent introduction to a variety of stress and anxiety-reducing techniques, and provides client-friendly definitions, exercises, and explanations. The true value of this book lies in its accessibility to clients of varying backgrounds and reading abilities. The clear, accurate information is provided in an easy to reference format, and is presented in a non-threatening manner to those new to psychotherapy and relaxation. Simply Relax is a valuable resource for a variety of clients and psychotherapists.