On Second Thought: How Ambivalence Shapes Your Life

William R. Miller, PhD, is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. Fundamentally interested in the psychology of change, he is a cofounder of motivational interviewing and has focused particularly on developing and testing more effective treatments for people with alcohol and drug problems. Dr. Miller has published over 400 scientific articles and chapters and 50 books, including the groundbreaking work for professionals Motivational Interviewing, Third Edition. He is a recipient of the international Jellinek Memorial Award, two career achievement awards from the American Psychological Association, and an Innovators in Combating Substance Abuse Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among many other honors. The Institute for Scientific Information has listed him as one of the world's most highly cited researchers.

Title: On Second Thought: How Ambivalence Shapes Your Life

Author: Miller, William R.

ISBN: 9781462547500

Binding:

Publisher: Guilford Publications

Publication Date: 2021-12-24

Number of Pages: 192

Weight: 0.1941 kg

This is the definitive read on mixed feelings: why we have them, how to change them, and when to accept them. Dr. Miller is a trailblazer in psychology--he combines a scientist's expertise with a therapist's empathy, and I have no ambivalence about recommending his book. His wisdom will stay with you long after you've finished the last page. --Adam Grant, PhD, author of Think Again

I love the way Dr. Miller uses personal stories to show that ambivalence isn't just an abstract phenomenon; it is essential to decision making. Anyone who reads this remarkable book will quickly begin to apply its content to their own life, from pivotal turning points at different junctures in their past to choices they need to make today. --Don Kuhl, MS, Founder, The Change Companies

Dr. Miller skillfully integrates psychological knowledge about ambivalence with delightful examples from literature, theater, history, business, and more. This book offers evidence-based tools for how to examine ambivalence, whether your own or someone else's. Dr. Miller demystifies ambivalence in order to help you make decisions aligned with your values and interests, and move forward with desired changes in your life. --Naomi B. Rothman, PhD, Department of Management, Lehigh University

Reflecting Dr. Miller's expertise and his passion for understanding the human condition, this book takes a deep dive into human decision making. When our choices are loaded with implications, ambivalence can be stressful or even paralyzing. But we can also learn from it. Dr. Miller explains that ambivalence is a virtue, and invites us to think about it in productive new ways. --Molly Magill, LICSW, PhD, Brown University School of Public Health

This is the first book to dive deeply into ambivalence, a basic human condition that every helping professional must learn to address. The book provides concrete examples of what different types of ambivalence look like, so that providers can learn to lean into ambivalence with exploration instead of overlooking it until behavior change is stymied. Miller's unique approach is transtheoretical and practical, providing a useful guide for clinical practice in many domains and contexts. I highly recommend this book for all practitioners hoping to maximize their clients' (and their own) human potential. --Sylvie Naar, PhD, Distinguished Endowed Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, and Director, Center for Translational Behavioral Science, Florida State University-