I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Seth C. Kadish takes readers back to his beginning years as a therapist in the year 2000 by helping a caseload of troubled youths in his book, “Home Boys”. 

The Synopsis

In the year 2000, new therapist Seth C. Kadish is assigned a caseload of Probation boys at a Southern California group home. It’s trial and error, with moments of insight and learning, as Seth attempts to connect with the challenging teens – violent, manipulative Timothy who loves his mother and sister … Ramon, a bouncing butterball of energy and mayhem … odd Ryan who states a desire to be the first man buried on the moon … rapper Joey, jokester Enrique, sweet-natured Manuel … wanna-be gangster Antonio whose father is in the Mexican Mafia … and Rodney, angry and mistrustful, whose sole aim in life is to get back to his drug-addicted mother.

“Home Boys” is the poignant and humorous story of the relationship between a novice therapist and a group of troubled boys whose stories will touch your heart.

The Review

This was such an insightful read. The author does such an incredible job of not only relating the experiences he had as a therapist for this group home for troubled youths, but how these experiences taught him the lessons he would use later on in his career as a therapist. The honesty and heart in which the author wrote spoke to the balance the author struck tonally between clinical and emotional. 

The way the author broke up each chapter to examine the cases relating to each individual patient within this group home was so fascinating to read. Not only was it interesting to see the author diagnose and examine what each boy was experiencing and going through, but how the sessions and interactions with these boys would teach the author as a newcomer to the world of therapy when dealing with patients later years. 

The Verdict

Heartening, thoughtful, and insightful to read and explore, author and Dr. Seth Kadish’s “Home Boys” is a must-read nonfiction book. The gripping narrative and insight into the impact the relationship between a doctor and their patient can get were so brilliantly written. Passionately written and giving readers an engaging experience to see the hardships and struggles these young men had that brought them to the author’s door, to begin with, this is one psychological, therapy-driven nonfiction read that you won’t want to put down. Be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Dr. Seth Kadish received his Doctor of Psychology degree at the California Graduate Institute. Dr. Kadish is the former Clinical Director of Milestones Ranch Malibu, and Staff Psychologist at California State Prison, Los Angeles County, counseling maximum-security inmates. Prior to that, Dr. Kadish worked with Probation youth at Penny Lane in North Hills, CA where he was named Clinician of the Year 2001. Dr. Kadish is the creator of Pattern Identification and Reduction Therapy™, a series of techniques culled from his prison, group home, private practice and treatment center work. He has lectured on forensics and mental health topics at conferences, clinics, and treatment centers and has taught forensic and clinical courses at the graduate school level for many years. Dr. Kadish is the author of Pop Your Patterns: The No-Nonsense Way to Change Your Life.

https://www.huffpost.com/author/seth-c-kadish