In this accessible guide for writers of fiction and nonfiction, Kaufman, a writing coach and professor of psychology at Columbus State Community College, offers tips on using psychology to create more realistic and complex characters, busts commonly held myths about psychotherapy and mental illness, shows how to avoid psychobabble clichš and stereotypes of patients and therapists, and explains what really makes psychopathic villains tick. She describes how real therapy sessions work, gives background on all types of disorders, and details the mechanisms of medications, their side effects, and what they might mean for a character in a story. There is also a chapter on emergencies in psychotherapy. The book includes a glossary and Q&As with real writers, plus boxes exposing mistakes in fiction, film, and TV. Annotation 2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
