First published in 1987. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. is a federal non-profit corporation. It was formed to promote and advance the contributions made to the health sciences by the late Milton H. Erickson, M.D., during his long and distinguished career. This volume is a collection of the papers from video-taped sessions at first Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference.
This volume provides a clear and readable history of the development of psychological thought in the field of counseling psychology. The author traces the origins of counseling psychology in the Guidance Movement and the influence of humanitarian concerns from the Progressive Era. He describes rofessionalization of the field as well as the long search for professional identity and the influence of the burgeoning practice of psychotherapy. The seminal ideas of the four great traditions that have shaped the field are described: the trait and factor tradition, the developmental tradition, the humanistic tradition, and the behavioral tradition. Managed Care, diversity, and gender issues and their impact on the profession today are addressed making this volume an ideal text and overview of the field for students as well as psychologists intending to work as counselors.
In the best therapeutic tradition, Louis Breger describes contemporary theories and research in the field of analytic psychotherapy. Through the framework of his personal experiences as a scholar, researcher, and therapist, he focuses on his relationships with patients over the span of his fifty-year career. He records their reactions, in their own words, to their experience with psychotherapy many years after its conclusion. The author surveyed over thirty former patients to see if their progress, begun in therapy, had continued, expanded, or regressed. They were asked to highlight what they remembered as being most helpful, therapeutic, or curative in their treatment. The book is a unique long-term follow-up demonstrating the effectiveness of modern analytic psychotherapy. Breger primarily deals with the connections between therapist and patient. This is a professional memoir of the life of the psychotherapist dealing with trials as a young practitioner, lessons learned, and personal reflections on the choices, including mistakes, made along the way. Young therapists, and those who are in or considering psychotherapy, will find it helpful to have access to this self-reflective approach. Extracts from the patients are extensive and informative, giving the reader the opportunity to see therapy from their perspectives. The book also centers on the development of the therapist over his career span. Breger acknowledges that his understanding of patient care has improved over time in the eyes of his patients. In a larger sense, the book contains lessons for all psychotherapists. This is an important, unique, and innovative work. *Click here for an interview with the author. *Click here for an interview with the author on KQED's Forum with Michael Krasny
Philosophers and therapists have long theorised about how psychological mechanisms for love, jealousy, anxiety, depression and many other human characteristics may have evolved over millions of years. In the dawn of the new insights on evolution, provided by Darwin's theories of natural selection, Freud, Jung and Klein sought to identify and understand human motives, emotions and information processing as functions deeply-rooted in our evolved history. Despite this promising start and major developments in modern evolutionary psychology, anthropology and sociobiology, the last fifty years has seen little in the way of therapies derived from an evolutionary understanding of human psychology. The contributors to this timely book illuminate how an evolution focused approach to psychopathology can offer new insights for different schools of therapy and provide a rationale for therapeutic integration. Genes on the Couch brings together respected clinicians who have integrated evolutionary insights into their case conceptualisations and therapeutic interventions. Various psychotherapy schools are represented, and each author provides illustrative examples of the interventions used. Specific topics addressed include the nature of evolved mental mechanisms; regulation/dysregulation of internal processes; attachment and kinship in therapy; the importance of internalising warmth as a therapeutic goal; kin selection and incest avoidance; co-operation and deception in social relations; difficulties in working with certain male clients; gender differences in therapy and the roles of shame and guilt in treatment. Providing up-to-date summaries of recent thinking in this increasing important but diverse area, Genes on the Couch will be of interest to psychotherapists, psychiatrists and a wide range of mental health professionals.
"Psychotherapy is widely accepted as a legitimate and beneficial healing practice in the United States and in many other countries. This book acquaints the emerging professional with psychotherapy. It introduces the theories of psychotherapy series, and many of the monographs in the series are accompanied by videos illustrating the use of theories in action. The book sets the stage in three ways. First, it describes the historical context. Chapter 2 addresses the following questions: How did psychotherapy originate and prosper? What are the key developments and who influenced the field? How did (and does) the cultural context shape the development of psychotherapy as a healing practice? Second, Chapter 3 discusses the critical question, What role does theory play in the practice of psychotherapy? As well, the philosophy of science that forms the basis of various theories is discussed to demonstrate that determining the relative worth of various theories is problematic. Third, Chapters 4 and 5 review the research evidence. Psychotherapy is a psychology-based endeavor and, as such, rests on an empirical base to the extent possible. Psychotherapists should be knowledgeable about the relevant research and use it as appropriate to ensure that their clients benefit. Although the review in Chapters 4 and 5 is relatively brief, it addresses the following questions: Does psychotherapy work? Are some psychotherapies more effective than others? What do we know about the delivery of psychotherapy in the real world? How does psychotherapy work? Chapter 6 presents a summary and reiterates the importance of theory in practice." -- Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
The 13 years between the publication of the original edition of the handbook and this second edition have been marked by memorable growth in psychotherapy integration. The original classic was the first compilation of the early integrative approaches and was hailed by one reviewer as "the bible of the integration movement." In the interim, psychotherapy integration has grown into a mature, empirically supported, and international movement. This second edition provides a state-of-the-art, comprehensive description of psychotherapy and its clinical practices by leading proponents. In addition to updates of all of the chapters, the new edition features: (1) eight new chapters covering topics such as cognitive-analytic therapy, integrative psychotherapy with culturally diverse clients, cognitive-behavioral analysis system, and blending spirituality with psychotherapy, (2) an entirely new section with two chapters on assimilative integration, (3) updated reviews of the empirical research on integrative and eclectic treatments, (4) chapter guidelines that facilitate comparative analyses and ensure comprehensiveness, and (5) a summary outline to help readers compare the integrative approaches. Blending the best of clinical expertise, empirical research, and theoretical pluralism, the revision of this "integration bible" will prove invaluable to practitioners, researchers, and students alike.
Underlying numerous psychotherapeutic techniques are principles guiding the evolution of the therapeutic relationship, the identification of maladaptive patterns, and the process of change. These principles form the structure of individual psychotherapy. Dr. Beitman calls these stages engagement, pattern search, change and termination. Each stage has a common structure: specific goals, characteristic content, basic techniques, and predictable distortions. Within this structure he defines the unique contributions of many different psychotherapeutic approaches. The book makes a valuable contribution to the growing movement toward psychotherapy integration.
As this book makes clear, the field has undergone a remarkable transformation and flowering during the past century. The whole story is here, told by many of the most eminent American psychologistùpsychotherapists. A notable achievement of which clinical psychology can be proud.ùRobert R. Holt, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, New York University --
