This unique textbook offers an invaluable starting point in learning both the art and science of brief psychotherapy. Unlike other references, which review current literature and cover all of the many schools of brief therapy in current use, this compact text is packed with practical information that shows both what to do and why to do it, so that beginning therapists can start to think like brief therapists in their own work.
Based on more than a decade of extensive teaching experience, the editors of this practical guide-another immediately useful tool in the Core Competencies in Psychotherapy series-take you step by step through every approach, describing therapies and specific interventions and including detailed case examples to illustrate how they are implemented.
• The introduction answers basic questions about how to define, when to use, and why and how to learn brief therapy.
• Part I, Six Key Brief Psychotherapies, begins with the highly structured cognitive, behavioral, and solution-focused therapies and continues with interpersonal, time-limited dynamic, and couples therapies.
• Part II, Special Topics, covers identifying the essential ingredients of brief therapy, conducting brief therapy in a multicultural context, combining brief therapy with medications, and evaluating competency in brief therapy.
• Part III, Overview and Synthesis, proposes three skill sets-relationship, instrumental, and change agency-that form the backbone of what it means to be a competent practitioner of brief psychotherapy. Fully indexed and easy to use, this volume is destined to become the definitive guide to acquiring core competency in this field (as mandated by the residency review committee), bringing to life the fascinating and challenging world of brief psychotherapy for students, educators, residents, and practitioners everywhere. Contents
Introduction.
Part I : Six Key Brief Psychotherapies.
Cognitive therapy : introduction to theory and practice
Brief behavior therapy.
Solution-focused brief therapy : doing what works
Brief interpersonal psychotherapy
Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy : formulation and intervention
Brief couple therapy
Part II : Special Topics.
Essential ingredients for successful psychotherapy : effect of common factors
Brief psychotherapy in a multicultural context
Combining brief psychotherapy and medications
Evaluating competence in brief psychotherapy
Part III : Overview and Synthesis.
Doing therapy, briefly.
Index.
Reviews
“An impressive set of contributions by leading psychotherapists and psychotherapy researchers-The Art and Science of Brief Psychotherapies should be on every clinician’s bookshelf. Each chapter blends cutting-edge empirical data with a wealth of clinical wisdom, and the result is a major contribution to contemporary clinical practice.”-Robert F. Bornstein, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
“This fine text draws on an empirical base and shows how clinicians can meet the mandate of doing psychotherapy more effectively and efficiently. Their concept is ‘co-piloting’ with the client. They achieve this with the reader as well.”-Lloyd I. Sederer, M.D., Editor of Outcome Measurement in Psychiatry : A Critical Review and Improving Mental Health Care : Commitment to Quality
“Psychotherapy’s future lies in briefer approaches to treatment, and this book points the way. It provides a simple and practical guide to a diverse array of briefer psychotherapies. A wonderful resource for trainees and clinicians alike.”-Paul S. Appelbaum, M.D., A. F. Zeleznik Distinguished Professor and Chair of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
About the Authors
Mantosh J. Dewan, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.
Brett N. Steenbarger, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.
Roger P. Greenberg, Ph.D., Professor and Head, Psychology Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.