Main description:

This book identifies the core competencies shared by expert therapists and helps clinicians-especially those providing brief dynamic/interpersonal therapy-to develop and apply them in their own work. Rather than being a cookbook of particular techniques, the book richly describes therapists' mental processes and moment-to-moment actions as they engage in effective therapeutic inquiry and improvise to help patients achieve their goals. The author integrates the psychotherapy and cognitive science literatures to provide a unique understanding of therapist expertise. Featuring many illustrative examples, the book offers fresh insights into how learning and interpersonal skills can be enhanced for both therapist and client.

Contents:

1. The Key to Good Psychotherapy
2. Competency 1: The Use of Theoretical Models of Personality, Psychopathology, and Therapeutic Process to Guide the Conduct of Psychotherapy
3. Competency 2: Problem Formulation and Treatment Planning
4. Competency 3: Tracking the Issue That Is the Focus of Therapy
5. Competency 4: Planning What to Do and Carrying It Out-The Therapeutic Inquiry
6. Competency 4: Planning What to Do and Carrying It Out-Implementing Change
7. Competency 5: Relationship Management
8. Termination, with Karishma K. Patel
9. Training
Epilogue