Main description:

This is an easy-to-read explication of relationally focused integrative psychotherapy/counselling that will be enjoyed by novice and experienced mental health professionals worldwide. Richard Erskine and Janet Moursund illuminate the central role of the therapeutic relationship, and of relationships in general, both in the healing process and in maintaining a psychologically healthy life. They posit that the therapeutic relationship is key to helping clients become integrated or whole, and present both theory and practice to demonstrate this view.

The book is divided into three parts: Theoretical Foundations, Therapeutic Practice, and a full verbatim transcript of a therapy session. The book's unique feature is the linkage of the transcript section with the earlier, theoretical and practice-oriented sections to clearly show how theory can be applied in the consulting room. For virtually every exchange between therapist and patient, the reader is directed back to a discussion of the specific aspect of theory and method that underly the actual words being spoken. The result is theory brought to life, theory brought out of the classroom or the professional workshop and into the real world of ongoing psychotherapy.

This book is highly recommended for students and practitioners of psychotherapy, counselling, and clinical psychology, and will be of interest to all those who work in a mental health setting.

Contents:

About the authors

Preface

Introduction to the reissue

PART I: Theoretical Foundations

CHAPTER 1: Development of Integrative Psychotherapy

Roots and Beyond

Modern Psychotherapies

Principles of Relationship-Focused Integrative Psychotherapy

Relationship

Summary

CHAPTER 2: Script, Repression, and Contact Distortion

Schemas and Script

The Function of Script

Maintaining the Script System

The Consequences of Script, Repression, and Contact Disruption

The Widening Spiral

Summary

CHAPTER 3: Relationship and Human Development

The Early Experience of Relationship

The Concept of Relational Needs

Development and Healthy Relationships

Development and Unhealthy Relationships

Trauma and Its Consequences

Summary

PART II: Therapeutic Interventions

CHAPTER 4: Healing the Hurts

A Set of Interlocking Systems

The Role of Relationship in the Healing Process

Relationship and the Facets of Growth and Change

Accessibility

Summary

CHAPTER 5: Creating a Therapeutic Relationship

Developing Therapeutic Personhood

Symmetry and Asymmetry

Empathy

Summary

CHAPTER 6: Beyond Empathy

Attunement

Inquiry

Involvement

Summary

CHAPTER 7: Beginning the Work

First-Session Tasks

Establishing a Safe Working Environment

The Decision to Work Together

The Therapeutic Contract

Saying Good-Bye

Summary

CHAPTER 8: Moving In

Affect and Awareness

Fear and Anxiety

Resistance and Repression

Accessing

Summary

CHAPTER 9: Therapeutic Interventions

Intervention Guidelines

Interpretation

Enactment and Experiment

Regression

Behavioral Interventions

Summary

CHAPTER 10: A Focus on Relationship

Three Relational Concerns

Transference and Countertransference Revisited

Touch

Therapist Error

The Juxtaposition Response

Shame

The Moment of Meeting

Summary

CHAPTER 11: Termination

Termination Criteria

The Decision to Terminate

Preparing for Termination

Tasks of Termination

Taking New Behaviors Out Into the World

The Last Session

Summary

PART III: The Transcript

CHAPTER 12: The Transcript

Postscript

Transcript Linkage Index

References

Name Index

Subject Index