Main description:

This book offers an extensive array of theories that includes all the mainstream theories as well as such contemporary approaches as narrative, feminist, and post-modern. It offers students an integrative framework with which to assess the various theories with respect to possible clinical application. This is not a book that simply lists and describes theories; rather it will compare and contrast them, showing strengths and weaknesses, in a way to help students to apply them flexibly. The book also presents self-reflection exercises throughout to reinforce student understanding of theories and to help them understand their own cognitive and affective relationship to them. In other words, students will be challenged to understand what it is about their own personalities that will lead them to accept or reject various theoretical perspectives. Finally the book constantly shows the relationship between theory building and diversity.

Contents:

Preface 1. Introduction: Journey Toward Theory Integration Part I: The First Force in Psychotherapy: Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Theories 2. Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Theories 3. Adlerian Psychotherapy Part II: The Second Force in Psychotherapy: Behavior and Cognitive Therapy 4. Behavior Therapy 5. Cognitive Approaches to Therapy 6. Reality/Choice Therapy Part III: The Third Force in Psychotherapy: Existential and Humanistic Worldviews 7. Existential Therapy 8. Person-Centered Therapy: Carl Rogers 9. Gestalt Therapy: Fritz Perls Part IV: The Fourth Force in Psychotherapy: Social Constructivism and Postmodernism 10. Multicultural Psychotherapy Theories 11. Transcultural Psychotherapy: Bridges to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East 12. Feminist Therapy and Lesbian and Gay Therapy 13. Solution-Focused Therapy 14. Narrative Therapy 15. Integrating Spiritual/Religious Issues During Psychotherapy 16. Strenghts-Based Therapy 17. Family Therapy Approaches 18. Comparing and Contrasting the Theories of Psychotherapy 19. Integrative Psychotherapy: Constructing Your Own Integrative Approach to Therapy Photo Credits References Index