Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques

Psychodynamic therapy is one of the most popular orientations practiced in the world today. The past few decades of research have also provided evidence for its clinical efficacy. However, gaining competence in this approach generally requires years of training and mastery of a large and complex literature. This easily accessible text focuses specifically on the techniques needed for contemporary psychodynamic practice. Written for the intermediate-beginner, it first teaches readers how to think and respond to patients in a consistent psychodynamic manner. Other early chapters focus on the characteristics of “good” interventions and ways to assess their clinical impacts. Next, the book provides straightforward guidance on how to question, clarify, confront, and interpret patient material. These “classic” techniques are then supplemented with six sets of supportive interventions helpful for lower-functioning patients or those in acute crisis. Finally, the procedures required to effectively resolve alliance ruptures are described along with suggestions for using these events to enact clinical gains. In addition to clear, step-by-step instructions on how to prepare techniques (e.g., interpretations), the author provides numerous clinical vignettes. Further, a supplemental appendix conveniently gathers the psychodynamic therapy models and treatment manuals that have been used in empirical studies. These may be helpful for researchers and other readers interested in pursuing more advanced training. Grounded in both sophisticated clinical theory and up-to-date research findings, this book effectively demystifies psychodynamic therapy techniques and helps practitioners more effectively apply them to a wide range of patients and problems.