You are here

A Psychodynamic Approach to Brief Therapy
Share

A Psychodynamic Approach to Brief Therapy

First Edition


January 2000 | 192 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Illustrated throughout with clinical vignettes, this book is a comprehensive guide to psychodynamic brief counselling and psychotherapy. It is ideal for those looking for a practical introduction to the subject.

Following a summary of the roots and development of psychoanalytic theory, psychodynamic models of brief, short-term and time-limited work are described. The author describes their differences and similarities in terms of duration, technique and the contexts for which they were developed. Gertrud Mander then examines the basics of brief therapeutic practice from a psychodynamic perspective, starting with assessment, contracting, structuring and focusing. The active stance of the brief therapist is emphasized, and the importance of beginnings and endings, and of supervision and training, are particularly stressed.

 
Introduction and Overview
 
The Psychodynamic Model and Its Development
 
The Historical Development of Brief Therapy Models
 
Assessment and Diagnosis in Brief and Focal Work
 
The Therapist's Task and Role in Brief and Focal Therapy
 
Ending Brief Therapy
 
Case Studies
 
Different Contexts and Treatment Settings for Brief and Focal Work
 
Supervision and Training
 
Post-Therapy Issues
Questionnaires, Research, Evaluation

 
 
Conclusion and Summary

This is a real useful book for trainees wishing to learn more about the practice of short term therapy as well as practitioners wanting to improve their practice in short term therapy. It provides good descriptions of time-limited models including techniques for working in brief therapy and emphasis of the importance of endings in brief work.

Mrs Ana Paula Wellbrook
Counselling and Psychology, City Lit
January 14, 2020

A very good primer for those seeking to learn more about psychodynamic techniques in coaching, however not suitable for my specific course.

Mr Antonio Pangallo
Department of Psychology, City University
April 23, 2013

This is a very thorough text in that it discusses the context of it's subject very literally, but in terms of what is required for the course here, it is too specific

Mr Armin Luthi
Health and Social care sciences, Saint Georges
November 25, 2011

For instructors

Please select a format:

Select a Purchasing Option

SAGE Knowledge is the premier social sciences platform for SAGE and CQ Press book, reference and video content.

The platform allows researchers to cross-search and seamlessly access a wide breadth of must-have SAGE book and reference content from one source.