The Psychodynamic Approach to Therapeutic Change
- Rob Leiper - West Kent NHS & Social Care Trust
- Michael Maltby - Canterbury Christ Church University College, UK
SAGE Therapeutic Change Series
Change is the central purpose of all counselling and psychotherapy, but how it is conceptualized and worked with varies according to the theoretical approach being used. The Psychodynamic Approach to Therapeutic Change explores the nature of psychological change from the psychodynamic perspective and describes the process through which clients can be helped to come to terms with painful experiences and develop new ways of relating.
In the first part of the book, Rob Leiper and Michael Maltby look at therapeutic change in relation to psychological health and maturity. They explore what motivates people to change and also why resistance occurs.
The main part of the book outlines the collaborative process that clients and therapist work through to bring about change and highlights the role of the therapist in:
] creating the conditions for clients to express their thoughts, feelings and memories
] developing clients' awareness and understanding of their psychological processes, and
] providing `containment' for the client's psychological projections.
The final part of the book sets personal therapeutic change in a wider social context, linking individual change with community and organisational development.
Combining core psychodynamic concepts with contemporary thinking, The Psychodynamic Approach to Therapeutic Change provides a lively and up-to-date integration of ideas on the change process which will be of great value to trainees and practicing counsellors and psychotherapists.
`It is well written and well organised and I'm sure it will be of help and interest to researchers and practitioners concerned with the therapeutic action of psychodynamic treatment' - Penelope Waite, Nurturing Potential
The book would be difficult to access for clinical trainees because there is not enough coverage of basic concepts. Concepts and theories which are covered tend to be discussed in a way that might be too abstract to those unfamiliar with the psychodynamic model. The book may be more useful to trainees/students I work with if there was more emphasis on basic and general concepts/models/terminology. This might provide a useful introduction to the content currently in the book.
A good introduction to psychodynamic theory. Clear ,concise and practical. Will benifit health care workers who are advancing in counselling skills training . There is good application of theory to practice that enables understanding of the change process.
Excellent Broad Resource of key concepts
Even though I've found this book of academic value, "The Presenting Past " by Michael Jacobs seems to cover all topics in more depth. However, it is a good book, and I would be happy to recommend it to students.
