Synopses & Reviews
This text 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 provides 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 is divided into four major theoretical forces in psychotherapy and introductory sections are provided to help students place a particular theory within a major theoretical period. The four theoretical forces discussed are: (1) psychoanalytical and psychodynamic; (2) behavioral and cognitive school(s); (3) existentialism and humanism; and (4) social constructivism school of psychotherapy. The author discusses social constructivism and then describes at least five theoretical approaches within this theoretical force--solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, strengths-based therapy, and so on.
This is a well crafted product that has included the snippets, histories, time periods, and humanizing things I have collected over 25 years of teaching the course... It reads wonderfully well with the best mix of science, history, and academics I have seen. I think the author has produced an excellently crafted tool for exposing the reader to the meat of our practices, while making sure they will get a feeling of the person and the times it was developed in -- David K. Hollingsworth, Troy University
Techniques, especially those presented in the chapters addressing behavioral and cognitive-behavioral approaches, are very practical. They can be demonstrated during a class session and can easily be practiced by students in a field-based setting. -- Travis Pirtle, Texas A&M University
The content, order, organization and flow are well done and presented in a logical, easy-to-follow order. Well done The history/background of each theorist is very well done, interesting and a great opening for each chapter. -- Jennifer L. Crissman Ishler, Penn State University
The organization is absolutely beautifully direct and clear throughout all of the chapters I read. I was very pleased to see that the author kept a level of topic exploration, theory development, and application parallel throughout each one. The writing style is engaging and super informative. The material humanizes the theorist and their contribution in that time period. The case study of Justine was really consistently well done with appropriate treatment planning based on assessment and really well said evaluative elements. -- David K. Hollingsworth, Troy University
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
This text offers an extensive array of theories, including all the mainstream approaches as well as contemporary ones such as narrative, feminist, and post-modern. The author provides an integrative framework that allows students to assess the various theories with respect to possible clinical application. By comparing and contrasting the theories, as well as analyzing strengths and weaknesses of each, students will learn to apply them more flexibly in practice.
The book is divided into four major theoretical forces in psychotherapy and introductory sections are provided to help students place a particular theory within a major theoretical period. The four theoretical forces discussed are: (1) psychoanalytical and psychodynamic; (2) behavioral and cognitive school(s); (3) existentialism and humanism; and (4) social constructivism school of psychotherapy. The author discusses social constructivism and then describes at least five theoretical approaches within this theoretical force--solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, strengths-based therapy, and so on.