A Psychodynamic Approach to Brief Therapy (Brief Therapies series)

Illustrated throughout with clinical vignettes, this book provides a comprehensive, yet accessible, guide to psychodynamic brief counselling and psychotherapy and is ideal for those looking for a clear and practical introduction to the subject, and for those who want to incorporate brief or psychodynamic approaches into their existing practice.Following a summary of the roots and development of psychoanalytic theory, psychodynamic models of brief, short-term and time-limited work are introduced and 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.The book also considers: the contexts and treatment settings in which brief or time-limited counselling and psychotherapy are predominantly practised; how these influence and determine its modalities, duration of contracts and outcomes; and ethical and research matters.