Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques A Guide to Expressive and Supportive Interventions

Psychodynamic therapy has a growing evidence base, is cost-effective, and may have unique mechanisms of clinical change. However, gaining competence in this approach generally requires extensive training and mastery of a large and complex literature. Integrating clinical theory and research findings, Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques provides comprehensive but practical guidance on the main interventions of contemporary psychodynamic practice. Early chapters describe the psychodynamic "stance" and illustrate effective means of identifying and understanding clinical problems. Later, the book describes how to question, clarify, confront, and interpret patient material as well as assess the clinical impacts of interventions. With these foundational tools in place, the book supplements the "classic" psychodynamic therapy techniques with six sets of supportive interventions helpful for lower-functioning patients or those in acute crisis. Complete with step-by-step instructions on how to prepare techniques as well as numerous clinical vignettes to illustrate their use in clinical settings, Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques effectively demystifies this important approach to therapy and helps practitioners more effectively apply them to a wide range of patients and problems.

Brian A. Sharpless, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the American School of Professional Psychology and a Visiting Research Fellow (Honorary Appointment) in the Department of Psychology at Goldsmith's University of London. He received his PhD in clinical psychology and MA in philosophy from Pennsylvania State University and completed post-doctoral clinical and research fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Sharpless has authored over 40 publications on psychodynamic therapy, common and lesser-known disorders, professional issues, and the history/philosophy of clinical psychology. He is the author of Sleep Paralysis: Historical, Psychological, and Medical Perspectives (with Karl Doghramji, MD) and editor of Unusual and Rare Psychological Disorders: A Handbook for Clinical Practice and Research.