A Psychodynamic Approach to Brief Therapy
- Gertrud Mander - WPF Counselling and Psychotherapy, London, UK
Brief Therapies series
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.
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.
A very good primer for those seeking to learn more about psychodynamic techniques in coaching, however not suitable for my specific course.
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
Sage College Publishing
