Review of Handbook of play therapy, volume 2: Advances and innovations.

Reviews the book, Handbook of play therapy, volume 2: Advances and innovations by Kevin J. O'Connor and Charles E. Schaefer (1994). This book offers a collection of chapters written by leading experts which addresses the developments in play therapy since 1983. In completing the volume, Editors Kevin J. O'Connor and Charles E. Schaefer sought to offer a multi-disciplinary approach to play therapy. Additionally, the editors stated in their preface that they worked to make this new volume "informative, thought provoking, and clinically useful." Indeed, the editors have succeeded admirably in achieving their stated objectives. The book's organization and emphasis on clinical relevance make it a fit companion to their earlier classic (Schaefer & O'Connor, 1983). The Handbook is very well-organized with an excellent selection of chapter topics. The chapters follow essentially the same format and are integrated well within the book. The editors deserve credit for synthesizing diverse theoretical approaches and techniques into a coherent whole. The individual chapters are clearly written and quite readable. The figures and tables are readily understandable and augment the chapters' content. Clinicians and researchers interested in play therapy and child psychotherapy will enjoy this volume. Although the majority of chapters discuss play therapy with children, two chapters discuss play therapy applications with adults. Accordingly, therapists interested in these approaches will profit from this work. The volume certainly appeals to multi-disciplinary audiences such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, pastoral counselors, and educators. The text is extremely appropriate for a graduate course in play therapy. Finally, the book can be read from beginning to end or the reader can select particular chapters in the handbook and sample various clinical approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychotherapy Relationships That Work: Therapist Contributions and Responsiveness to Patients.

Reviews the book, Psychotherapy Relationships That Work: Therapist Contributions and Responsiveness to Patients edited by John C. Norcross (see record 2003-02805-000). As quoted from the fly leaf, "the work represents the culmination of three years of systematic analysis by the APA's Division of Psychotherapy (29) Task Force on Empirically Supported Therapy Relationships." Clearly, the task force was appointed in part--and acknowledged in the Introduction--as a response to the Society of Clinical Psychology's (12) Task Force on Empirically Validated Therapies (see Chambless & Hollon, 1998), which emphasized techniques in therapy. Norcross, the chair of the Division 29 Task Force and editor of this volume, discusses the inevitable questions regarding the differences between the goals of the two task forces. He views the current work as an extension and enlargement of the "attempt to apply psychological science to the identification and promulgation of effective psychotherapy." The 21 substantive chapters of the book are written by distinguished researchers of the therapeutic process. Fifty-five authors contributed to the volume. The chapters cover a wide-ranging and diverse field of topics including empathy, resistance, feedback, repairing alliance ruptures, countertransference, self-disclosure, religion and spirituality, and cultural diversity. The organization of the contents is of interest, as they are divided into General Elements of the Relationship and Customizing the Relationship to the Individual Patient. The choice of which chapters fit the categories appears somewhat arbitrary and perhaps forced. But the import of the volume is the thoroughness that the authors have brought to their particular topics. The book contains a number of resource gems, such as tables of references on outcome as related to resistance, interpretation, and therapist positive regard. That said, the book is not without some weaknesses. There is a dearth of reports of case studies, and cases that are presented are scattered sparsely throughout the text. The research must necessarily continue in order to provide a better understanding of interpersonal relationships within the context of psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of Moral Development.

Reviews the book, Handbook of Moral Development edited by Melanie Killen and Judith G. Smetana (see record 2005-11748-000). This is a big book on a big topic. Editors Melanie Killen and Judith Smetana have solicited 26 chapters on the topic of moral development, including many of the key authors and researchers currently working in the field. While the editors themselves share the perspective of "social domain" theory, the breadth of the current volume is much wider. Indeed it provides a representative overview of work ranging across the entire landscape of moral development research today. The 26 chapters are organized into six sections: structuralism and moral stages, social domain theory, conscience development and internalization, social interactional and comparative approaches, emotions and empathy, and moral education. In general, each chapter reviews recent work on a particular topic within these six areas, provides a theoretical context and overview of the research and typically discusses the author(s)' own research program in detail. Many of the chapters also consider, if only briefly, ideas and prospects for future research as well. The chapters are thus up-to-date, generally well-written, and approachable for advanced students and scholars within the field. This is as good an overview as we are likely to get from our current vantage point. It can be highly recommended for advanced-level students and scholars in the field alike. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The International Handbook of Creativity.

Reviews the book, The International Handbook of Creativity by James Kaufman and Robert Sternberg (Eds) (see record 2006-05841-000). The International Handbook of Creativity, edited by James Kaufman and Robert Sternberg, provides global perspectives on conceptions of creativity. An edited volume with 35 international contributing authors of 17 chapters, this handbook achieves the goal stated on its back cover of "present[ing] a truly international and diverse set of perspectives on the psychology of human creativity." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of clinical hypnosis.

Reviews the book, Handbook of clinical hypnosis edited by J. W. Rhue, S. J. Lynn, and I. Kirsch (see record 1998-06062-000). The Handbook of clinical hypnosis is an 800-page, hardbound textbook, whose authors state in the Preface their intentions in writing. They wish to produce a "comprehensive textbook of clinical hypnosis," 1) which is presented from an atheoretical point of view, 2) yet takes into account the advantages of different approaches to hypnotic phenomena and, finally, 3) which portends the combination of theory, knowledge, and practice in the field of hypnotherapy. This is an ambitious undertaking, but one which is credibly realized. The Handbook is structured into various sections, which have from three up to as many as six individual chapters. These sections are roughly as follows: 1) Basics in hypnotherapy and an overview of hypnotherapy theory and technique; 2) "Models" of hypnotherapy, including contributions from various schools of thought, both historical and contemporaneous; 3) Techniques of hypnotherapy, with special attention to induction; 4) Applications of hypnotherapy to specific disorders or populations; 5) Applications of hypnotherapy to traumatic circumstances; 6) Hypnotherapy applications in behavioral medicine); 7) Training and ethics in hypnotherapy research and practice. The Handbook is a marvelous, varied treatment of an extremely complicated and difficult subject matter. Both the editors and the individual authors deserve congratulations for having brought together such a diverse and complex topic in a single volume for the benefit of both practicing clinicians and researchers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The newer therapies: A sourcebook.

Reviews the book, The newer therapies: A sourcebook by Lawrence Edwin Abt and Irving R. Stuart (1982). This volume seeks to present a representative sample of innovative psychotherapies through the writings of leading practitioners of the approaches. The 21 chapters are grouped into four sections: "Cognitive Therapies" (including a cognitive approach to hopelessness, meditation techniques, and ego-state therapy); "Therapy with Children" (including paraverbal therapy and theraplay); "Group Approaches" (including family, group, and network therapies); and "Adjuvant Therapies". The chapters generally provide a well-written and authoritative introduction to the therapy approach at hand. With concise delineations of the fundamental theoretical assumptions, illustrative and effective excerpts from therapy sessions, and select primary source references, the chapters are stimulating even to the sophisticated reader. With its well-written, wide-ranging, and stimulating content, this book is especially suited for use by graduate students, supervised groups, and the practicing clinician. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of Self-Regulation: Research, Theory, and Applications.

This article provides a review of the "Handbook of Self-Regulation: Research, Theory, and Applications" (see record 2004-00163-000). The topic of self-regulation is currently receiving increasing attention in various areas of psychological research. Many psychological disorders (such as depression, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder etc.) as well as addictions and risk-taking behaviour are believed to involve some kind of failure of self-regulation. Self-regulation is a concept that crosses domains. For this reason, self-regulation is, as the editors of the the book remark, "simply too large, diverse, and important a topic not to have a handbook". The editors of the Handbook define self-regulation as "processes by which the human psyche exercises control over its functions, states, and inner processes". This broad definition serves as the umbrella under which multiple areas of self-regulation research are presented. The book comprises six sections, which progress from consideration of basic processes, to applications of theory and research to "everyday problems" of self-regulation. Each chapter is self-contained, allowing one to select and focus on topics of interest. At the same time, the individual chapters provide neither a systematic discussion and comparison of different views on self-regulation, nor an exhaustive review of the literature. Furthermore, because the authors of the individual chapters largely focus on the presentation of their approach to self-regulation, the Handbook reflects the fragmented and kaleidoscopic state of self-regulation research in general. The book is a good choice for anyone with an interest in self-regulation, particularly anyone who seeks a collation of the literature, summaries of key concepts, and an idea of where the field of self-regulation is headed in the future. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Law and mental health: International perspectives. Volume 1.

Reviews the book, Law and mental health: International perspectives. Volume 1 by David N. Weisstub (1984). This is the first volume in a series designed to provide an international perspective on central issues in law and mental health. The editor, David N. Weisstub, is a professor of law at Osgoode Hall and was the founding editor of the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. He is well qualified to accomplish his stated goal of establishing an international network of scholars and increase communication between countries. The first volume, however, focuses primarily on American jurisprudence. Weisstub argues that this is appropriate because the United States "has been a forerunner and, indeed, has functioned as a testing ground in the field." Subsequent volumes will include research reviews and examinations of legislative and judicial trends in other countries, focusing on topics such as malpractice, deinstitutionalization, guardianship, and competency. The present volume is comprised of six chapters, each on a different topic with the exception of two chapters on criminal responsibility. Few readers will be interested in all the chapters, but anyone interested in mental health law will find something of interest. The chapters are of uniformly high quality and the book is an excellent reference work. Since there are only six chapters, it may be of use to potential readers to have a brief overview of each. This volume (and the ones to follow) should prove to be a valuable reference for psychologists interested in legal issues. It may also be put to good use in graduate seminars in law and psychology because of the breadth of issues covered in the volume. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Comprehensive Handbook of Psychotherapy: Vol. 1. Psychodynamic/Object Relations.

This initial volume is an introduction to a four-volume work. The text consists of 25 chapters, organized into six different sections. The first three sections address psychotherapy for three different age stratifications: children, adolescents, and adults. Sections IV and V address couples and family therapy, and group therapy, respectively. The closing section (VI) addresses "special topics," which turn out to include group interventions in therapeutic communities, cardiac patients, and ethnic and gender topics, as these have a bearing on transference in psychotherapy. This is followed by a closing summary of the entire volume by the editor. The reviewer recommends this volume to psychotherapists of all persuasions, who are interested in expanding their horizons and perhaps broadening the applicability of their other techniques and formulations to problems of human motivation, conflict and pathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of homework assignments in psychotherapy: Research, practice, and prevention.

Reviews the book, Handbook of homework assignments in psychotherapy: Research, practice, and prevention edited by Nikolaos Kazantzis and Luciano L'Abate (see record 2006-11928-000). Reading this book title quickly one might think that this is a book of practical homework ideas, worksheets, and resources for clinicians. Reading it again more carefully, one discerns that it is more than that. What the editors have planned for the reader is a complete discussion of how therapy and personal change is supported by between-session activities in which the client engages. The book operationally defines "homework" in various kinds of therapy, the role that it plays in the change process, and presents research related to those important between-session tasks. Given this breadth, it is not surprising that the book is aimed at practitioners and researchers with all ranges of experience. The book is organised into four parts to help the reader with this diverse material. Part 1 reviews the concept and implementation of homework across nine well-known modalities (behavioural, client-centered, cognitive, emotion-focussed, interpersonal, psychodynamic, acceptance and commitment, brief strategic family, and personal construct therapies). Parts 2 and 3 of the book focus more on specific populations and disorders, including older adults, couples, and families. The final section of the book contains three "future" oriented chapters in distinct areas: research, practise, and prevention. Readers looking for an "academic" perspective on homework, a comparison of different approaches to between-session work, and inspiration in working with different populations will find a great deal here. The book may be less useful as quick reference on homework ideas for a client who is coming in to a session later today. It really does represent a "first to market" work that will be foundational for others interested in the theory and practise of psychotherapy homework, and certainly makes a very unique contribution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Critical interventions in psychotherapy, from impasse to turning point.

Reviews the book, Critical interventions in psychotherapy, from impasse to turning point by Haim Omer (see record 1994-98362-000). In his opening sentence the author postulates that, "Prolonged impasse is probably the toughest and most ubiquitous ordeal of psychotherapy." This relatively short volume is directed at the development of a technique, which the author calls "Critical Intervention(s)" for the resolution of such impasses. It also, very directly, makes a case for the psychotheapeutic pluralism rampant on the contemporary psychotherapeutic scene. The first seven of the eight chapters are devoted to the philosophy and then the actual technique of the critical intervention. There are case histories to make each point, and the histories consist of dialogues between patient(s) and therapist as well as dialogue between therapist, the consultant, and a group of colleagues who are part of the consultation statement developed out of this consultation. The therapist, then, is to present this statement to the patient(s). While the apparent focus of this book is the critical intervention, it is also clearly a platform for the author's views and feelings about both the pluralistic approach to psychotherapy and the "older" single frame of reference psychotherapies. While this book will have some interest for the solo practicing clinician, the utilization of the technique would be, at best, quite difficult given the necessity of calling together a consultant and group. For those with a single theory orientation to treatment the book will be of no value (other than as an interesting idea) since the technique depends upon pluralism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of social psychology.

Reviews the book, Handbook of social psychology edited by Gardner Lindzey (1954). The reviewer notes that the publication of this two-volume Handbook is a truly signal event in social psychology. The text is comprehensive, up to date, balanced. It gives extensive treatment to theory, to methodology, and to research findings and applications. It is sophisticated in its approach and makes no concession to oversimplified presentation, either in content or in style. The reviewer also reports that the editor has demonstrated a high order of intelligence and judgment in the selection and organization of the various chapters. No main area of social psychology is neglected. As contrasted with the more typical compendiums of material in a large field, this book succeeds remarkably in avoiding unnecessary redundancy. The choice of authors in this text is also excellent. Some of the authors have taken this as an occasion for creating something beyond simply a critical review of an area of social psychology; parts of some of the chapters are original contributions to the theory and method of social psychology. Overall, this Handbook offers convincing evidence that social psychology is indeed a field in its own right, continually growing in the extent to which its methods and findings bear intimate relationship with other areas of psychology, and at the same time contributing a steady stream of methods and data which are uniquely to be found in connection with social behavior of individuals and groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of evidence-based psychodynamic psychotherapy: Bridging the gap between science and practice.

Reviews the book, Handbook of evidence-based psychodynamic psychotherapy: Bridging the gap between science and practice by Raymond A. Levy and J. Stuart Ablon (see record 2008-14828-000). This book presents a lucid and timely review of research advances assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies in treating many psychological disorders. From research on broad-based meta-analyses of the effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapy to close process analysis of therapist and patient interactions, the invited contributors of this volume translate complex research findings into clinically relevant information for clinicians working in the field. The volume is organized to lead the reader from broad-based reviews of psychodynamic psychotherapy outcome studies to examining in-session processes of patient– therapist interactions that affect the patient’s well-being, improvement, and personality change. In all, it lives up to its title and should be added to any clinician’s library. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior control and social responsibility.

"It is in the field of psychotherapy that the issues of the moral and ethical implications of behavior control first arose as a relevant problem." We "cannot avoid facing the issue of values." Psychology should "develop techniques of approaching experimentally the basic problem of social and ethical issues involved in behavior control." In connection with this, the psychologist-researcher "should undertake the task of contact with the public rather than leaving it to sensationalists and popularizers." Behavior control "represents a relatively new, important, and very useful development in psychological research." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Drama therapy and storymaking in special education.

Reviews the book, Drama therapy and storymaking in special education by Paula Crimmens (2006). This book is a resource for therapists, teachers, and paraprofessionals--anyone working with those children deemed to have "special needs." The book is divided into short chapters that are written in an informal, first person narrative style. The bulk of the book consists of chapters that focus on a particular theme or behavior, such as "helping others," "dealing with change," and "trickery and stealing." For each of these focus areas, Crimmens includes the texts of three or four relevant stories from a wide variety of cultures, and then "ideas for the story," which include thematically related games, visual art, character creation, and segments of simple dramatization. The book provides specific source material and activities that the author has successfully utilized in classroom settings. Both the stories and drama exercises that follow them address issues that are often more pronounced in children with various special needs. Although not earth shattering or revolutionary, this book will generate excitement in those practitioners who are looking for new ways to work with their students and clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of What works for whom? A critical review of psychotherapy research.

Reviews the book, What works for whom? A critical review of psychotherapy research by Anthony Roth and Peter Fonagy (see record 1996-98691-000). This book presents a comprehensive review of the status of psychotherapy research. The authors look at the evidence dealing with both efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy for the more common DSM-IV disorders. All of the chapters are geared toward the goal of providing the practitioner with a list of treatments for which there is empirical support. The reviewer notes that the amount of information covered in this text is extensive and provides sufficient evidence for the efficacy of psychotherapy for many of the diagnostic categories. Despite an overemphasis on cognitive/behavioral treatments, the authors do present the best of the research in psychodynamic therapy. The reviewer recommends this volume to both to researchers and practitioners. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Motivation and personality.

Reviews the book, Motivation and personality by A. H. Maslow (1954). As indicated in the preface, "this book was started during the years 1935-1936 and was intended to be a systematic psychology of the older type." Thirteen of the eighteen chapters appeared as separate articles although the author did have an over-all plan into which these separates did fit. There have been only slight changes in the chapters in the preparation of this publication because the author felt that his thinking has "stood up very well." The opening chapter has as its thesis the importance of taking into account the scientist as well as the science, and is followed by a second chapter with a related theme. The third chapter, titled "Holistic-Dynamic Theory in the Study of Personality" is described by the author as being "already somewhat dated." The fourth chapter is titled "Preface to Motivation Theory" and presents some vital concepts such as treating the individual as a whole. In the following chapter, "A Theory of Human Motivation," the author makes the point that "The organism is dominated and its behavior organized by unsatisfied needs." This chapter is followed by one in which the author re-evaluates the instinct theory. Subsequent chapters discuss love and self-actualization. The reviewer reports that overall, the general style of the book as a whole is pleasant in its personal quality and sincerity. It is easy to see how as individual articles, the sections could have been interesting points of departure for discussion, but the assembling of these does not result in an integrated approach nor the "systematic psychology" which the author mentions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)