The Control-Mastery perspective: A clinical formulation of David’s plan.

The Control-Mastery theory is reviewed, focusing particular attention on the concept of the patient’s plan for therapy. A formulation of David’s plan is then presented. The formulation includes David’s early childhood traumas, his goals (conscious as well as unconscious) for therapy, the pathogenic beliefs (schemas) that have obstructed him, the tests that he is likely to present in therapy in order to disconfirm his pathogenic beliefs, and the insights that would be helpful to him. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Classic in Psychotherapy Integration Revisited: The Dynamics of Psychotherapy in the Light of Learning Theory.

Discusses the history of psychoanalytic treatment and the dynamics of psychotherapy. The essential psychodynamic principles on which psychoanalytic treatments rest have solid observational foundations: 1) during treatment unconscious (repressed) material becomes conscious; 2) the mobilization of unconscious material is achieved mainly by interpretation of material emerging during free association and by the patient's emotional interpersonal experiences in the therapeutic situation (transference); 3) the patient shows resistance against recognizing unconscious content; and 4) it is only natural that the neurotic patient will sooner or later direct his typical neurotic attitude toward his therapist. Current studies give encouragement and hope that we shall eventually be able to understand more adequately this intricate interpersonal process and to account for therapeutic successes and failures. In the field of psychotherapy the long overdue observation of the therapeutic process by nonparticipant observers is turning out to be the required methodological tool. At present, we are witnessing the beginnings of a most promising integration of psychoanalytic theory and practice of the psychotherapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spiritually conscious psychological care.

There is increasing recognition of the importance of identifying and perhaps incorporating into psychological services the spiritual and religious beliefs and practices (SRBP) of patients. Research suggests that psychologists are reluctant to address the SRBP of their patients, because they are unsure how to do so without contravention of ethical standards. Moreover, numerous approaches have been published and promoted, and psychologists may feel overwhelmed by the profusion of advice. We organize the suggested approaches into four categories and place them on a continuum, and we discuss the ethical concerns related to each. At one end is spiritually avoidant care, which entails the attempt to avoid conversations with patients about their SRBP. Given the importance of these issues to psychological health and to understanding the patient, this approach is untenable. At the other end of the continuum, spiritually directive psychotherapy is characterized by an explicit attempt to maintain or change the SRBP of patients. Spiritually integrated psychotherapy entails utilizing SRBP to ameliorate patients' emotional distress. We suggest that psychologists should at least engage in spiritually conscious care, which we characterize as the explicit assessment of the general importance of SRBP to the patient, its influence on the presenting problem, and the potential of SRBP as a resource to help recovery. Specific suggestions are presented for how spiritually conscious care might be implemented. Finally, the need for better training in both basic and specific competencies needed to address patients' SRBP is reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety, Consciousness, and Self-Acceptance: Placing the Idea of Making the Unconscious Conscious in an Integrative Framework.

This article examines critically the role of insight and of making the unconscious conscious in the light of contemporary understandings in psychoanalysis, in the broader discipline of psychotherapy, and in research on cognition and consciousness. Developments that led to reconceptualizations based on appreciation of the crucial role of anxiety and defenses are reviewed. Consciousness is seen to be better viewed as a matter of degree of accessibility and articulation than as a sharp division between conscious and unconscious. The implications of these considerations for a broader, more comprehensive, and more integrative therapeutic approach are examined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Plea for a measure of understanding: The importance of intensive psychotherapy in the treatment of children with ADHD.

Clinicians working with children and adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder can help these patients by interpreting unacknowledged or forgotten feelings as well as by considering conscious and unconscious family dynamics. Adverse psychosocial events and the awful feelings produced by them as well as conflicting and frightening internal states should not be overlooked or underestimated. Current treatment models may be perpetuating a child's sense of not being understood. It is not surprising that a therapist's empathic understanding and interpretation is an essential part of helpful treatment and necessary to help these patients take over their own affect-regulating functions. For this to come about, the short-term, symptom-oriented models dictated by current practices need to be reconsidered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Turning ghosts into ancestors: An appreciation of “psychotherapy as a problem in learning theory”.

While once again rereading Shoben’s (1949; see record 1950-01904-001) brilliant and prescient article, the following clinical interaction came to mind. It is one that most psychotherapists will find familiar. It also serves to illustrate the importance of Shoben’s nascent integrative theory for contemporary clinical practice and for the study of psychotherapy integration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Philosophy and psychotherapy.

In the course of responding to Elliott's (2008) provocative article, the authors tour some precincts of the intellectual foundations of psychotherapy. In particular the authors review the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary research on psychotherapy and provide a context that allows for an examination and critique of Elliott's proposals for new research methods and new approaches to conceptualizing the data of psychotherapy research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a unified conceptual framework of psychotherapy.

The increase in theoretical redundancy and the fact that all theories of psychotherapy possess weaknesses as well as strengths suggest that the time may be ripe for the emergence of a unified theory of psychotherapy. Three questions are addressed that are prerequisite to the development of a unified conceptual framework in psychotherapy: (1) What is the current state of the field of psychotherapy integration? (2) How do we move toward a unified theory of psychotherapy? and (3) What must a unified psychotherapy theory include? Unification is merely the next step in the evolution of psychotherapy theory, which is expected to oscillate between stages of unification and differentiation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Competency in integrative psychotherapy: Perspectives on training and supervision.

Increasingly, many psychotherapists identify with an integrative approach to psychotherapy. In recent years, more attention has been directed toward the operationalization and evaluation of competence in professional psychology and health care service delivery. Aspects of integrative psychotherapy competency may differ from competency in other psychotherapy orientations, although convergence is more often the case. Despite the potential differences, there exist very few formal training programs or guidelines to systematically guide clinicians in developing a competent integrative practice. This paper attempts to distill the essential elements of competent integrative psychotherapy practice and focuses on how these might be developed in training and supervision. We address most of these complex issues from a specific integrative perspective: principle-based assimilative integration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contextualizing discourse on a philosophy of science for psychotherapy integration.

The present article introduces the second installment of this special section (Anchin, 2005) and focuses on the conjunction between philosophy of science and psychotherapy integration. The author suggests that the current state of research in the integrative field offers a timely opportunity for discussion and debate about a philosophy of science appropriately suited to the distinctive nature of psychotherapy integration. To contextualize such discourse, the principal domains of interest in philosophy of science are described, followed by discussion of the two opposing philosophical positions, naturalism and antinaturalism, that have long dominated debates about scientific knowledge in the social sciences. The divergent modes of inquiry spawned by these two positions are then examined, followed by discussion of the degree of impact each mode of inquiry has had on guiding psychotherapy research. The author puts forward core dimensions of a scientific paradigm for psychotherapy integration logically and operationally consistent with the epistemological pluralism of integrative theory and practice; noted, as well, are benefits for psychotherapy integration, and for psychotherapy research and the discipline of psychology more broadly. Against this backdrop, central themes of Robert Elliott's (2008) ensuing analysis and Robert Woolfolk's and Frank Richardson's (2008) commentary are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychotherapy integration and integrative psychotherapy: Process or product?

From rather early in the development of the psychotherapy integration movement, there were implicit tensions between alternative understandings of the concept of psychotherapy integration and of its boundaries and aims. These tensions have been healthy and productive rather than divisive, sparking different models and different kinds of integrative efforts, but it is nonetheless important to be clear that they are tensions that persist rather than tensions that have been “resolved.” In this paper, I discuss some of the history of these competing views, some of the ways that they have been given voice, and some of the possible future directions for the psychotherapy integration movement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integrating individual and family therapies: A structural-developmental approach.

This article describes a theoretical integration of individual and family therapies. It is based on a structural-developmental perspective that reveals structural and adaptational similarities across diverse levels of organization--transactional, interpersonal, and intrapsychic. The common use of structural-developmental principles in a number of diverse theories provides a basis for integrating those theories. In addition, structural-developmental goals provide a basis for meaningfully combining (integrating) techniques from diverse approaches. The proposed approach to integration increases the intervention options in individual, marital, and family therapies and provides the therapist with a great deal of flexibility regarding how and where to intervene in a given system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The death of psychoanalysis and depth therapy.

Notes that numerous attempts have been made to explain the demise of psychoanalysis and depth psychotherapy, placing blame on secularism among analysts, insufficient empirical research, prolonged treatment time, monetary considerations, and managed care. The author considers the primary cause to be an implicit cultural movement to squelch serious inquiry into family dynamics and interpersonal relationships, particularly the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of children. To revive the humane practice of depth psychotherapy, therapists must support research that emphasizes the importance of early psychosocial environmental influences on personality development. Clinicians must also challenge restrictive societal pressure, sacred illusions concerning family life, and their own psychological defenses in order to reestablish a legitimate practice of depth therapy that moves away from the medical model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A symposium on therapeutic termination: Principles and obstacles--Chair's introduction.

The psychotherapy termination process has, thus far, received too little attention both within and outside the field of psychotherapy integration. Drawing on their clinical experience, representatives from 3 different psychotherapy home bases were invited to identify several guiding principles that facilitate a therapeutic completion, as well as potential obstacles. To illustrate the complex and multifaceted nature of this subject, the author introduces an array of clinical questions that prompted him to organize this symposium. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Reassessing psychotherapy research.

Reviews the book, Reassessing psychotherapy research edited by Robert L. Russell (see record 1994-98237-000). This book, with its international representation of contributors, attempts to address central issues in contemporary ("fourth generation") psychotherapy research. The main tenet is that much dominant psychotherapy research has focused on outcome, curative factors, and scientific rigor and overlooked the richness of therapeutic process. This book does as the title suggests: addresses content and process issues, balanced with methodological sophistication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The erosion of our profession.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is threatened by two underlying social and economic developments. One is pressures of the marketplace that are altering all traditional professional relationships, threatening to undermine our familiar relationship with clients. The second is changes in the medical profession that call into question the appropriateness and utility of our long-standing link with medicine. The problems are explored and some suggestions put forth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Learning psychotherapy in the digital age.

There is substantial literature documenting the process factors that lead to effective psychotherapy. Similarly, there is now a wealth of data attesting to the effectiveness of several psychotherapy brands. Little is known about the elements that facilitate learning how to be an effective clinician. One important step, after reading about a treatment model and seeing techniques demonstrated, is having the chance to practice the approach and receiving feedback and coaching from an experienced, knowledgeable supervisor. To accomplish this efficiently, most programs rely not only on trainee accounts of what went on in their therapy sessions, but also on recordings and videos of therapeutic encounters. This article describes our experience over a 5-year period in developing the use of Webcams for training psychology interns and psychiatric residents in the delivery of psychotherapy services. Pragmatic and technical details are given about how we went about establishing a recording system that is easy to use and provides secure, confidential storage of information at a reasonable cost. Discussion addresses both the weighing of choices that need to be made and overcoming the hesitation of trainees to reveal their work during treatment sessions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)