Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques

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.

Brian Sharpless presents a thoroughly up-to-date and unusually well-balanced view of modern psychodynamic therapy. He judiciously blends theory, practice and empirical research in an extremely readable, almost conversational, style. His outstanding effort is empirically sound, theoretically sophisticated, and contains a treasure of clinical examples that demonstrate how to apply expressive and supportive psychodynamic technique. Graduate students in clinical psychology, as well as clinicians already in practice, will profit greatly from its clinical wisdom, lively presentation and well-argued case for the enduring value of the psychodynamic approach to treatment.

• ForewordPreface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction Section I: Background Information for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Techniques 2. Do we REALLY need Psychodynamic Psychotherapy? 3. Goals of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy 4. The Psychodynamic "Stance" 5. The Supportive-Expressive Continuum 6. Characteristics of "Good" Psychodynamic Interventions 7. How to Assess the Impacts of Interventions Section II: The "Classic" Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Techniques in Contemporary Practice 8. Foundational Techniques Part I 9. Foundational Techniques Part II 10. The Process of Questioning 11. The Process of Clarification 12. The Process of Confrontation 13. The Process of Interpretation Section III: The Expanded Range of Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques 14. Supportive Therapy Techniques Part I 15. Supportive Therapy Techniques Part II 16. Repairing Ruptures in the Therapeutic Alliance Afterword Appendix A: Psychodynamic Therapy Manuals and Models