Clinical Guide to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Deborah Abrahams is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and chartered clinical psychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience, including 15 years in the NHS. She is a dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) practitioner, supervisor and trainer as well as Programme Director of DIT at the Anna Freud Centre. Deborah is a senior member of the British Psychotherapy Foundation and has a private psychotherapy practice in North West London offering supervision, psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy. Poul Rohleder is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and chartered clinical psychologist, as well as a dynamic interpersonal therapy practitioner. He has over 15 years’ experience of working in public mental health care systems and in private practice. He is a trustee of the British Psychoanalytic Council and sits on several other professional committees and is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, UK.

This is a scholarly textbook giving a comprehensive and detailed view of the field of psychotherapy based on psychodynamic principles, addressing history, concepts and their divergences; it plunges into the many conflicting research studies comparing psychodynamic psychotherapy with other, often more popular therapies. It presents interestingly the debate between following protocols versus developing competences. The fundamental principles and indeed competences necessary for clinical practice are carefully laid out with their rationale. And a useful final section details difficulties, complexities and adaptations. The promise is of a teaching and reference work on a thoroughly established and well-thought-through professional practice – a promise it keeps, handsomely. As a study guide for students and for practitioners, it deserves to have pride-of-place in the libraries of the most experienced practitioners. The reader senses the coming-of-age of an intensely skilled and respected mental health practice.Professor R.D. HinshelwoodPsychoanalystEmeritus Professor, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of EssexIn this excellent and user-friendly text, Deborah Abrahams and Poul Rohleder combine their extensive clinical experience as clinicians and trainers to bring a contemporary overview of psychodynamic practice. The book is comprehensive and covers essential competences for the practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy, with useful reading and resources for therapists. It engages thoroughly with pressing questions for psychodynamic therapists such as how to work briefly as well as addressing the challenges of online therapy. I highly recommend this text, which will no doubt become a staple both for the psychodynamic therapist in training as well as established therapists. Highly recommended.Professor Alessandra Lemma, Consultant, Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and Visiting Professor, Psychoanalysis Unit, UCL, London.Deborah Abrahams and Poul Rohleder provide a concise, informative and fascinating clinical presentation of psychodynamic theory and practice. This is a go-to book for newly qualified and other practitioners interested in working psychodynamically. The authors, both very experienced in their fields as clinical psychologists and psychotherapists, draw on clinical material and provide the right mixture of theoretical introduction to compliment and illuminate clinical practice. In this venture they provide a detailed reading of the psychodynamic field including long term and brief therapy and contemporary techniques like remote working (that is using the computer and the telephone). It is also helpful that a wealth of additional materials both videos and references for further reading are provided in this compact text. This is a good reference book, easy to read, which you will find yourself returning to. Maxine Dennis Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, PsychoanalystTavistock Clinic, London & Private Practice London.

• 1: Introduction; PART 1: THEORY AND RESEARCH; 2: An overview of psychoanalytic theory; 3: Efficacy and outcome research; PART 2: COMPETENCES; 4: The setting and analytic frame; 5: Assessment and formulation; 6: Anxiety and defences; 7: Mentalising; 8: Unconscious communications; 9: Transference and countertransference; 10: Endings; PART 3: ADAPTATIONS AND PRACTICALITIES; 11: Brief application of psychodynamic work; 12: Challenging situations and clinical dilemmas; 13: Working with difference; 14: Technology and social media