Enhancing Psychodynamic Therapy With Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques

Disc. issues involved in blending the two approaches; treat- ing depression, abuse survivors, older adults; brief therapy

This book, written by clinicians who practice primarily from a psychodynamic framework, shows how to include cognitive-behavioral techniques in contemporary psychodynamic practice. In Part I, the authors examine why integration is essential and present a model for cognitive assessment within an ego psychological framework. Are these two approaches compatible or even complementary? What can one offer the other? Does one work better with a specific population or problem than the other? Can cognitive clinicians learn something from the psychodynamic understanding of the roles of affect, transference, and developmental history? Can psycho-dynamically trained clinicians learn something from cognitive understanding of the role of thought processes in influencing behavior and creating change? Part II illustrates this integration in clinical work with children, adolescents, older adults, and couples. Its utility and effectiveness in practice is further highlighted in brief treatment sessions and in treating problems of depression, trauma, and chemical dependence.

Terry Brumley Northcut is assistant professor at Loyola University School of Social Work in Chicago. She received her M.S.S.W. at the University of Tennessee and her Ph.D. in clinical social work at Smith College School for Social Work. Nina Rovinelli Heller received her Ph.D. from Smith College School for Social Work where she also taught for many years in the Summer Graduate Program. She is currently assistant professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and serves as the book review editor for the Clinical Social Work Journal.