Synopsis
Advance Praise for Principles of Psychotherapy Second Edition.
"Weiner's Second Edition of Principles of Psychotherapy, much like the first, is destined to be a classic . . . this is a highly contemporary work of assimilative integration. As is typical of Dr. Weiner, the book is written in a very accessible, yet still sophisticated, style, so that it will prove to be of value to the student and to the experienced practitioner."—George Stricker, PhD Distinguished Research Professor Derner Institute, Adelphi University.
"This edition of Weiner's Principles of Psychotherapy covers most basic aspects of therapy as viewed within the framework of psychodynamic theory. The book is clearly written . . . Pertinent references to research findings are also made as appropriate."—Sol L. Garfield, PhD Professor Emeritus Washington University in St. Louis
"For any reader sympathetic to the psychodynamic perspective in psychotherapy, the new edition of Irving Weiner's Principles of Psychotherapy is a first-rate addition to the literature. It is thoughtful, realistic, and eclectic in the best sense of the word. I enjoyed reading this text and highly recommend it."—Hans H. Strupp, PhD Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Vanderbilt University.
The past quarter century has been a time of monumental change for psychotherapy. Myriad new therapies and novel variations on older ones have swelled the ranks of recognized therapeutic approaches to more than 400. Advances in the understanding of the neurophysiology of mental disorders have led to a new generation of drugs that do more than merely suppress symptoms. And the ascendancy of managedcare has spawned an increasing demand for brief, "results-oriented" treatment.
Through all of these changes, Principles of Psychotherapy has endured. Generations of clinicians have valued its breadth of coverage and accessibility as well as the author's singular ability to gather the many elements of this diverse discipline into a single, unified presentation. Dr. Irving Weiner succeeded at a seemingly impossible task: to identify universal principles applicable to every psychotherapeutic approach; to delineate the substance of modern psychotherapy theory and research; and to integrate principle, theory, and research into simple guidelines for conducting therapy, from initial interview to termination of treatment.
Like its celebrated predecessor, this long-awaited Second Edition offers therapists conceptually based guidelines for conducting effective psychotherapy. Dr. Weiner has rewritten his classic text in terms of clinical thinking and practice in the late 1990s. Within the framework of dynamic personality theory, Principles of Psychotherapy, Second Edition addresses the full range of basic issues in psychotherapy with a complete survey of its elements, processes, current treatment techniques, and phases. Writing with eloquent simplicity and citing hundreds of contemporary sources, Dr. Weiner presents the conceptual and empirical foundations that support his approach and offers helpful case examples that illustrate vividly what a therapist might say and do in various circumstances.
Steeped in the latest research and attentive to practical concerns of the day, this new edition of Dr. Weiner's classic work is must reading for psychotherapists and psychotherapists-in-training in all mental health professions.
Mary I. Daly
This book provides a thorough overview of the primary purposes and goals of psychotherapy, with careful delineation of the principles and theory that guide the practice of psychotherapy. It begins with a general section on psychotherapy and a discussion of the important link between clinical practice and research. The second section focuses on establishing the therapeutic relationship; the third section addresses modes of communication that facilitate change. The fourth section reviews issues in termination.. The primary purpose is to lay out universal principles of psychotherapy. A second goal is to integrate up-to-date clinical research findings into a discussion of clinical practice. This book also incorporates information on managed care and brief treatment, emerging ethical concerns, and multicultural issues. The editor achieves his purposes. In clear and concise chapters, he systematically introduces the reader to the practice of psychotherapy and discusses relevant clinical and research data. The discussion is targeted at psychotherapists with backgrounds in psychology, social work, psychiatry, and counseling. Advanced clinicians will appreciate the wealth of references and the careful integration of theory, practice, and research data. Students and educators can find an organized discussion of the basics of psychotherapy with a thoughtful discussion of the principles of psychotherapy practice. This book includes a careful introduction to the theory and practice of psychotherapy. The four well organized sections detail the principles for handling the beginning, middle, and termination phases of psychotherapy. The editor highlights normative and unusual circumstances,such as voluntary and forced termination, and discusses relevant research studies. He grounds his text in a psychodynamic framework, but he infers that his general principles of psychotherapy can be applied to any theoretical model. In doing so, he avoids a full discussion of how theory generates varying guidelines of practice. For example, the editor seems to assume that all readers use the concept of transference. This comprehensive, well-organized text guides the reader into a clear overview of the practice of psychotherapy. For students of psychodynamic theories, the book provides an introduction to both the purpose and practice of clinical work, and fosters critical thought by incorporating data from clinical research. Educators and experienced clinicians are challenged to integrate theory and practice in light of research and are helped to think more systematically about their approach to psychotherapy from a psychodynamic perspective. In a modern milieu where various techniques and theories of therapy are hotly debated, this second edition reminds the reader that there are underlying constants which greatly influence the overall success of any school of psychotherapy, and that clinical research continues to be an important resource for improving the quality of psychotherapy.