Psychoanalytic Case Formulation

The book contains no figures.

What kinds of questions do experienced therapists ask themselves when facing a new client? How can clinical expertise be taught? From the author of the landmark Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, this book takes clinicians step-by-step through developing an understanding of each client's unique psychology and using this information to guide and inform treatment decisions. McWilliams shows that while seasoned practitioners rely upon established diagnostic categories for record-keeping and insurance purposes, their actual clinical concepts and practices reflect more inferential, subjective, and intuitive processes. Interweaving illustrative case examples with theoretical insights and clinically significant research, chapters cover assessment of client temperament, developmental issues, defenses, affects, identifications, relational patterns, self-esteem needs, and pathogenic beliefs.

What kinds of questions do experienced therapists ask themselves when facing a new client? How can clinical expertise be taught? From the author of the landmark Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, this book takes clinicians step-by- step through developing an understanding of each client's unique psychology and using this information to guide and inform treatment decisions. McWilliams shows that while seasoned practitioners rely upon established diagnostic categories for record-keeping and insurance purposes, their actual clinical concepts and practices reflect more inferential, subjective, and intuitive processes. Interweaving illustrative case examples with theoretical insights and clinically significant research, chapters cover assessment of client temperament, developmental issues, defenses, affects, identifications, relational patterns, self-esteem needs, and pathogenic beliefs.

Daniel M. Haycraft

The author's latest contribution to the field of psychotherapy is an artful and detailed development of the thought processes and subjective, empathic components of the therapeutic experience that ultimately guide development of case formulation in psychotherapeutic treatment. She set out to develop a written model of the thoughts, processes, and subjective aspects used by experienced analysts for developing treatment plans. This is a worthy, albeit ambitious goal, since learning the psychotherapeutic process has traditionally occurred through a mentorship model. She meets her objective well, producing an invaluable resource for those wanting to develop skill in the art of psychotherapy. The book is primarily targeted toward those in the process of learning to become psychotherapists. It may, however, be equally beneficial for experienced therapists as well as for practitioners insisting on an "empirically based" approach to patient care. The author has excellent credibility, both from her academic and professional standing as well as from her landmark book Psychoanalytic Diagnosis. She presents a contemplative presentation of the thought processes and empathic experiences of an experienced psychotherapist, beautifully illustrated through case presentations. These thoughts and subjective experiences develop into an understanding of the dynamics of the patient's personality, which allow the case formulation to flow effortlessly from the understanding of the person. This is an excellent book. It is pleasurable reading, from a gifted author who simplifies one of the most arduous tasks of psychotherapeutic treatment.

Nancy McWilliams, PhD, teaches psychoanalytic theory and therapy at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers--The State University of New Jersey. A senior analyst with the Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy of New Jersey and the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, she has a private practice in psychodynamic therapy and supervision in Flemington, New Jersey. Her previous book, Psychoanalytic Diagnosis has become a standard text in many training programs for psychoanalysts, both in the United States and abroad. She has also authored articles and book chapters on personality, psychotherapy, psychodiagnosis, sexuality, feminism, and contemporary psychopathologies.