The Essence of Psychotherapy

* Illustrated with case studies * Analyses the techniques of six master psychotherapists in their work with difficult patients

While therapist is guided by protocols and manuals, psychotherapy remains an art. This book traces the common thread in various psychotherapy approaches such as behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, strategic, and humanistic and defines this essence as principles and objectives that must be preserved in the face of standardization in the field.The Essence of Psychotherapy traces the common thread in all psychotherapy approaches--behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, strategic, and humanistic--and defines this "essence" as a set of fundamental principles and ultimate objectives that must be preserved in the face of increased standardization in the field. While today's therapist is guided by protocols and manuals, psychotherapy, in practice, remains an art. Nicholas and Janet Cummings have gathered case studies of master therapists to illustrate the essential process of successful therapy and to show that, as an art, it is both teachable and verifiable.