Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy as a Science

“So many books, so little time” must be Dr. Luciano L’Abate’s motto.   Not only is there breadth to his writing career, but depth as well, as he completes his writing of over 50 books—thoroughly based in the literature and with occasional wit that brings such spark to his scientific contributions.  In this most recent, well researched volume, L’Abate takes on the whole enterprise of face-to-face, talk-based psychotherapy in Quixotic fashion.  He claims that such therapy is too expensive, too rarefied in its audience, to merit the respect it garners. 
In its place, he recommends, nay, insists on, bibliotherapy, teletherapy, using modern technology such as the Internet and iPhone apps—anything but what most of us family therapists consider the bulwark of therapy” talk-based, face-to-face contact.  In his favor, it must be acknowledged that conventional therapy is expensive and therefore not always available to those who are among the less affluent (the 99% ?). 
But what about the subtleties of non-verbal behavior that we family therapists rely on to reach beyond the words themselves?   “How are you doing?” we might begin a session.  “Fine!” responds one of the clients, chin trembling, eyes filling with tears.  What if this communication were limited to a written line on a computer screen or to a voice on our smart phone?  ‘Nuff said.
L’Abate’s heart may be in the right place, but it’s what’s in his head that is difficult for many of us to accept.  Yet, there is that lingering feeling that he may be on the right track.  Seminal changes are not always obvious to those in the middle of the mix.  Who would have thought—at the time of the change—that the clunky horseless carriage would lead to the automobile industry, or that the scratchy voice of Alexander Graham Bell on his first ever transmission would lead to the telephone industry, not to mention the Internet?   Do we have a genius in our midst?  Is L’Abate on to something here?  This iconoclastic perspective deserves our consideration, no matter how high the price.  Attention must be paid here!
David Ryback, Book Review Editor
American Journal of Family Therapy    

...L’Abate passionately argues for a switch from the above traditional meetings, which lack sufficient theoretical underpinnings and research to support their efficacy, toward computer and Internet-based interventions, and fervently praises the usefulness and cost savings of workbooks, which he broadly defines as “programmed writing.” L’Abate mentions throughout the book that his view is controversial, will likely make some readers angry, and will raise a few eyebrows, which it does . . . and he welcomes this. The book is organized into seven chapters and a hefty appendix section filled with exercises and handouts for a variety of problems (e.g., binge eating, divorce adjustment in children, among others). In each chapter, L’Abate describes his ideas and proposed solutions in tremendous detail, which is at times beneficial and other times somewhat difficult to follow. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy as a Science is a good starting point for a discussion on how to help move clinical psychology toward a more scientific practice, and further discussions, research, and implementation trials are certainly warranted.
Joy Chudzynski
PsycCRITIQUES
June 19, 2013, Vol. 58, Release 25, Article 5