Practicing Psychotherapy In Constructed Reality

In Practicing Psychotherapy in Constructed Reality: Ritual, Charisma, and Enhanced Client Outcomes, Stephen Bacon charts a radical and provocative new direction forward for psychotherapy. Based on the research finding that techniques have no inherent power, and the insights of constructionism, Bacon explores new ways of understanding therapeutic rituals, therapist charisma, and client-centered therapy. Special emphasis is given to an analysis of the work of master therapists, and all of the concepts are illustrated with numerous clinical examples. Finally, Bacon develops a geography of constructed reality which pragmatically supports deliberate practice and therapist mindfulness.

An insightful, provocative collection that will enrich your work with new vitality, meaning, and direction. Offers timely perspectives on the theory and practice of psychotherapy as reflected in the themes of narrative, constructivism, social constructionism, postmodernism, epistemology, developmental constructivism, language, and social discourse.

This book is a comprehensive introduction to social constructionist ideas and their application within the psychological therapies. Whether you are a trainee or qualified therapist, this book will support you to think about therapy as a socially constructed and relational process, and to develop as a more culturally, socially and politically aware practitioner. It advocates for ‘therapist activists’ who understand the interplay between the micro and the macro in therapeutic contexts and debunks the idea of the ‘isolated client’ to examine how broader societal conditions create problems for the individual. Chapters are designed to engage, offering a variety of features to support learning, including: - Introductory and concluding chapter summaries - Textboxes summarising content & spotlighting key information - Case studies and vignettes throughout - Reflective questions & thought-provoking exercises - Recommended Further Reading. This book has wide applicability, with author affiliations across both North and South America - the University of New Hampshire in the US and the Federal University of Uberlandia in Brazil.

First published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Get to know the origins, development, and key figures of each major counseling theory This comprehensive text covers all the major theories in counseling and psychotherapy along with an emphasis on how to use these theoretical models in clinical practice. The authors cover the history, key figures, research base, multicultural implications, and practical applications of the following theoretical perspectives: Psychoanalytic, Individual/Adlerian, Existential, Gestalt, Person-Centered, Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, Choice Theory/Reality Therapy, Feminist, Constructive, Family Systems, Multicultural, and Eclectic/Integrative. This text has case examples that bring each theory to life. The entire book has been updated with the latest research and techniques. Pedagogical features include learner objectives, "Putting It in Practice" boxes, questions for reflection, case examples and treatment planning, and chapter summaries. Every theory is examined from cultural, gender/sexual, and spiritual perspectives. The instructor supplement package includes a Respondus test bank, chapter outlines, supplemental lecture ideas, classroom activities, and PowerPoint slides. Video demonstrations corresponding to every major theory and linked to each chapter's contents. In addition, a WPLS course will be available after publication. Expanded video elements closely tied to sections of the text New visuals, including graphics, charts, and tables to facilitate student understanding of theories and how they relate to one another Increased coverage of multicultural and ethical issues in every chapter Cultural, gender, sexuality, and spiritual issues are integrated into every chapter The Sommers-Flanagan's hands-on, practical approach emphasizes how students and practitioners can apply these theories in real-world practice. Students are empowered to develop theoretically-sound and evidence-based approaches to conducting counseling and psychotherapy.

Transforming Themes challenges the dominant view of psychotherapy as a structured, reductionist process. Instead, it views psychotherapy as an alive, unrehearsed interaction that embraces healing when it is focused on the role of 'therapeutic themes'. These themes are the entrenched frames of references or contexts from which clients perceive their lives. In any interaction, each participant has a unique worldview. When clients come to therapy, they bring their problems in the form of a theme: 'the woman who can't forgive' or 'the child who is a terror'. Any potential statement or action performed within this theme merely strengthens the problem. Only when the theme of the therapy session has shifted can clients gain access to inner resources to shift perspectives and begin inner transformation. Effective therapy results from moving clients into more flexible, empowering themes. These changes occur as a result of the dynamic interaction between therapist and client, which embraces improvisation, creativity, and novelty, rather than adherence to specific theories or techniques. Using historical and modern research and colourful case studies, this work will help professionals understand how to easily adapt and apply creative and resourceful therapy interventions, no matter what therapeutic orientation they endorse. This book will enable therapists, counsellors, psychologists, and social workers to gain access to creative, effective methods which help their clients heal while increasing effectiveness and enjoyment in clinical work.

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This book encourages and trains students and practicing marriage and family therapists to bring themselves into the therapy room, offering guidelines and strategies for being more present and personal with their clients. Mental health professionals are often taught and trained that therapy is serious business, to be cautious and conservative with therapeutic decision-making, and to stick to empirically supported and specific tools in sessions. What gets lost in this positivistic, formulaic, and scientific way of working are therapists’ own unique voices, their creativity, flexibility, and the sense of playfulness that make the change process fun and upbeat. The Therapist’s Use of Self equips therapists with the skills they need to deepen their alliances with clients, to liberate themselves from an overreliance on models, and to bring their whole selves to the therapeutic encounter. Chapters cover pioneers in the field before exploring ways to bring ideas from outside the therapy room, including from music, art, literature, and film. The book includes a key chapter on teletherapy, and each chapter presents major therapeutic tools and strategies, case examples, the resulting outcomes, and key takeaways. Students of psychology, social work, nursing, and marriage and family programs, as well as mental health professionals will benefit from this book with a plethora of therapeutic tools, guidelines, and strategies for catalyzing change with even the most challenging couples and families.