Handbook of Dynamic Psychotherapy for Higher Level Personality Pathology

Offering a sophisticated introduction to a contemporary psychodynamic model of
the mind and treatment, this book provides an approach to understanding and
treating higher level personality pathology. It describes a specific form of
treatment called "dynamic psychotherapy for higher level personality pathology"
(DPHP), which was designed specifically to treat the rigidity that characterizes
that condition. Based on psychodynamic object relations theory, DPHP is an
outgrowth of transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) and is part of an
integrated approach to psychodynamic treatment of personality pathology across
the spectrum of severity-from higher level personality pathology, described in
this volume, to severe personality pathology, described in a companion volume,
Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality: Focusing on Object Relations.
Together, they provide a comprehensive description of an object relations
theory-based approach to treatment of personality disorders, embedded in an
integrated model of personality.

As a guide to treatment, Handbook of
Dynamic Psychotherapy for Higher Level Personality Pathology provides a clear,
specific, and comprehensive description of how to practice DPHP from beginning
to end, presented in jargon-free exposition using extensive clinical
illustrations. The authors offer a comprehensive description of psychodynamic
consultation that includes sharing the diagnostic impression, establishing
treatment goals, discussing treatment options, obtaining informed consent, and
establishing treatment frame. Throughout, the book emphasizes fundamental
clinical principles that enable the clinician to think through clinical
decisions moment-to-moment and also to develop an overall sense of the
trajectory and goals of the treatment. Among the book's benefits: Takes a
diagnosis-driven approach, presenting a clear model of both the psychopathology
and its treatment; Explains underlying theory and basic elements of DPHP for
those first learning dynamic therapy; Offers an integrated, innovative
synthesis of contemporary psychodynamic approaches to personality pathology and
psychodynamic psychotherapy; Describes goals, strategies, tactics, and
techniques of the treatment to demonstrate its flexibility over a relatively
long course of treatment; Provides sophisticated discussion of integrating
dynamic psychotherapy with medication management and other forms of treatment.

DPHP offers a broad range of patients the opportunity to modify
maladaptive personality functioning in ways that can permanently enhance their
quality of life. Handbook of Dynamic Psychotherapy for Higher Level Personality
Pathology provides experienced clinicians with a hands-on approach to that
method, and is also useful as a primary textbook in courses focusing on the
technique of dynamic psychotherapy or in courses on psychodynamics.