Learning Supportive Psychotherapy: An Illustrated Guide

The domain of supportive psychotherapy has expanded in recent years, reflecting
changes in how psychotherapy is conducted and the role psychotherapy plays in
caring for individuals facing difficult life experiences or living with diverse
mental and physical disorders. This new, thoroughly revised and up-to-date
edition of Learning Supportive Psychotherapy: An Illustrated Guide (first
published as Introduction to Supportive Psychotherapy) instructs beginning
psychotherapists in the fundamentals of this treatment modality, which focuses
on patients' overall health and well-being and their ability to adapt
constructively to their life circumstances.

The linchpin of supportive
psychotherapy-and, indeed, all psychotherapy-is the establishment of a true
therapeutic alliance. Accordingly, the authors provide readers with skills aimed
at instilling trust and establishing a productive therapeutic relationship,
including techniques for alliance building, enhancing ego functioning, and
reducing and preventing anxiety. In addition, the authors explore the general
framework of supportive psychotherapy, including indications, phases of
treatment, initiation and termination of sessions, and professional boundaries;
explain how to perform a thorough patient evaluation and case formulation; and
describe the process of setting realistic goals with the patient.

The
following features and areas of focus enhance the book's utility: Integral to
the text's practical approach are the video case vignettes that accompany
several of the chapters. These videos model effective psychotherapeutic
techniques and strategies, which readers can incorporate into their skill sets.
The chapter on crisis intervention has been thoroughly revised to integrate
recent research findings on posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide, and critical
incident stress management, and the illustrative multipart case vignette
provides a therapeutic narrative that is compelling, relatable, and
instructive. The material on the therapeutic alliance focuses on skill
building, including how to anticipate and avoid disruption in treatment, how to
discuss the therapeutic relationship with the patient, how to modify distorted
perceptions using clarification and confrontation, how to deal with negative
transference and therapeutic impasses, and how to reframe statements in a
supportive manner. Outcome research receives its own chapter, in which the
authors review the robust evidence base for the efficacy of supportive
psychotherapy, including a number of outcome trials, bolstering the necessity of
learning the techniques outlined in the book. The book concludes with 75
questions and answers to test the reader's comprehension and identify areas for
further study.

This new edition of Learning Supportive Psychotherapy: An
Illustrated Guide builds on the well-earned reputation of previous editions.
Beginning clinicians first learning the techniques of psychotherapy and veterans
who must assess competence in the psychiatry residents they supervise will find
the help they need in this down-to-earth, clinically rich guide.