The Silent Language of Psychotherapy by Young, David M.;

Short description:

Therapeutic changes occur in many places, and among animals as well as humans

Long description:

Therapeutic changes occur in many places, and among animals as well as humans. A theory that attempts to explain therapeutic changes should be based on principles that apply not only to those changes occurring during the hour, but also to those observed in the educational process, in interpersonal relations, and in the social milieu, as well as with animals. It would be desirable to discover principles broad enough to provide a deeper understanding of therapeutic change in this wide variety of situations.

Experienced therapists appear to be similar in what they are doing, although they may disagree as to why they do it. In spite of the arguments about theoretical formulations, it can be observed that during an hour with a patient many psychotherapists may not follow their own theories too well. There probably is some relevance in a comparison of psychotherapy with a concept formation test: the subject gives the correct answers but is unable to state why he did so or what principles he followed in making his choices. The therapist, too, may help a patient but he is often uncertain as to "why" and "how." It is very likely that the effective principles in therapeutic work rest on processes that are more general than the specific principles advanced by different schools.

This volume combines the elements of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy in a theoretical system that focuses on the importance of patient-therapist interaction, especially in terms of the exchange of subtle or covert communication cues. In this significantly updated and expanded edition of their classic text, Beier and Young analyze recent developments in new areas of practice facing today's therapist: managed care and the clinical impact of the control of healthcare delivery; and biological intervention and other issues related to psychotropic medication.

Table of Contents:

1: Introduction and Overview; 2: The Anatomy of a Message Structure and Motivation; 3: Developing Patterns Choosing Responses to the Environment; 4: Information-Gathering Process in Psychotherapy; 5: The Use of Conventions; 6: Interventions in Psychotherapy; 7: Labeling the Therapist’s Activity; 8: Content Choices in the Psychotherapeutic Hour; 9: Extratherapeutic Incidents; 10: Technical Problems in the Therapeutic Process; 11: Communication Analysis in Family Group and Group Therapy; 12: The Child’s Communication in Therapy; 13: The Changing Landscape of Psychotherapy Practice Managed Care; 14: The Therapist as a Consultant; 15: Supervision in Communication Analytic Therapy *; 16: Nonverbal Communication in Psychotherapy; 17: The Ethical Problems of Control of Behavior; 18: Pills and Caring Talk; 19: Summary and Conclusions