Beginnings in Psychotherapy

This book will serve as a guide for the 100,000 plus undergraduate and graduate students in all the disciplines that practice psychotherapy, including psychiatry, psychology, social work, art therapy and pastoral counseling. It should prove to be an ideal text for classes that introduce students to practical psychotherapy within their clinical experience.'Presenting the framework and guiding principles of psychoanalytic psychotherapy for the beginning therapist is a daunting challenge. Dr Eichler expertly meets this challenge. The essentials of therapeutic interaction are concisely and lucidly explained and aptly illustrated with clinical vignettes. In this remarkable volume the fundamental principles of therapeutic technique, the underlying psychoanalytic theory from which technique derives, and the application of psychoanalytic formulations to clinical syndromes are discussed with insight. Conscious and unconscious, transference and counter-transference, regression and progression, all receive cogent explanation. Problems and pitfalls are carefully considered. Dr Seth Eichler has created a source book on dynamic psychotherapy that will be richly rewarding for students of psychotherapy at all levels of experience.'- Harold P. Blum, MD, Director, Sigmund Freud Archives, Former Editor, Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Training and Supervising Analyst, NYU Psychoanalytic Institute, NYU Medical Center'This lively, easy to read guidebook for beginning therapists presents basic material to the new therapist in brief chapters that can be easily digested. It is filled with useful clinical examples, has enough theory to make sense of the clinical examples, but does not get bogged down in overly technical discussions or psychodynamic jargon. Dr Eichler's therapeutic empathy is here revealed toward his reader as he promptly anticipates questions that may occur to the beginner, either answering them on the spot or saying that they will be answered later in the volume. Everything written here is sensible and well thought out, and reading the book has the dual result of conveying essential information and comforting the reader. This volume is a find for new therapists and very instructive to those teachers who educate them.'- Charles Tolk, MD, Director, NYU Psychoanalytic Institute, NYU Medical Center'Dr Seth Eichler has created a primer on dynamic psychotherapy that will inform therapists who are beginners as well as practitioners in search of concise clinical viewpoints. This volume manages to explain some of the most difficult psychoanalytic concepts in a precise manner that is both simple and informative. I highly recommend this book to both beginners and seasoned professionals.'- Samuel Herschkowitz, MD, Past Director, NYU Psychoanalytic Institute, NYU Medical Center'Dr Eichler's book is an invaluable resource for all mental health practitioners. It guides not only the beginning therapist, but also provides an exceptionally useful organizing structure for those engaged in educating and supervising the beginning therapist.'- Rachel Blakeman, JD, LCSW-R, Faculty, NYU Psychoanalytic Institute, NYU Medical Center,ContentsSection I: Expanding Minds: Learning to Think AnalyticallyChapter 1: On BeginningsChapter 2: On Meaning: Understanding Why We Do What We DoChapter 3: On Gratification and DeprivationSection II: Tools and TechniquesChapter 4: On Regression and its Use: Insight Oriented Versus Supportive Approach; Transference; Countertransference; Neutrality; Safety and Freedom; Confidentiality; Time: Frequency and Timelessness; Free Association; Silence; Ambiguity; The CouchChapter 5: The Frame: Time; The Physical Office; Money; Handling Missed SessionsChapter 6: Creating a Therapeutic Atmosphere: The Therapeutic AllianceChapter 7: The Consultation: The Analytic InquirySection III: Putting it TogetherChapter 8: Guideposts for our Work in Listening and Intervening: A. EmpathyB. Analytic ListeningC. Educating The PatientD. Educating Patients On Their JobsE. Educating About Cure: How Treatment WorksF. On Listening II. Learning To Understand And CureG. On ResistanceH. Following The AffectI. Off-Key NotesJ. PatternsK. Keeping Self-Esteem In MindL. Going After PainM. Detective WorkN. The Three Areas Of Mental ContentO. Treatment As A Listening FocusP. Context And ContiguityQ. The Lecture And The LabR. InterveningSection IV: "Our Patients Are Our Textbooks": Lessons From Clinical CasesChapter 9: Patient A. Educating About Cure; The Strands Of The RopeChapter 10: Patient B. Encouraging Self-ObservationChapter 11: Patient C. Identifying Themes and Furthering Understanding Of How Symptoms DevelopChapter 12: Patient D. Understanding The Repetition Compulsion And Unconscious Fantasy; Unconscious Fantasy; Working ThroughChapter 13: Patient E. Giving Patients New Insights About Common Themes; Symptoms Are Fueled By Gratification; We Work Pre-ConsciouslyChapter 14: Patient F. Working With DreamsSection V: ConclusionChapter 15: On EndingsBibliography