Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy--methods 

A ideal student text and clinical reference, Essential Psychotherapies provides systematic and extensive expositions of the 12 most important forms of psychotherapy being practiced today. Eminent authorities present influential treatments that have been developed relatively recently, such as the brief, cognitive, family, relational, and integrative psychotherapies, as well as more traditional treatments, such as psychoanalytic, existential humanistic, and person-centered psychotherapies; Gestalt, group, and behavior therapy. Editorial Reviews Review "In this superbly edited volume, Gurman and Messer have made a landmark contribution to the field. What is particularly impressive is that it provides both a comprehensive and in-depth coverage of key approaches to therapy. The editors have wisely used a common organizing structure, such that each chapter deals with pivotal theoretical and practical aspects of the therapeutic change process, vividly illustrated with actual case vignettes. I cannot think of any other basic reference that is as comprehensive and informative." --Marvin R. Goldfried, PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook "As editors for this volume, Gurman and Messer have done an outstanding job of providing an organizational structure for the individual authors' chapter presentations. The structure the authors follow, as well as their excellent presentations of the various approaches to psychotherapy, assures that with respect to each of the approaches, readers have a solid grounding in its history, its assumptions about personality and dysfunction, its approaches to the assessment of dysfunction, the techniques used by the therapist, and the curative factors and mechanisms' assumed to be marshalled by these techniques. Importantly, current empirical support surrounding each of these approaches also is presented. Especially appropriate, and I believe heartening, is recognition by the editors that no single approach is right for everyone; and they have structured the chapters so that each chapter/approach includes a section on treatment applicability and how that has been documented. Although established (but contemporary) approaches to psychotherapy (e.g., psychoanalytic, person-centered, behavioral, cognitive approaches, existential-humanistic, gestalt, and transactional) are presented, the inclusion of newer (but established) brief therapy' approaches and integrative approaches' to psychotherapy assures representation of modern' psychotherapies. While emphasizing theories and modes of individual psychotherapy, modern family therapies and approaches to group psychotherapy reflect the diversity of approaches and modalities that characterize modern therapy. I am highly enthusiastic about the book and would most certainly recommend it for use in undergraduate and graduate training programs." --James W. Lichtenberg, PhD, Prof and Dir of Training, Dept of Counseling Psychology, Univ of Kansas "This valuable reference book could not be more timely, with clinicians buffeted by a confusing array of treatment approaches and by an assault on all psychotherapies in the new managed care environment. Gurman and Messer and their distinguished colleagues, present twelve truly essential forms of psychotherapy, from traditional models to recent innovative developments, whose merits render them most useful and likely to endure. The editors' organizational guidelines provide remarkable coherence to this outstanding volume, enabling readers to readily comprehend and compare the basic premises, methods, and efficacy of each approach for varied problem situations. In these times of challenge for mental health professionals of all disciplines, Essential Psychotherapies is essential reading for both beginning and experienced therapists." --Froma Walsh, PhD, Professor, School of Social Service Administration & Department of Psychiatry and Co-Director, Center for Family Health, The University of Chicago "This book provides a very clear and cogent presentation of the most important approaches to psychotherapy." --George Stricker, PhD, in Contemporary Psychology "Gurman and Messer have done an outstanding job....I am highly enthusiastic about the book and would most certainly recommend it for use in undergraduate and graduate training programs." --James W. Lichtenberg, PhD, University of Kansas "Gurman and Messer have pulled together a broad spectrum of voices and perspectives in contemporary psychotherapy, and the individual chapters in this volume have been organized in a way that lends balance to the overall project. This is a valuable resource. I recommend it highly." --Michael J. Mahoney, PhD, University of North Texas "...is an excellent resurce for teachers, practitioners, and students. It provides and excellent framework within which to study and compare different theories and approaches to psychotherapy. This can be expected to ease the teacher's task of presenting varying approaches and understanding their similarities and differences. For practitioners, the book provides an opportunity to enhance and augment their comprehension of different perspectives on personality and therapy. For the student, this work affords an invaluable source of information as they become increasingly aware that no single approach can validly be considered to constitute the ultimate and true approach." --Barton W. Knapp, Transactional Analysis Journal About the Author Alan S. Gurman, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. He has authored and edited a number of highly acclaimed books including The Casebook of Marital Therapy, Theory and Practice of Brief Therapy, Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy, and Handbook of Family Therapy. A past Editor of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, and past President of The Society for Psychotherapy Research, he has received numerous awards for his contributions to the fields of psychology and family therapy. He maintains a clinical practice in Madison, Wisconsin.