Functional Analytic Psychotherapy: Creating Intense and Curative Therapeutic Relationships / Edition 1

by Robert J. Kohlenberg, Mavis Tsai

Overview

As cognitive behavior therapy becomes increasingly integrated, Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) remains a rich therapeutic method. FAP synthesizes aspects of psychodynamic and object relations therapy with traditional CBT methods, and author/ practitioners Robert Kohlenberg and Mavis Tsai originally created this book to be more than a simple how-to manual. Rather it is a powerful framework for clinicians seeking to rethink their approach to the therapeutic relationship. Now in paperback, this classic work is more relevant than ever.

The book begins with the theory behind the therapy (including its roots in B. F. Skinner’s behavior-analytic work in the 1970s), explaining why clients’ unique needs may extend beyond well-mapped routes to change. From there, the authors present the clinical principles of FAP and their uses in treating diffuse, resistant problems. Case illustrations model the therapeutic dyad, show FAP techniques in action, and offer crucial caveats. The ground rules: how, and why, FAP works. Recognizing clinically relevant verbal behaviors. The role of the self in personality disorders. New roles for cognitions and beliefs in therapy. Memories and emotions: what they can and can’t do to promote change. How FAP fills the niche between psychodynamic and behavioral therapy. Key issues in ethics, research, and supervision.

For the clinical psychologist interested in revitalizing practice, minimizing impasses, and treating clients on a deeper emotional level, Functional Analytic Psychotherapy brings fresh insights to the many worlds within and outside the clinical setting. Graduate students, especially, will find this text a valuable window onto traditional behavioral approaches to therapy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387708546
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	06/26/2007
Edition description:	1st ed. 1991. 2nd printing 2007
Pages:	217
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Robert Kohlenberg, Ph.D., ABPP, is a professor of psychology at the University of Washington where he was the Director of Clinical Training from 1997 - 2004. The WA State Psychological Assoc. honored him with a Distinguished Psychology Award in 1999. He has presented "Master Clinician" and "World Round" sessions at the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy and has published papers on migraine, OCD, depression, intimacy of the therapeutic relationship, and a FAP approach to understanding the self. He has presented FAP workshops both in the US and internationally. He has received research grants for FAP treatment development, and his current interests are identifying the elements of effective psychotherapy, the integration of psychotherapies, and the treatment of co-morbidity. He and Dr. Tsai are co-authors of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy: A guide for creating intense and curative therapeutic relationships. New York: Plenum. (1991).

Mavis Tsai, Ph.D., is a psychologist in independent practice and a clinical instructor at the University of Washington where she is involved in supervision and research. The list of publications and presentations by Dr. Tsai indicates the breadth of her expertise and includes work on healing PTSD interpersonal trauma with FAP, disorders of the self, power issues in marital therapy, incorporating Eastern wisdom into psychotherapy, racism and minority groups, teaching kids to be peace activists, and women's empowerment via reclaiming purpose and passion. She has led numerous workshops nationally and internationally and is known for her engaging interpersonal style as well as her behaviorally informed multi-modal approach to healing and growth that integrates mind, body, emotions, and spirit.

Table of Contents

1Introduction.- Philosophical Tenets of Radical Behaviorism.- Theoretical Underpinnings of FAP.- 2Clinical Application of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy.- Client Problems and Clinically Relevant Behaviors.- Therapeutic Technique—The Five Rules.- Case Illustration.- 3Supplementation: Enhancing Therapist Awareness of Clinically Relevant Behavior.- Classification of Verbal Behavior.- Therapeutic Situations That Frequently Evoke Clinically Relevant Behavior.- 4The Role of Emotions and Memories in Behavior Change.- Emotions.- Memories.- Clinical Implications.- Case Illustration.- 5Cognitions and Beliefs.- Cognitive Therapy.- The FAP Revision of A— B— C.- Clinical Implications of the FAP View of Beliefs.- Case Illustration.- 6The Self.- Common Definitions of the Self.- A Behavioral Formulation of Self.- Maladaptive Development of the Self Experience.- Clinical Implications.- 7Functional Analytic Psychotherapy: A Bridge between Psychoanalysis and Behavior Therapy.- FAP in Contrast with Psychodynamic Approaches.- FAP in Contrast with Current Behavior Therapies.- FAP: A Unique Niche between Psychoanalysis and Behavior Therapy.- 8Reflections on Ethical, Supervisory, Research, and; Cultural Issues.- Ethical Issues.- FAP Supervision.- Research and Evaluation.- Cultural Problems Due to Loss of Contact.- Conclusion.- References.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Gary Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)
Description: This book describes how radical behaviorism can be used to create therapeutic relationships in order for meaningful change to occur. Although functional analytic psychotherapy is derived from B.F. Skinner's ideas analyzing the working relationship between therapist and client, the authors also integrate other psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral theories as well for "creating intense and curative therapeutic relationships," as the subtitle states. This is a paperback version of a book published in hardcover in 1991.
Purpose: In the preface, the authors note that they "view this work as a treatment manual with guidelines for creating deep, intense, meaningful, and healing therapeutic relationships. It is not a collection of techniques, although a fair share of them are included. Instead, we have described a conceptual framework that is intended to guide a therapist's activity."
Audience: The audience includes therapists "interested in revitalizing practice, minimizing impasses, and treating clients on a deeper emotional level." The authors suggest that graduate students will also find this book valuable.
Features: An introduction to functional analytic psychotherapy and its philosophical roots in radical behaviorism begins the book. It goes on to discuss clinical applications and the therapist's role in understanding and addressing emotions, memories, cognitions, and beliefs. The authors spend significant time talking about the self and the integration of psychodynamic theory and behavior theory, which is the substance of functional analytic psychotherapy. The book ends with a look at supervision and ethical and cultural issues. Among the helpful aspects of this book are the way it integrates theory with clinical practice, the clinical vignettes and longer case illustrations, its thorough coverage of the therapeutic relationship, and the way the table of contents is broken down into specific topics so readers are able to quickly find information of interest. The book clearly shows how theory is married to practice. With its step-by-step approach, readers will feel they have learned something that is immediately applicable to their clinical settings. There are no glaring shortcomings, but the authors could have included more figures/tables to highlight the material.
Assessment: This book is excellent in the way it combines two theories and shows specifically how to apply them in clinical work. The authors address the therapeutic relationship, maybe somewhat of a surprise given the roots in radical behaviorism. The book is not very long (217 pages), but it is full of valuable information. It must be clear that this is simply a paperback version of a book first published in 1991. However, it is as relevant as ever because the concepts it introduces do not really change with time.

Doody's Review Service

From the reviews:

"This book describes how radical behaviorism can be used to create therapeutic relationships in order for meaningful change to occur. … The audience includes therapists ‘interested in revitalizing practice, minimizing impasses, and treating clients on a deeper emotional level.’ … graduate students will also find this book valuable. … is excellent in the way it combines two theories and shows specifically how to apply them in clinical work. … it is full of valuable information." (Gary B. Kaniuk, Doody’s Review Service, September, 2008)

From the Publisher