Object Relations Brief Therapy: The Therapeutic Relationship in Short-Term Work

by Michael Stadter

Overview

Object Relations Brief Therapy combines practical techniques with the depth of object relations theory, the wisdom of previous brief therapy writers, and, most notably, an emphasis on the unique therapeutic relationship. Often, therapists despair of doing any meaningful work in brief therapy. To this, Michael Stadter suggests the following pragmatic approach, "think dynamically, address some underlying issue(s) and do what you can." Specifically, the book emphasizes the depth of understanding of human experience that comes from an object relations perspective; the insight and experiential vitality of attention to the therapeutic relationship including its real, transferential, and countertransferential elements; the impact of the psychodynamic techniques that have been carefully studied and delineated by brief therapy writers such as Davanloo, Horowitz, Malan, Strupp, and Binder; and the flexibility of an eclectic approach that thoughtfully and selectively incorporates non-psychodynamic interventions. Therapists do not have to "escape" managed care, according to Stadter. Rather, they need to learn how to deal with it in a way that preserves their integrity and enables them to practice the kind of healing psychotherapy they know how to do. In today's health care climate, Object Relations Brief Therapy is a much-needed guide for committed therapists. This new paperback edition includes a preface reviewing more recent developments in the area of brief therapy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765706904
Publisher:	Aronson, Jason Inc.
Publication date:	04/13/2009
Series:	The Library of Object Relations
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Michael Stadter, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and a member of the faculty and Board of Directors of the International Psychotherapy Institute. He is also Clinical Psychologist-in-Residence in the Department of Psychology at American University and is on the faculty of the Washington School of Psychiatry.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword by David E. Scharff, M.D.
Chapter 2 1. Introduction
Chapter 3 2. Why Is There So Much Resistance to Brief Therapy?
Chapter 4 3. Object Relations Concepts and Brief Therapy
Chapter 5 4. Historical Review: A Sampling
Chapter 6 5. Overview of the Approach
Chapter 7 6. The Beginning
Chapter 8 7. The Middle: I
Chapter 9 8. The Middle: II
Chapter 10 9. The End
Chapter 11 10. Very Brief Therapy
Chapter 12 11. Object Relations Brief Therapy and Personality-Disordered Patients: I
Chapter 13 12. Object Relations Brief Therapy and Personality-Disordered Patients: II
Chapter 14 13. Reflections on Object Relations Brief Therapy and Managed Care: Brevity and Integrity
Chapter 15 14. A Brief Epilogue

Editorial Reviews

This is a thorough, honest, and thoughtful book. It is a pleasure to read and will provide both beginners and experienced brief therapists with much to ponder and readily apply. Stadter skillfully ties the literature together and puts the therapeutic relationship back into brief therapy.--Simon H. Budman, President, Innovative Training Systems

Stadter presents a comprehensive, scholarly, and creative synthesis of concepts from object relations theory and principles from various schools of brief therapy. Eschewing a doctrinaire attitude, his way of thinking about and doing brief therapy pragmatically allows for the world of HMOs and managed care, enhancing the sense of usefulness of the often frustrated therapist. His approach is also helpful to the practitioner in the face of the kinds of characterological resistances associated with developmental and structural problems. Rich in clinical examples, this is a book that will increase the clinical wisdom of therapists at all levels of experience.--Althea J. Horner PhD, author of Object Relations and the Developing Ego in Therapy

From the Publisher

Stadter presents a comprehensive, scholarly, and creative synthesis of concepts from object relations theory and principles from various schools of brief therapy. Eschewing a doctrinaire attitude, his way of thinking about and doing brief therapy pragmatically allows for the world of HM's and managed care, enhancing the sense of usefulness of the often frustrated therapist. His approach is also helpful to the practitioner in the face of the kinds of characterological resistances associated with developmental and structural problems. Rich in clinical examples, this is a book that will increase the clinical wisdom of therapists at all levels of experience.

Althea Horner

This is a thorough, honest, and thoughtful book. It is a pleasure to read and will provide both beginners and experienced brief therapists with much to ponder and readily apply. Stadter skillfully ties the literature together and puts the therapeutic relationship back into brief therapy.

Simon H. Budman

Stadter presents a comprehensive, scholarly, and creative synthesis of concepts from object relations theory and principles from various schools of brief therapy. Eschewing a doctrinaire attitude, his way of thinking about and doing brief therapy pragmatically allows for the world of HM's and managed care, enhancing the sense of usefulness of the often frustrated therapist. His approach is also helpful to the practitioner in the face of the kinds of characterological resistances associated with developmental and structural problems. Rich in clinical examples, this is a book that will increase the clinical wisdom of therapists at all levels of experience.

Althea J. Horner PhD