Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide

by Nancy McWilliams

Book Overview

Addressing the art and science of psychodynamic treatment, Nancy McWilliams distills the essential principles of clinical practice, including effective listening and talking; transference and countertransference; emotional safety; and an empathic, attuned attitude toward the patient. The book describes the values, assumptions, and clinical and research findings that guide the psychoanalytic enterprise, and shows how to integrate elements of other...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593850093
• ISBN13: 9781593850098
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Guilford Publications
• Length: 353 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Honest and open

Nancy McWilliams provides a honest look at the psychoanalytic profession. She gives newcomers a good idea of what to expect coming into the psychoanalytic field. She effectively communicates through experience and self honesty in a very endearing manner.

Buy your own copy; forget using the library

This is a book you will want to underline, so I do not recommend checking out this book from your local university library. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, as well as a school counselor, and I have been fascinated about the mystery of psychoanalysis. This writer is fantastically clear, funny, honest, straightforward and clearly states any of her biases. She is smart, well-experienced and collects her thoughts beautifully. This is NOT a painful textbook to read; it is pleasantly written, divided into bite size pieces, and leaves the reader entirely satisfied!

Excellent as a student guide too

McWilliams provides excellent information for students and early career psychotherapists without the cumbersome jargon that all too often comes with other psychoanalytic texts.

A must have for all clinicians

Accessible and necessary- this is a very helpful guide. One of the only ones that offers clinicians of dynamic therapies a hands on guide to continue professional learning.

Reasoned voice of years of practical experience

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide by Nancy McWilliams (Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy instructor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rugers--The State University of New Jersey) is a guide written especially for psychotherapists, but which contains vital information that practitioners and recipients alike should internalize to promote optimum treatment results. From preparations the therapist should undergo, including submitting to professional psychotherapy oneself, to occupational hazards of the practice, to a careful discussion of basic therapy processes of listening and talking, to advanced, complex issues of analysis and understanding, and so much more, Psycho-analytic Psychotherapy covers all the basic groundwork with the calm, reasoned voice of years of practical experience. Recommended for those considering psychotherapy as a career as well as those involved in practice looking to broaden their awareness of available methods.