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This is an overview of major therapeutic systems in practice today, outlining the philosophical differences and opportunities for integration among them. Considers new ideas and approaches to therapy stemming from the postmodernist and integrative movements.

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Psychotherapy today encompasses a broad spectrum of approaches that focus to a varying extent on psychophysiological, behavioral, environmental, or other aspects of human problems. Despite the overlap that exists between many of these approaches, there is no method that integrates more than a few of these aspects. It is therefore important to understand the inherent advantages and disadvantages of each therapy system, and how each helps people to solve their problems.

Systems of Psychotherapy: Dialectical Tensions and Integration provides an in-depth overview of the major therapeutic systems in practice today and outlines the philosophical differences and opportunities for integration among them. This volume also considers the new ideas and approaches to therapy stemming from the postmodernist and integrative movements. By highlighting the unique merits of each system, readers are encouraged to combine factors present in the various systems to create a comprehensive view of human nature and functioning that will improve therapeutic outcomes.

Topics covered in this volume include:

-Empirical foundations of psychotherapy

-Treatment planning and the initial interview

-Psychopharmacology

-Cognitive-Behavioral interventions

-Humanistic approaches

-Interpersonal approaches

-Family systems and couples approaches

-Ecosystemic interventions

Systems of Psychotherapy is an educational text which spans historical and contemporary issues in psychotherapy and is an ideal reference for students of clinical, counseling, and school psychology, psychiatric residents, and graduate students in clinical social work.

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The Dialectics of Psychotherapy: Philosophical and Empirical Debates.- Transtheoretical Approaches: Treatment Planning and the Initial Interview.- Biomedical Approaches to Treatment.- Behavioral Interventions.- Cognitive Approaches.- Psychoanalytic Approaches.- Psychodynamic Approaches: Object Relations and Self Theory.- Humanism: Experiential Approaches.- Humanism: Phenomenological Approaches.- Psychotherapy and Social Context.- Contemporary Interpersonal Approaches.- Family Systems and Couples Approaches.- Ecosystemic Issues and Approaches.- Postmodernism and Integrative Therapies.- Epigenetic Systems: A Meta-integrative Model of Human Functioning and Therapy.

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From the reviews:
"This book explains the major systems of psychotherapy, reviewing the philosophical differences and showing how they can be integrated. ... a reference for students of clinical, counseling, and school psychology, psychiatric residents, and graduate students in clinical social work. ... The clinical illustrations are excellent and show how to apply the theoretical tenets. It is a book that new therapists will greatly benefit from. ... seasoned veterans will be able to refresh their knowledge base as well." (Gary B. Kaniuk, Doody´s Review Service, May, 2011)

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