Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide » (New Edition)

Nancy McWilliams, PhD, teaches psychoanalytic theory and therapy at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers—The State University of New Jersey. A 1978 graduate of the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, she also teaches at the Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy of New Jersey, the National Training Program in Contemporary Psychotherapy, the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California, and the Minnesota Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalytic Studies. She has lectured throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Greece, Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand. Dr. McWilliams has a private practice in psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, and supervision in Flemington, New Jersey. She is the author of Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process and Psychoanalytic Case Formulation, as well as articles and book chapters on personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, altruism, sexuality, and gender.

Building on the enormous popularity of her two previous texts on diagnosis and case formulation, this important work from Nancy McWilliams completes the trilogy by addressing in detail the art and science of psychodynamic treatment. 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 author describes the values, assumptions, and clinical and research findings that guide the psychoanalytic enterprise, and shows how to integrate elements of other theoretical perspectives when necessary. She also discusses the phases of treatment and covers such neglected topics as educating the client about the therapeutic process, handling complex challenges to boundaries, and attending to self-care. Presenting complex clinical information in personal, nontechnical language enriched by in-depth clinical vignettes, this is an essential psychoanalytic work and training text for therapists.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Gary B Kaniuk, Psy.D.(Cermak Health Services)
Description:This book provides the basics about psychoanalytic psychotherapy and the author addresses theory and practice in a very readable manner.
Purpose:According to the author, "the impetus for this book is my sense that despite an abundance of good writing on the psychotherapy process, we lack an integrative work on psychotherapy that introduces students of the art to its essential features -- across populations, across pathologies, across the sometimes radically differing paradigms currently in vogue in the psychoanalytic community, across the variations in human misery that express the idiosyncrasies of particular families in particular places in a particular age." (p. ix) She also states: "This book emphasizes how helpful psychoanalytic therapies can be for less healthy clients and for those who cannot undertake analysis even if they are good candidates for it." (p. xvi) The book meets these very worthy objectives.
Audience:According to the author, "as with my previous texts, with this book I am trying to be helpful mostly to people in training, whether in psychology, counseling, psychiatry, general medical practice, social work, nursing, or faith-based practice." (p. ix) I agree with the author regarding the targeted audience. However, I think that seasoned practitioners will also benefit greatly from this information. The author is a credible authority. Dr. McWilliams teaches psychoanalytic theory and therapy at Rutgers and is a graduate of the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis. She has authored two other books on psychoanalytic therapy as well.
Features:The book covers the whole gamut of psychoanalytic therapy, interweaving theory with practice. Most of the chapters deal with the actual therapeutic issues, such as therapist's preparation, preparing the client, basic therapeutic processes, and boundaries. Two very thorough case studies are also included. I really enjoyed the two chapters on boundaries. The author has a very good handle on therapy and her many years of experience come through loud and clear in the material. She concludes the book with a chapter on self-care. Her ideas on care of the id, ego, and superego are really good and practical. Therapists would be well served by taking heed to her sage advice.
Assessment:This is a wonderful book, written by a seasoned veteran who is able to communicate ideas in a very readable manner. As I read the material, I found myself saying, "Yes, yes." Therapists of any orientation can gain a considerable amount because her ideas address therapy issues which we all encounter. For those in the psychodynamic camp, it should be considered "must" reading. I appreciate the author's direct and candid style.