The Little Psychotherapy Book: Object Relations in Practice »

Allan Frankland is Clinical Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, and Staff Psychiatrist, Psychiatry Outpatient Department, Vancouver General Hospital

Aimed at beginning therapists and those new to object relations, this concise work introduces the reader to the practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy from an object relations (O-R) perspective in a dynamic and easy-to-follow way. One of the four main schools of psychodynamic psychotherapy, O-R is regarded as particularly challenging, both conceptually and practically. The book presents object relations in a clear and concise manner that makes it especially applicable for regular use in the clinical setting. Moreover, the author writes in a narrative style similar to actual psychotherapy supervision; dialogues between a therapist and a fictitious patient appear throughout the book to illustrate common clinical situations. Designed to complement actual training in psychotherapy, the book suggests ways in which the therapist can incorporate object relations tools with other forms of therapy, regardless of the clinical setting. Ideal for students, trainees, and clinicians in psychiatry, psychology, social work, family medicine, and psychiatric nursing, The Little Psychotherapy Book will prove invaluable for any reader seeking a helpful and succinct introduction to object relations in psychotherapy.

Acknowledgments Chapter 1) What Is Object Relations?
Chapter 2) The Big Picture Chapter 3) Assessment and Formulation Chapter 4) Patient Selection Chapter 5) The Treatment Contract Chapter 6) The Value of Rules and Boundaries Chapter 7) Beginning the First Session Chapter 8) The Four Levels of Meaning Chapter 9) Tools of the Trade Chapter 10) Projective Identification Chapter 11) Anxiety and the Paranoid-Schizoid Position Chapter 12) Silence and Boredom in Therapy Chapter 13) Neediness in Therapy Chapter 14) Addressing Possible Decompensation Chapter 15) Structure and How to Use It Therapeutically Chapter 16) Verbal Attacks on the Therapist Chapter 17) Sadness in Therapy Chapter 18) Erotic Transference and Countertransference Chapter 19) Advice in Therapy Chapter 20) Self-Disclosure Chapter 21) Gifts in Therapy Chapter 22) Putting It All Together: A Sample Session Chapter 23) What Is Progress in Therapy?
Chapter 24) Termination and Other Therapy Endings Chapter 25) Object Relations Concepts and Cognitive Therapies Chapter 26) Object Relations Concepts in General Follow-Up References Glossary Suggested Reading List