Art of Psychotherapy

The Art of Psychotherapy: A Clinical Psychologist's Guide examines the creative, nuanced, multi-faceted, human side of psychotherapy that can be the difference between a therapy being beneficial or not. Using information from current research and case studies and techniques from her over thirty years as a clinical psychologist, Gamsa makes a strong case for psychotherapy being a "dance" with the client: once the therapist masters the dance steps (theory-based practices), they can improvise and respond to the leads provided by their partner (client). To support this "dance", The Art of Psychotherapy covers important topics such as communication skills, building a therapeutic alliance, and understanding a client's defences. In addition, this guide offers useful tools such as templates for an initial assessment and tracking therapy goals, as well as specific examples of imagery that can be used in therapy to better connect with the client. Both insightful and practical, this book is a powerful resource for psychologists in training, new therapists beginning their practice, and the more experienced therapist looking to fine tune their skills and optimize their practice.