Book Review: Psychotherapy: An Introduction to the Psychotherapies

Abstract

Psychotherapy An Introduction to the Psychotherapies Sidney Bloch, editor. 4th ed. Oxford (GB): Oxford University Press; 2006.443 p. CDW57.50. Reviewer rating: Excellent A fourth edition of any book should speak volumes regarding its popularity. It is not simply a point of pride for the publishers, it also speaks for all the contributors' zeal in taking long strides and bringing the loyal readership with them. This edition has a special significance as it is dedicated to a well-known psychoanalyst (Jerome D Frank), who recently passed away. His original contribution, What is Psychotherapy? in Chapter 4, is still touted as a classic. The editor has handled many challenges. There is appreciably very little attrition in the number of author-contributors from the first edition of the book. New information on research in psychotherapy, and cognitive analytic and conversational therapies is added, and so are many new authors. In the first edition, 4 objectives were laid down: to make the concept of psychotherapy understandable; to emphasize the common features between schools of psychotherapies and to minimize the differences between them; to draw a relation between clinical practice and research; and to guide the trainee in his readings. These transparent objectives are aptly met in the fourth edition. And, if I am allowed to add a fifth objective, that will be keeping a novice trainee in mind. The book is a classic because it has not lost its appeal over the years and it has delivered what it purported to do. There are 4 parts and 18 chapters in this book. In the first part, termed as key contexts, there are 4 chapters that lay the foundation of the principles, process, practices, and evaluation of psychotherapies in general. The book chapters are placed in such a way as to augment the reader's knowledge in progression. Thus reading about the historical aspects of evolution in psychotherapy, then introduced to ethical principles and research related to psychotherapy, and finally bringing in the core understanding of what exactly constitutes psychotherapy is a brilliant build. In Part 2, 7 chapters written by experts in their fields teach readers about individual long-term psychotherapy, short-term dynamic psychotherapy, cognitive psychotherapy, behavioural psychotherapy, crisis intervention, supportive psychotherapy, and group psychotherapies. Out of all these chapters, my attention was drawn to a powerful writing on supportive psychotherapy as a bona fide therapeutic approach by none other than Sidney Bloch, the editor. Part 3 has attempted presentation of integrated approaches. The prototype could very well be cognitive analytic therapy. This model combines the cognitive psychology and psychoanalytic therapy approaches. In Chapter 13, Russell Meares introduces readers to the conversational model. …