Psychotherapy Tradecraft: The Technique And Style Of Doing

Book excerpt: First published in 1988. The literature of psychotherapy is heavily weighted on the side of theory. There is an almost complete absence of tradecraft—what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Tradecraft refers to the specific techniques used by experienced and skillful psychotherapists to create the therapeutic setting; to invite and maintain a therapeutic alliance; to enhance the patient's progress; and, finally, to allow the patient to integrate and complete the process of psychotherapy. A search of psychoanalytic literature reveals an enormous amount of theory and speculation, countertheory and counter-speculation, but little tradecraft. This book aims to fulfil that gap.