Therapeutic Communication: Knowing What To Say When

Therapeutic Communication: Knowing What to Say When

A uniquely practical guide and widely adopted text, this book shows precisely what therapists can say at key moments to enhance the process of healing and change. Paul Wachtel explains why some communications in therapy are particularly effective, while others that address essentially the same content may actually be countertherapeutic. He offers clear and specific guidelines for how to ask questions and make comments in ways that facilitate collaborative exploration and promote change. Illustrated with vivid case examples, the book is grounded in an integrative theory that draws from features of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, systemic, and experiential approaches.New to This Edition* Reflects nearly 20 years of advances in the field and refinements of the author's approach.*Broader audience: in addition to psychodynamic therapists, cognitive-behavioral therapists and others will find specific, user-friendly recommendations.*Chapter on key developments and convergences across different psychotherapeutic approaches.*Chapter on the therapeutic implications of attachment theory and research.See also Wachtel's Relational Theory and the Practice of Psychotherapy, which explores a new direction in psychoanalytic thought that can expand and deepen clinical practice.Review"Therapeutic Communication, Second Edition, builds on the foundation of Wachtel's original book, but it very substantially updates and revises it, reflecting many exciting advances that have occurred in our field. Wachtel presents theoretical and clinical material that will sharpen any psychotherapist's understanding of how to communicate with patients."--Leslie S. Greenberg, PhD, Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Psychology, York University, Canada"Paul Wachtel is among the very few teachers and theorists of psychotherapy whose writing has an immediate, direct, and powerful impact on my clinical practice. I have long used and recommended this excellent text and am delighted to see the revised second edition, which incorporates recent developments across the range of therapeutic approaches. Wachtel does not speak in generalities or abstractions; rather, he moves easily among theoretical formulations, research findings, and their practical application, illustrating his principles with numerous recognizable examples. He examines in great detail the nuances and subtleties of what you say to patients, how you say it, and the relational context within which you convey your therapeutic messages. This book is essential reading for practicing therapists of all persuasions. I can't wait to start reading it with my students."--Lewis Aron, PhD, Director, Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, New York University"The wisdom and experience of a creative therapist are reflected in every chapter. As the subtitle indicates, it's what you say and when you say it that determines what a patient hears. Novice and experienced therapists of any theoretical orientation will find this book to be of significant value. It is clear that therapy is not simply about techniques--it's about relations that work. This book shows you how and why that is true."--Robert L. Leahy, PhD, Director, American Institute for Cognitive Therapy; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College"I have used Therapeutic Communication in my graduate seminars, and students have been consistently appreciative of its combination of theoretical rationale and detailed examples (the 'why' and the 'how-to'). This combination has made it possible for students from all therapeutic orientations to apply the book's insights to their clinical thinking and practice. Wachtel's formulation of 'cyclical psychodynamics' is consistent with perpetuating factors, awareness of which is critically important for effective psychotherapy of any school."--Steven A. Kvaal, PhD, Department of Psychology, Roosevelt University"Students in my master's-level clas