Psychotherapy Tradecraft

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.