Beyond Empathy: A Therapy of Contact-In Relationships

By Richard G. Erskine, Janet Moursund, Rebecca Trautmann

Book Overview

In this book, the authors focus on the importance of relationship in psychotherapy. Relationships between people form the basis of our daily lives. We require this contact with others, the sense of respect and value it produces, the relational needs it fulfills. As we face the inevitable traumas of life, large and small, our ability to make full contact with others is often disrupted. As this reduction in contact increases, relational needs go unfulfilled, producing psychological dysfunction. Beyond Empathy offers therapists a methodology for assisting people in rediscovering their ability to maintain genuine, contactful relationships and thus, better psychological health. The authors describe an integrative psychotherapy approach that they have developed and now teach at the Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy in New York City. It draws from Rogers' client-centered therapy, Berne's transactional analysis, Perls' Gestalt therapy, Kohut's self psychology, and the work of British object-relations theorists. Written in a conversational style, the book introduces the theory behind the approach while using real life interchanges between therapists and clients to illustrate the concepts it presents. The second part of the book details the application of this method in therapy work and provides almost complete transcripts from seven therapy sessions. These include examples of psychotherapeutic regression, working with a parental introject, couples psychotherapy, and more. The open writing style of this book makes it accessible to both beginners and seasoned practitioners within the field of mental health. This versatile approach to therapy promises to be effective across a wide range of therapeutic situations, making this a valuable book for both students and practicing clinicians throughout the spectrum of mental healthcare providers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0876309635
• ISBN13: 9780876309636
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Beyond Empathy: A Therapy of Contact-in-Relationship.

The rare volume it is that serves as a clear exposition of the art and craft of psychotherapy. Beyond Empathy illuminates integrative psychotherapy, a theory and method of relational treatment, as useful for the seasoned practitioner as for the beginning therapist.A basic premise of the authors is that psychological health and growth rest upon the foundation of the quality of our relationships. Bringing into awareness interruptions to contact within the self and with others is a main focus of treatment. Through the skillful use of inquiry, attunement and involvement, the integrative psychotherapist works to bring the client into full relational contact.The authors identify and explain in depth eight relational needs: security, valuing, acceptance, mutuality, self-definition, making an impact, having the other initiate, expressing love. They posit that these needs are present in every relationship and, in fact, define a relationship. An integral part of the therapeutic framework is the valuing of the functions of the client's coping mechanisms and defenses. The authors believe that only through this valuing does the client become willing to let go of old patterns (fixed gestalten), that were once psychologically protective and now are maladaptive and anachronistic. Deepening the understanding of what other therapies may see as therapeutic impasse, the important concept of justaposition is explained; that is, progress may be slowed due to the marked contrast between what is provided in the therapeutic relationship and what was needed and longed for, but not provided in prior important relationships.Beyond Empathy goes beyond theory to extrapolate a theory of methods. These methods serve to deepen the client's affective experience, enhancing heart-to-heart contact in relationship. This builds uppon Erskine & Moursund's prior work, Integrative Psychotherapy in Action (Gestalt Journal Press, 1998), which is organized primarily around a theory of therapy and provides extensive transcripts of live work. The live transcripts in this volume also include a detailed look at the therapists' interventions. They are good companion volumes.Whether you plan to use this as a text or a reference book, it is an essential adddition to any clinician's library. It is the culmination of decades of clinical expertise, original thought, and synthesis of concepts drawn from the best traditions of theory and practice of psychotherapy. It offers a clarity, usability and elegance not often found in writings in this field---it will not sit idly on your shelf!