Main description:

The second edition of The Great Psychotherapy Debate has been updated and revised to expand the presentation of the Contextual Model, which is derived from a scientific understanding of how humans heal in a social context and explains findings from a vast array of psychotherapies studies. This model provides a compelling alternative to traditional research on psychotherapy, which tends to focus on identifying the most effective treatment for particular disorders through emphasizing the specific ingredients of treatment. The new edition also includes a history of healing practices, medicine, and psychotherapy, an examination of therapist effects, and a thorough review of the research on common factors such as the alliance, expectations, and empathy.

Contents:

Preface 1. History of Medicine, Methods and Psychotherapy: Progress and Omissions 2. The Contextual Model: Psychotherapy as a Socially Situated Healing Practice 3. Contextual Model Versus Medical Model: Choosing a Progressive Research Programme 4. Absolute Efficacy: The Benefits of Psychotherapy Established by Meta-analysis 5. Relative Efficacy: The Dodo Bird Still Gets It 6. Therapist Effects: An Ignored by Critical Factor 7. General Effects: Surviving Challenges and Anticipating Additional Evidence 8: Specific Effects: Where Are They? 9. Beyond the Debate: Implications of the Research Synthesis for Theory, Policy, and Practice