Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy A Deliberate Practice Manual

Now in its second edition, this concise volume helps therapists develop the resilience and flexibility needed for effective therapy.

Clients who are provocative, angry, shut down, or emotionally labile often arouse strong emotional reactions in therapists. Without proper training and practice, these experiences make it hard for therapists to stay self-aware, attuned, and clinically flexible.

Based on the principles of deliberate practice, this book presents a clear and concise training plan to help readers identify, develop, and master the inner skills necessary to be effective therapists. It explains the theory and value of deliberate practice and guides readers through six experiential exercises to help them build psychological capacity. Readers select their own materials for exposure, ranging from movie clips to videotaped therapy sessions, and learn techniques to navigate their emotional reactions.

This second edition includes a new chapter for clinical supervisors and course instructors, extended and updated research, and expanded clinical resources.

Prologue to the 2nd Edition 

Forwards 

Part I: The Training Plan 

Chapter 1: Introduction  

Chapter 2: A Case Example  

Chapter 3: Psychological Capacity  

Chapter 4: Stimuli for Deliberate Practice  

Chapter 5: Principles of Training  

Chapter 6: Training Safely  

Part II: Deliberate Practice Exercises  

Exercise #1: Observe Your Reactions To Psychological Stimuli  

Exercise #2: Attention Control  

Exercise #3: Simultaneous Self-Observation and Client Engagement  

Part III: Advanced Deliberate Practice Exercises  

Exercise #4: Psychological Self-Recovery  

Exercise #5: Interval Training  

Exercise #6: Customize Your Deliberate Practice 

Part IV: Training Strategy 

Chapter 7: Track Your Progress  

Chapter 8: Common Challenges and Solutions  

Chapter 9: Personal Development for Therapists  

Chapter 10: Looking Forward  

Part V: Resources  

Appendix A: Deliberate Practice Exercise Form  

Appendix B: Customizing DP Exercises Form  

Appendix C: Sample Videos

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.