The use of humor in psychotherapy is discussed in this book. Part A focuses on humor itself. The first chapter discusses what makes things funny. The situational aspects of humor, witticism, joke-telling skills, ethnic humor, puns, and laughter are discussed. The second chapter presents three types of theories of humor: release-related theories;…

Presents and evaluates four systematic eclectic models of psychotherapy: Beutler's eclectic psychotherapy; Howard, Nance, and Myers' adaptive counseling and therapy; Lazarus' multimodal therapy; and Prochaska and DiClemente's transtheoretical approach. Examines support for these models and makes conceptual and empirical recommendations.…

Offers an overview of the root metaphors and philosophical assumptions associated with formism, mechanism, contextualism, and organicism, the four world views described in Pepper's 1942 philosophical treatise and his presentation of root metaphor theory. Examines recent and historical trends of development in counseling theory and practice within…

Explores the history of the relationship between religion and psychology, integration difficulties within psychotherapy, and recommendations for problem resolution. Presents two religious frameworks psychologists can use to reduce conflicts and enhance religious concerns. Concludes psychology has a responsibility to examine the religious realm in…

Highlights aspects of Freud's discussions on the "fort-da" game and the process of transference and countertransference in their connection to psychological aspects of dramatic activity. Concludes that from the pathological need to repeat can come therapeutic possibilities in the human tendency for people to restage and reobserve their…

Richard Bandler and John Grinder developed neuro-linguisitc programming (NLP) after observing "the magical skills of potent psychotherapists" Frederick Perls, Virginia Satir, and Milton Erikson. They compiled the most effective techniques for building rapport, gathering data, and influencing change in psychotherapy, offering them only as…

Describes healthy aspects of passivity and explores Gendlin's focusing, emphasizing its usefulness in cultivating receptive passivity. Focusing teaches clients to assume a nonjudgmental attitude toward themselves and allow for deepening self-awareness. (JAC)

Identifies conditions under which equivalence is likely attained with simple random sampling and randomization in psychotherapy efficacy studies of kind examined in recent meta-analyses. Views consequences of nonequivalence as manifestations of Simpson's paradox. Expects misinterpretations of estimates of relative efficacy of treatments. Compares…

Underscores differences among unsystematic eclecticism, theoretical integrationism, and technical eclecticism. Present brief case history to demonstrate how and why combination of theories and smorgasbord conception of eclecticism yields clinical confusion rather than therapeutic precision. Explains why atheoretical or mechanistic procedures must…

Contends that psychologists need to appreciate the client's resources and strengths and avoid being coopted into a medical framework which skews one's thinking toward pathology and deficits. Describes a time-effective model of family psychotherapy which emphasizes possibilities, strengths, and resources. (Author/NB)

Focusing on psychotherapy research, illustrates methods for studying mediator and moderator variables in meta-analysis, discusses their advantages and disadvantages, and shows how inclusion of these variables can change interpretation of meta-analytic results. Notes that therapeutic orientation may make significant difference to outcome but only…

Whilst solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) has become a widely used form of psychotherapy in the UK, there is little published writing on its use in services for people with learning disabilities. This article briefly discusses SFBT's potential uses with this client group, and provides by way of illustration a case example of its application…

The views of Carl Rogers and Milton H. Erickson are combined in this book on psychotherapy. The first section focuses on belief systems, views of man, new views of the unconscious, and a philosophy for change. Erickson and his relationship to myth, the nature of man and the goal of counseling, trance, and a radical view of the unconscious are…

Discusses the relationship of the symbolic content of dreams to the theory of the dream in psychoanalysis and Gestalt therapy. Points out that the utility of the dream depends upon the techniques of the therapist and not on the validity of the underlying theory of the dream. (LLL)

Discusses history of demise of meditation in West and reemergence as Eastern system. Explores reasons for this phenomenon. Discusses differences between Eastern and Western meditation, psychology of meditation, research, and applications of meditation to counseling. Concludes meditation may be used as an integral part of pastoral counseling…