Psychodynamic Counselling in a Nutshell explains in clear, jargon-free style, the concepts at the heart of the psychodynamic approach and, drawing on case material, describes the therapeutic practice which rests on those ideas. Assuming no previous knowledge of the subject, the book introduces the history of the approach, key main concepts, and practical techniques used by practitioners.
I read this for a counselling course I am taking and found it to be an excellent introduction to psychodynamic counselling, the theory behind which is relatively complex. Psychodynamic theory has its roots in Freud, but has developed significantly since then, which the author makes clear. In the book Susan Howard covers both psychodynamic theory and practice, and lays out how a counselling session would look and feel. She uses a case study that runs throughout the book, an approach which I found helpful as it provided a sense of both familiarity and consistency. Howard also looks at the way in which psychodynamic counselling differs from other therapeutic approaches although her passion for her own approach is clear. Recommended for those just starting out in counselling theory, and those looking to compare and contrast the different approaches.
This is a GREAT (and succinct) description of psychodynamic counseling! I've been trying to identify the 'lens' through which I view the science world, and techniques that are inline with an evolutionary psychology position, and this clicked! I can't wait to read more about psychodynamic counseling.