Strategies of Psychotherapy

by Jay Haley

This classic volume, long out of print, deals with the strategies of both psychotherapists and clients as they maneuver each other in the process of treatment. How a therapist induces a client to change is described within a framework of interpersonal theory and directive family therapy. This work represents a step from the study of therapy in terms of the individual to therapy as communication between at least two people. In this volume, Jay Haley acknowledges his debt to the Gregory Bateson research project exploring the nature of communication as well as to Dr. Milton H. Erickson, M.D. for the many hours of conversations and a new perspective on the nature of therapy. The reactions to this different view continue to be controversial today in the therapy field.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Rodrigo Gonçalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this very interesting (but extremely dense) book the author takes us by the realm of modern psychotherapy techniques approached by the lenses of the patient/therapist relationship and enhancing the therapeutic paradox as a tool to bring cure.

From the book I got a few refreshing concept as looking to relationships as sequences of messages exchanged by both parties in the attempt to (re)define the relationship, the types of relationship (symmetric, complementary and meta-complementary), the power dynamics in a relationship and how both parties constantly fight for it and the role of resistance to change in the human relationships.

[Robert Bor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is one of the weirdest books I have read in quite some time. It goes to show how psychotherapy is regarded more as a battle of wills, than as a relation where all parties are willing participants. Some strategies described in here come across as somewhat immoral, though I cannot comment on the effectiveness as I am not a therapist. Might it be so that control is a requirement for healing?

[Nuno Carrilho · Rating 3 out of 5]

A change to a inter-psychic way of seing humans, into a relation analysis - observational one.

Paradoxes as the commom principles of all therapies, that is why they work, this is the main thesis of Jay Haley, connected to the Palo Alto Sistemic School

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not just for psychologists. It has many insights on how to deal with difficult -symptomatic- people. The Epilogue is a masterpiece of itself.