Very Brief Psychotherapy

by James Paul Gustafson

As the fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology are increasingly driven by the economics of the HMO or Mental Health Center, practitioners in any setting, whether it be private practice or university clinic, are now forced to develop more concrete procedures and models in order to practice more efficiently. This book presents a set of procedures for brief therapy that are based entirely on the four common dynamics of psychiatry. By following the model set forth in this book, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and mental health workers will be able to build an entire brief therapy program based upon the initial conditions for each patient. In Very Brief Psychotherapy, Dr. James Gustafson provides the reader with the tools and techniques to make a discernable difference in a patient's life in only a few moments. The majority of people seeking help from mental health professionals are not pathological, but are most often stuck in self-imposed cyclical patterns of behavior from which they cannot escape. It is the first step in any situation that leads to the iteration of the familiar circle, and it is in this single step that the clinician can effect decisive change. Given a window of only five or ten minutes, the practitioner armed with this approach can help a patient break out of the repeating pattern, move around the impasse, and take the first step onto a new trajectory. Very Brief Psychotherapy can help the practitioner make meaningful interventions in real world time, and in less than ideal circumstances, will radically change the reader's concepts of what can be accomplished in a day, in a clinical hour, or even in a single moment.

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Michael James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Brief Psychotherapy is a highly insightful and practical resource that challenges traditional ideas about the time required for meaningful therapeutic change. James P. Gustafson presents clear, efficient techniques that feel both realistic and impactful for modern mental health practice. It’s an invaluable guide for clinicians looking to make a difference even within limited time constraints.

[DrJohn B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a clinical and theoretical genius. His insights are deep yet applicable to the first session/meeting of almost any clinical encounter with a patient.