The Art of Psychotherapy

by Anthony Storr

Anthony Storr's accessible and humane account of the art of psychotherapy has been widely read by practitioners in training and others in the helping professions, as well as many general readers. The second edition includes a thoroughly revised account of the obsessional personality, and a new chapter that draws on the author's recent work on the importance of the processes of healing that take place within the isolated individual.

Genres: Psychology, Psychiatry, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Anthony Storr was an English psychiatrist and author. He was a child who was to endure the typical trauma of early 20th century UK boarding schools. He was educated at Winchester, Christ's College, the University of Cambridge and Westminster Hospital. He qualified as a doctor in 1944, and subsequently specialized in psychiatry.

Storr grew up to be kind and insightful, yet, as his obituary states, he was "no stranger to suffering" and was himself allegedly prone to the frequent bouts of depression his mother had.

Today, Anthony Storr is known for his psychoanalytical portraits of historical figures.

Reviews

[Heather Goff · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite supervisor asked me to read Storr's book when I first started doing psychotherapy. Beginning with the basics, it's a superb introduction to the nuts and bolts of how therapy gets done. As that supervisor told me, "you first have to start by saying hello."

[Elham · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب رو وقتی که تازه وارد دانشگاه شدم خوندم و برای اون موقع خیلی اطلاعات بهم داد. چهار تا ستاره رو هم با دید اون موقع خوندم که هنوز با روانشناسی زیاد آشنا نبودم و چیزهای زیادی ازش یاد گرفتم.

[Dror Rosenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best psychotherapy primer written by an amazing person.

[سام میرزا · Rating 3 out of 5]

فارغ از بحث درمان، در شناخت افسردگی و یکی دو اختلال دیگر، بینش خوبی برای من فراهم کرد.

[Mounir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in its Arabic translation. I think it is a must read to anyone who wants to learn the basics of counselling or psychotherapy. It is a combination of psychodynamic, person-centred and humanistic approaches to therapy, which makes it very useful for many who are interested in this topic.

The author's simple and clear language makes it very easy to understand and grasp all his concepts, ideas and techniques. His humane and warm attitude which can be felt through his writing makes the book very enjoyable to read.

[أحمد مصطفى · Rating 5 out of 5]

هذه هي المرة الثانية التي اقرا هذا الكتاب واتصور انني ساعود اليه من وقت لآخر لاصل لمزيد من الاستبصار والوعي من هذا الكتاب الهام

[أصَايِلْ · Rating 4 out of 5]

في مقدمة الكتاب يقول أنطوني: «فالطبيب قليل الخبرة الذي يحس غالبًا بالارتباك أمام المريض النفسي المحوَّل إليه للعلاج النفسي لأول مرة قد يتساءل: تُرى، ماذا أفعل؟… هذا الكتاب يهدف إلى الإجابة على هذا السؤال».
يتحدث هذا الكتاب عن العلاج النفسي بوصفه فنًا أكثر من كونه علمًا، وعلى الرغم من كونه موجّه لممتهني العلاج النفسي إلا أنه كتاب قيّم يعين على فهم العلاج النفسي بجميع مكوناته، ناقش الكاتب عملية إقامة علاقة بين المعالج ومريضه، وكيف يكون المكان مناسبًا والمقابلة الأولى مريحة وممهدة لرحلة علاجيّة صحيّة. كما تطرّق لأربعة شخصيات، الهستيرية، الإكتئابية، القهريّة وشبه الفصامية، ومن ثم كانت الفصلين الأخيرين تتمحور حول نهاية العلاج وشخصية المعالج.

كتاب رائع لكل من ينوي أن يمتهن العلاج النفسي، أو حتى الشخص العادي المهتمّ بوعيه الذاتي حيال مشاكله الخاصّة ومشاكل من حوله فالعلاج النفسي كما يقول أنطوني «فن تخفيف الهموم الشخصيّة».

[Evan Micheals · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on the recommendation of Tom Ryan, given I am considering moving towards most of the remainder of my career being a psychotherapist. I found his work on Freud informative and enlightening. He has a talent for what others make over complicated, easy to comprehend. I found myself feeling like I did as I read the Barefoot Investor. 90% of what Anthony Storr recommended and suggested, I had come to the same conclusions independently. 5% I will incorporate into my practise, and 5% I will continue to do to support my style. It was none the less reassuring that I am on the right track as a Psychotherapist.

The book was pragmatic, but not prescriptive. Good solid advice a budding psychotherapist could follow. He describes psychotherapy as being more Art than Science. I have to agree with him, there is far to much nuance in every conversation to try and work to an algorithm. When he described the anecdotal qualities psychotherapist might hold I found myself agreeing that I had these qualities and life experience (except I self identified earlier in the book about being a bit obsessional). I found it useful and plan to make this a reference book to refer to in the coming years. Whilst I would not say Storr is an outstanding writer, he is good enough. I also plan to further explore Storr's other work. He is someone I can learn from.

[Michael Kulyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recall a clinical psychologist asking me what I thought of Storr's 'The Art of Psychotherapy' and whilst I paused to give a response she blurted out 'it's brilliant', and I couldn't disagree. It was the go to introductory for resident psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists in training throughout the eighties and nineties. I'm referring to the first and second edition of the book. There is a third edition that's updated Storr's own version by Jeremy Holmes, though, for me at least, it proves the rule if it ain't broken don't fix it, and the second edition needed no updating. Saying this I'm aware that others won't share my opinion about the third edition. My main objection to it is that Holmes has reduced Storr's chapters on character types, chapters which really are exceptional in my view and that are central to Storr's original book.
Anthony Storr does a wonderful job of providing the reader with a synthesis of Jungian analytical psychology (especially regarding dreams) and psychoanalytic object relations theory (especially W. R. D. Fairbairn).
It's a must read for all who wish to approach psychotherapy within a broadly psychodynamic framework. Storr is a brilliant writer and a pleasure to read.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated and dogmatic but still full of fascinating psychology "insider information" to get the wheels turning for those with a self-improvement / life-optimization bent.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read as a trainee counsellors although I would say it seems a little dated. Helped to give me a better understanding of some of the things I have covered in my studies!

[Jonathan Kipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book - essential reading for any psych-trainee.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible, practical, full of wisdom. A refreshingly undogmatic view of therapy.