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Very Short Introductions #416
Psychotherapy: A Very Short Introduction
Psychotherapy and counselling are now widely available to help people overcome emotional and psychological difficulties in their lives. They involve spending time with a professional in an emotionally safe and structured relationship to explore and express the issues that cause distress and difficulty, such as long term self-doubts, relationship problems, or the impact of a trauma or crisis. As a society, we now take this focus on talking through and understanding our identity and relationships for granted, but it is hardly more than a century old.
In this Very Short Introduction , Tom Burns and Eva Burns-Lundgren trace the development of psychotherapy from its origins in Freud's psychoanalysis to the range of different approaches - counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy, and other time-limited therapies, mindfulness, group and family therapies, and many more. Describing the processes central to them all and highlighting their differences, they demonstrate what problems each therapy are best suited for. They explain the principles behind the most commonly available types of psychotherapies and provide examples of what patients can expect when they seek such help. They conclude by examining the practice of psychotherapy - the types of training psychotherapists have, the safeguards that exist to keep practice reliable, and how one goes about choosing a psychotherapist.
ABOUT THE
The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
In this Very Short Introduction , Tom Burns and Eva Burns-Lundgren trace the development of psychotherapy from its origins in Freud's psychoanalysis to the range of different approaches - counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy, and other time-limited therapies, mindfulness, group and family therapies, and many more. Describing the processes central to them all and highlighting their differences, they demonstrate what problems each therapy are best suited for. They explain the principles behind the most commonly available types of psychotherapies and provide examples of what patients can expect when they seek such help. They conclude by examining the practice of psychotherapy - the types of training psychotherapists have, the safeguards that exist to keep practice reliable, and how one goes about choosing a psychotherapist.
ABOUT THE
The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
127 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
35 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 22, 2024
This was educational, aimed as those who were looking into what kind of help is out there.
January 29, 2024
a comprehensive, accessible, short read that covers some of the most important and significant histories and modalities of modern-day psychotherapy.
some things I learned and reflections:
1. as someone who is in school to be a therapist, I find myself questioning whether or not therapy is really what we make it out to be. is it really necessary? who has it really helped? if we lived in a world where we had the basic resources we needed, would anyone be "depressed" or have "anxiety"? is therapy fake, just something invented by rich white people to gaslight me into thinking everything is ok when really it's not? tbh, I still struggle with these questions. I'm still not sure. but something the book mentioned is how psychotherapy is helpful because it's not so much "what happens to someone, but how they make sense of it," and therapy can help someone construct that narrative around their experiences. OK this is a slippery slope because uh, if I'm being exploited by my boss, there's no amount of CBT-ing or spinning the situation that can (or should, for that matter) make me feel better. but I'm thinking about how, at least people for like me who experienced traumatic events in their life but now have some measure of privilege, therapy could be helpful. cause then at least they can make sense of the experiences they went through. idk. it's hard not feeling like this shit isn't fake. lol.
2. really interesting how basically every person who "founded" psychotherapy was a white man, and how their ideas have become so much of the norm and foundation from which we understand mental health to this day. or even how we talk about mental health in our day-to-day lives. i'm thinking about mfs like Freud (who popularized the idea of the "unconscious" mind), Jung (who came up with the idea of "introversion" and "extroversion"), Erikson (who came up with the life stages theory and how we grow through each age-defined stage in our lives and the idea of an "identity crisis"), Bowlby (who came up with attachment theory and the idea of "insecure" vs "secure" attachment), etc. so I'm like, uh, that extraaaaa makes me think that all of psychotherapy is bullshit—based on white ways of knowing, white ways of understanding the world, and white ways of thinking about suffering. THE CONSPIRACY RUNS DEEP MATE, WHEN IT'S WHITE PEOPLE AND WHITE MEN WHO ARE DICTATING THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE TO EXPRESS OUR PAIN AND EXPERIENCES.
3. also crazy because many of these white men were "heavily inspired" by ideas in other ethnic cultures like china or india. so it's like fam...did you just steal some of these ideas? lolol. like you cannot tell me CBT and this idea of being cognizant and analytic of our thoughts is not buddhist! boy bye.
4. if you're still reading and i haven't lost you yet: considering how in the early days psychotherapy was used to help soldiers in world war 1 and world war 2, now i'm extraaaa thinking that psychotherapy is a made up invention to just gaslight people into thinking everything is okay, into getting them to an acceptable mental state where they can still function and work, all the while ignoring the *reasons* they're in the state they're in. like, instead of giving those soldiers psychotherapy, how about you just not make them commit murder, genocide, etc? maybe then they wouldn't be having "mental health issues"? lolol. fakeeee!
5. i guess the last thing i learned is how many modern-day therapies have a lot more in common than differences. in general, most of them stress the importance and creation of a relationship (between you and your therapist) defined by empathy, becoming more self-aware of your thoughts and feelings, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. that's kinda cool, but i still believe most of this is fake lolol.
that's the tea m8
luv,
noo noo
some things I learned and reflections:
1. as someone who is in school to be a therapist, I find myself questioning whether or not therapy is really what we make it out to be. is it really necessary? who has it really helped? if we lived in a world where we had the basic resources we needed, would anyone be "depressed" or have "anxiety"? is therapy fake, just something invented by rich white people to gaslight me into thinking everything is ok when really it's not? tbh, I still struggle with these questions. I'm still not sure. but something the book mentioned is how psychotherapy is helpful because it's not so much "what happens to someone, but how they make sense of it," and therapy can help someone construct that narrative around their experiences. OK this is a slippery slope because uh, if I'm being exploited by my boss, there's no amount of CBT-ing or spinning the situation that can (or should, for that matter) make me feel better. but I'm thinking about how, at least people for like me who experienced traumatic events in their life but now have some measure of privilege, therapy could be helpful. cause then at least they can make sense of the experiences they went through. idk. it's hard not feeling like this shit isn't fake. lol.
2. really interesting how basically every person who "founded" psychotherapy was a white man, and how their ideas have become so much of the norm and foundation from which we understand mental health to this day. or even how we talk about mental health in our day-to-day lives. i'm thinking about mfs like Freud (who popularized the idea of the "unconscious" mind), Jung (who came up with the idea of "introversion" and "extroversion"), Erikson (who came up with the life stages theory and how we grow through each age-defined stage in our lives and the idea of an "identity crisis"), Bowlby (who came up with attachment theory and the idea of "insecure" vs "secure" attachment), etc. so I'm like, uh, that extraaaaa makes me think that all of psychotherapy is bullshit—based on white ways of knowing, white ways of understanding the world, and white ways of thinking about suffering. THE CONSPIRACY RUNS DEEP MATE, WHEN IT'S WHITE PEOPLE AND WHITE MEN WHO ARE DICTATING THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE TO EXPRESS OUR PAIN AND EXPERIENCES.
3. also crazy because many of these white men were "heavily inspired" by ideas in other ethnic cultures like china or india. so it's like fam...did you just steal some of these ideas? lolol. like you cannot tell me CBT and this idea of being cognizant and analytic of our thoughts is not buddhist! boy bye.
4. if you're still reading and i haven't lost you yet: considering how in the early days psychotherapy was used to help soldiers in world war 1 and world war 2, now i'm extraaaa thinking that psychotherapy is a made up invention to just gaslight people into thinking everything is okay, into getting them to an acceptable mental state where they can still function and work, all the while ignoring the *reasons* they're in the state they're in. like, instead of giving those soldiers psychotherapy, how about you just not make them commit murder, genocide, etc? maybe then they wouldn't be having "mental health issues"? lolol. fakeeee!
5. i guess the last thing i learned is how many modern-day therapies have a lot more in common than differences. in general, most of them stress the importance and creation of a relationship (between you and your therapist) defined by empathy, becoming more self-aware of your thoughts and feelings, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. that's kinda cool, but i still believe most of this is fake lolol.
that's the tea m8
luv,
noo noo
January 29, 2024
Very solid! I only wish it were longer. I’ll have to check out the bibliography.
April 14, 2024
Very thorough and approachable. Very educational.
November 6, 2016
The Very Short Introduction series is a marvel. Short enough to be read easily in an afternoon and written in breezy vernacular language, they still manage to maintain a good amount of academic rigour. I knew the quality of the entries in my own discipline was very high (all students should be encouraged to read them whilst in school or before starting university). This was my first attempt to use one to learn about something of which I had almost no prior knowledge. The authors of this volume do a very good job of steering neophytes like me through the basics.
I personally would have liked less information on CBT and family and group therapy and more on classical analysis, particularly by people other than Freud and Jung. They say enough about Adlerian individual psychology and about the work of Erik Erikson to make me want to learn more, which I suppose is the point. The only thing they say about Lacan is that his work is very difficult to understand, which I already knew!
There are definite slips in some areas outside of the book's main focus. The description of the Enlightenment as a triumph of logic and reason over religious dogma is particularly painful for any historian.
This book accomplishes its purpose of indicating to its readers areas where they will want to learn more.
I personally would have liked less information on CBT and family and group therapy and more on classical analysis, particularly by people other than Freud and Jung. They say enough about Adlerian individual psychology and about the work of Erik Erikson to make me want to learn more, which I suppose is the point. The only thing they say about Lacan is that his work is very difficult to understand, which I already knew!
There are definite slips in some areas outside of the book's main focus. The description of the Enlightenment as a triumph of logic and reason over religious dogma is particularly painful for any historian.
This book accomplishes its purpose of indicating to its readers areas where they will want to learn more.
March 12, 2019
The word “psychotherapy” conjures images of a patient on a burgundy recamier-style couch, a psychoanalyst in a matching stuffed armchair, neither one looking at the other as the analyst uses terse questions and monosyllabic acknowledgements to coax out the patient’s problems through interrogation about his or her childhood. While that approach, Freudian psychoanalysis, stubbornly maintains a following, there have blossomed many other varieties of therapy using talk as a tool to ease maladies of the mind. This “Very Short Introduction,” put out by Oxford University Press as part of a large and diverse series with the same subtitle, presents an overview of the various approaches to psychotherapy and its less formal cousin, counselling.
The book consists of eight chapters, and begins with a preface. The preface covers various and sundry topics useful for the reader, but most importantly it takes a step back from psychotherapy to situate this therapeutic approach in a context of psychology and psychiatry, which are subjects often confused in the popular mindset.
Chapter one continues with the basics by defining psychotherapy and offering a thumbnail of the various approaches that will be expanded upon throughout the book. The second chapter pays homage to Freud and his psychoanalytic approach. The authors maintain a diplomatic approach to psychoanalysis though it has fallen on hard times for a number of reasons, both practical (e.g. it’s a huge drain on time, often involving five hours a week for months or even years) and theoretical (e.g. it places a great deal of emphasis on the past, whereas many currently popular approaches favor the present as the relevant time.)
Chapter three explores a number of post-Freudian psychotherapists including Jung, Adler, and Erik Erikson. Chapter four moves on to what is called “Time-Limited Therapy.” As suggested in the preceding paragraph, psychoanalysis placed huge demands on a patient’s [and therapist’s] time and could go on and on with no end in sight. Time-limited therapies focused more on finding a present-day solution for the current problem, and not so much ceaselessly trolling one’s distant past for traumas.
Chapter five is about counselling, which is very much related to psychotherapy in that it involves getting a person to talk out his or her problems. The difference is that it needn’t necessarily involve a therapist with extensive training, but rather someone briefed and / or sensitive enough to know how not to become sidetracked into dangerous territory. Chapter six discusses cognitive behavioral therapy, its principles, and its variations (such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy [MBCT], which combines elements of Buddhist mindfulness with the cognitive behavioral therapy approach to form a popular and successful therapeutic approach.) Cognitive behavioral therapy is rooted in the premise that distorted thoughts cause emotional and behavioral problems, and that one must address the thought to change the outcome. It also famously requires “homework” to be done between sessions rather than the work being contained within sessions.
Chapter seven moves away from the one-on-one therapy discussed so far, and investigates the various ways in which therapy can be carried out in groups. Groups can be beneficial because they allow the patient to see that they aren’t unique in their woes, which people often believe themselves to be. Family therapy is also discussed as it all allows family members to chip away at their problems as a familial unit. Also, there are numerous interactive forms of therapy in which patients might use various art forms to work out their problems.
The last chapter looks at where psychotherapy stands, and where it appears to be going. One of the important considerations discussed is the influence the advance of neuroscience is having on therapy. For few decades since the famous decade of the brain (i.e. the 90’s,) neuroscience has dominated the discussion of the realm of the mind. There has been less-and-less thinking in psychological terms and more and more in physiological terms. However, there still seems to be a widespread belief that solutions need to combine a recognition of both areas.
Like other books in the series, this one employs a variety of graphics (cartoon, photographic, and diagrammatic), and it also presents brief references and further reading sections to help the reader continue his or her study through other works.
This book offers a solid overview of the various approaches to psychotherapy. I would recommend it for neophytes who need to start with a concise outline of the field.
The book consists of eight chapters, and begins with a preface. The preface covers various and sundry topics useful for the reader, but most importantly it takes a step back from psychotherapy to situate this therapeutic approach in a context of psychology and psychiatry, which are subjects often confused in the popular mindset.
Chapter one continues with the basics by defining psychotherapy and offering a thumbnail of the various approaches that will be expanded upon throughout the book. The second chapter pays homage to Freud and his psychoanalytic approach. The authors maintain a diplomatic approach to psychoanalysis though it has fallen on hard times for a number of reasons, both practical (e.g. it’s a huge drain on time, often involving five hours a week for months or even years) and theoretical (e.g. it places a great deal of emphasis on the past, whereas many currently popular approaches favor the present as the relevant time.)
Chapter three explores a number of post-Freudian psychotherapists including Jung, Adler, and Erik Erikson. Chapter four moves on to what is called “Time-Limited Therapy.” As suggested in the preceding paragraph, psychoanalysis placed huge demands on a patient’s [and therapist’s] time and could go on and on with no end in sight. Time-limited therapies focused more on finding a present-day solution for the current problem, and not so much ceaselessly trolling one’s distant past for traumas.
Chapter five is about counselling, which is very much related to psychotherapy in that it involves getting a person to talk out his or her problems. The difference is that it needn’t necessarily involve a therapist with extensive training, but rather someone briefed and / or sensitive enough to know how not to become sidetracked into dangerous territory. Chapter six discusses cognitive behavioral therapy, its principles, and its variations (such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy [MBCT], which combines elements of Buddhist mindfulness with the cognitive behavioral therapy approach to form a popular and successful therapeutic approach.) Cognitive behavioral therapy is rooted in the premise that distorted thoughts cause emotional and behavioral problems, and that one must address the thought to change the outcome. It also famously requires “homework” to be done between sessions rather than the work being contained within sessions.
Chapter seven moves away from the one-on-one therapy discussed so far, and investigates the various ways in which therapy can be carried out in groups. Groups can be beneficial because they allow the patient to see that they aren’t unique in their woes, which people often believe themselves to be. Family therapy is also discussed as it all allows family members to chip away at their problems as a familial unit. Also, there are numerous interactive forms of therapy in which patients might use various art forms to work out their problems.
The last chapter looks at where psychotherapy stands, and where it appears to be going. One of the important considerations discussed is the influence the advance of neuroscience is having on therapy. For few decades since the famous decade of the brain (i.e. the 90’s,) neuroscience has dominated the discussion of the realm of the mind. There has been less-and-less thinking in psychological terms and more and more in physiological terms. However, there still seems to be a widespread belief that solutions need to combine a recognition of both areas.
Like other books in the series, this one employs a variety of graphics (cartoon, photographic, and diagrammatic), and it also presents brief references and further reading sections to help the reader continue his or her study through other works.
This book offers a solid overview of the various approaches to psychotherapy. I would recommend it for neophytes who need to start with a concise outline of the field.
March 25, 2023
Solid VSI volume covering the historical development of the field of psychotherapy (Freud and forward). They side-stepped Lacan saying essentially "he's difficult and not really pragmatically useful in the landscape of contemporary practice" which I felt was a bit of a cop out and only true from a more narrow vision of the field, but then again, it does clearly signal where the authors are writing from in terms of their guardrails.
Their excitement of the CBT "difference" was palpable, and reasonably well articulated in contrast with their preceding framework. Overall a useful volume for anyone looking to better understand how psycotherapy evolved historically into its contemporary US/European practices (note that the authors do at least nod towards the complications of this historical/cultural bias built into the field).
Their excitement of the CBT "difference" was palpable, and reasonably well articulated in contrast with their preceding framework. Overall a useful volume for anyone looking to better understand how psycotherapy evolved historically into its contemporary US/European practices (note that the authors do at least nod towards the complications of this historical/cultural bias built into the field).
November 23, 2018
This covers the material well. It is a very short introduction to the field as the title of the series indicates. Muh of the material in this work I already knew. The book functions well as an overview of the field. It would be particular useful for anyone contemplating psychotherapy or for anyone with a slight interest but who does not want to explore the matter further. However, I did not really see any great insight or perspective into the field. It is a competent short introduction but not much more than that and it lacks really any critical insight into the merits of psychotherapy or the deeper ways in which it functions.
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March 24, 2022Дослушах я донякъде... Мииии резюме.
Психиатрията и психотерапията без Бог в атеистичен нихилистичния/хедонистически вариант е просто временно решение на екзистенциални проблеми...
Хората често чувстват живота си безсмислен ЗАЩОТО ТОЙ (по начина по който го живеят) НАИСТИНА Е НАПТЛНО БЕЗСМИЛЕН!
Не знам какво говорене или хапчета в психиатрията биха помогнали... ��йде ако е криза ок, ама след това...
CBT ми е интересна.
Явно работи.
И май даже и аз съм бил подлежен на нея без да знам МОЖЕ БИ в книгата не пуша вече на Алън Кар... Но не съм сигурен. Знам твърде малко за нея. Та ще трябва да чета доста повече... CBT for Dummies ме зове
Психиатрията и психотерапията без Бог в атеистичен нихилистичния/хедонистически вариант е просто временно решение на екзистенциални проблеми...
Хората често чувстват живота си безсмислен ЗАЩОТО ТОЙ (по начина по който го живеят) НАИСТИНА Е НАПТЛНО БЕЗСМИЛЕН!
Не знам какво говорене или хапчета в психиатрията биха помогнали... ��йде ако е криза ок, ама след това...
CBT ми е интересна.
Явно работи.
И май даже и аз съм бил подлежен на нея без да знам МОЖЕ БИ в книгата не пуша вече на Алън Кар... Но не съм сигурен. Знам твърде малко за нея. Та ще трябва да чета доста повече... CBT for Dummies ме зове
August 26, 2019
A solid and broad overview of the various approaches to psychotherapy. The only thing that would improve this work is including references or at least notes in some situations.
For example a lot of times the author would say that this theory believes this or that person thinks that without any bread crumbs to why this is believed.
Freud thought psychotherapy would not be needed due to advances in medicine? Where did he say that?
It really was unbiased and broad which is a great tool for aspiring practitioners or patients alike.
For example a lot of times the author would say that this theory believes this or that person thinks that without any bread crumbs to why this is believed.
Freud thought psychotherapy would not be needed due to advances in medicine? Where did he say that?
It really was unbiased and broad which is a great tool for aspiring practitioners or patients alike.
January 15, 2025
Does exactly what it says on the tin: informative and accessible chapter by chapter breakdown of the basics. Distinguishes psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy, as well as the differences between therapy and counselling. I knew more of this than I realised so I found the sections which looked more closely at specific therapies the most helpful - CBT, MBCT, CAT, TA, IPT, etc (like teaching, psychology is full of acronyms). Also covers the basic origins and current research, and gives a list of further reading at the back.
September 4, 2020
Its an okay book, a good introduction for people who are new to the subject or a refresher for thos who are a little for experienced. However some parts were a little boring and at times i felt i didnt want to read on. Despite it being slow in places, its a great book to get you used to the basics of the topic.
January 13, 2023
Really great overview of psychotherapy, detailing psychotherapeutic methods and theories from Freud to CBT. A brilliant and concise source for university study to have a brief and effective synopsis of different therapy types.
October 31, 2019
Precisely what one expects from a VSI volume.
February 2, 2019
Awesome book. Must read for any novice interested in psychotherapy, no matter the sub discipline. Gives a great breakdown starting with psychoanalysis, and going to time-limited therapies, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, and counseling. Also exploring some interactive therapies like using music or drama. An unbiased look how to best approach and deal with psychological suffering, using any tool that might be beneficial. Fantastic work from the authors for such a brilliant and efficient book despite its very limited size.
July 16, 2016
A good basic introduction to some ideas around psychotherapy, how it has developed over time and different approaches which are used in the present day.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews