Psychoanalytic Case Formulation

by Nancy McWilliams

What kinds of questions do experienced therapists ask themselves when facing a new client? How can clinical expertise be taught? From the author of the landmark Psychoanalytic Diagnosis , this book takes clinicians step-by- step through developing an understanding of each client's unique psychology and using this information to guide and inform treatment decisions. McWilliams shows that while seasoned practitioners rely upon established diagnostic categories for record-keeping and insurance purposes, their actual clinical concepts and practices reflect more inferential, subjective, and intuitive processes. Interweaving illustrative case examples with theoretical insights and clinically significant research, chapters cover assessment of client temperament, developmental issues, defenses, affects, identifications, relational patterns, self-esteem needs, and pathogenic beliefs.

Winner--Gradiva Award, National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis

Genres: Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction, Psychiatry, Counselling, Philosophy, Social Work

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

McWilliams is a psychoanalytic/dynamic author, teacher, supervisor, and therapist.

Reviews

[laura]

Nancy McWilliams is the GOAT. She is where I would point anyone looking for a solid, digestible, sufficiently in-the-weeds grasp of contemporary psychoanalytic practice and theory. As an overview, you could do worse than just starting here. NM pulls in most of the central concepts in the course of laying out the process of meeting a new client and formulating an initial set of working hypotheses re: who they are and what they need. Her book Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practioner's Guide is probably the more natural place to start, but I don't know, this book is pretty solid.

Just at the level of prose and organization, I found it extremely impressive. Each chapter is 18-22 pages, and lays out one dimension of assessment in terms precise enough for the most punctilious reader, unpacking each with sufficient examples to draw out the idea and make it digestible enough for almost anyone. These chapters stack up one, two, three, up to 10 little lessons, plus a nice (20p of course!) summary. No chapter feels rushed or ungainly. You may want more, and in each chapter she provides recommended further readings for those who do. But no chapter is so spare that you could fail to get the idea.

Great book. Great writer. Nancy McWilliams writing in general has been the perfect bridge for me between philosophy and psychodynamic practice.

(PS One thing this is not is a history of psychoanalytic figures/concepts. For that, I really liked Mitchell and Black's FREUD AND BEYOND.)

[Claire]

Highly engaging, rich read. McWilliams writing is so easy to take in - personal and astute her experience is evident. Provides some map for making sense of and proceeding along the path that is therapy, with another. Speaks to the limitations of working from diagnosis over a broader case formulation. And from a two-person psychology framework notes understanding one's own psychology as central to working as a therapist.

I'd recommend this to any helping professional regardless of orientation (indeed she graciously makes links between psychoanalytic approach and various other schools of thought).

[Ugnė]

Įdomi, naudinga ir žmogiškai parašyta knyga. Verta pasiskaityti ir ketinantiems eiti pas psichologą/psichoterapeutą - kad būtų lengviau pradėti kalbėti.

[Daniele]

La scrittura della McWilliams è chiara, fluida e comprensibile. Un libro consigliato agli appassionati di psicoanalisi.

[Samara Serotkin]

My supervisor recommended this book last semester as a way for me to get a better handle on case formulation. While I almost got scared away by the term "psychodynamic" with regards to case formulation...and had visions of dissertation-style case formulations full of lost of jargon I'd have to go research to understand, this book is actually relatively easy reading. It's really helpful for any orientation, really.

[Andrea]

Piccola nota della traduzione italiana: nel capitolo "credenze patogene" è riportato di un paziente che per lamentarsi usava la frase "la vita ancora succhia"; sono abbastanza sicuro che sia una traduzione ridicola dell'inglese "life still sucks", che significa "la vita fa ancora schifo".
Ho riso molto.

[Chris]

it's quite amazing how well McWilliams explains the necessary elements of a successful dynamic formulation. she offers coherent examples from her own clinical and personal experience, which really makes the process come alive.

[Sam]

part of an ongoing project to figure out what my shrink is doing in my head

[David]

Rekommenderad av klasskompis: ”Det är kanske den enda boken du behöver läsa, David”.

En fantastisk introduktion till modern psykoanalys (pre-2000) och crash course gällande vad man ska tänka på för att få få till en utförlig psykoanalytisk fallformulering — vilket sedan guidar det terapeutiska arbetet i relationen mellan terapeut och patient.

Rekommenderar enormt.

[Rimgaudas]

Must read book for the beginners psychotherapists and psychology consultants.

[Marti Zucca]

volevo leggerlo con più calma 😐

[Mindora]

Nancy Mcwilliams si presenta come una psicoanalista estremamente valida e competente e con un'empatia di spicco. Consigliatissimo come primo approccio alla pratica psicoterapeutica.

[Rita]

A Tia Nancy é espectacular. Fala dos temas com uma clareza extraordinária.

[Alishia S.]

This is a wonderful and updated perspective to psychoanalytic theory that allows a deeper conceptualization of client distress and defense. McWilliams offers a profoundly refreshing view that has versatility for integration into others theories and models of psychology.

[Brent]

One would never think that a book with this title could be enjoyable, but it is insightful, reader friendly, and candid. It is one of the more enjoyable books in the genre of text books.

[Vita Mikuličiūtė]

Perskaičiau, nes reikėjo. Nesakyčiau, kad labai sužavėjo, ar kad geriausia McWilliams knyga. Tokia idealoginė, bandanti atspindėti psichodinaminę filosofiją. Kita vertus (o tai, mano galva, labai didelis pliusas) į žmogaus problemas skatina pažvelgti plačiau ir įvairiapusiškiau nei griežtieji psichodinamistai nurodo.

[Franco]

L'impressione che ne ho ricavato è quella di un libro indirizzato a terapeuti professionisti scritto con amore e compassione nei riguardi della disciplina e di chi la pratica. Molto utile e reso concreto dai plurimi esempi. Qualche dubbio mi resta sulla scorrevolezza della traduzione.

[Luke]

A sophisticated book about the art of patient assessment and case formulation. McWilliams is an inspired therapist whose compassion is balanced by her lucid intellect. Her writing is a reflection of the same precision and clarity that distinguishes her as a clinician. Brilliant! 5/5

[Sebastian]

McWilliams beskriver på ett pedagogiskt och medryckande sätt hur terapeuten kan lägga upp de första samtalen för att inhämta tillräckligt med information för att kunna göra en psykodynamisk fallformulering. Jag skulle säga att denna är mer hands-on jämfört med hennes tidigare bok om diagnostik som är mer teoretisk. Jag upplever att båda dessa böcker har hjälpt mig avsevärt i min förståelse av psykodynamisk terapi.

[tttom]

mi aspettavo di più, oppure avevo una visione o aspettative diverse, comunque mi sembra un buon libro se studi psicologia o se sei interessato in alcuni aspetti.
può diventare difficile se non sai certi concetti.

[Jack Himes]

The method described in this book strikes an extraordinary balance between respecting the complexity of the mind and being easily understood and applied to real clinical scenarios. Nancy McWilliams has done it again. I think I will be going back to this one often.

[Ellen]

It provides a great foundational knowledge about psychodynamic psychotherapy. Very well written and can be easily read!

[Mihail]

For every beginning practitioner that would like to get deeper into the psychological evolution - this is a wonderful choice.

[Dovilė Stonė]

"Pirmiausia - saugok kliento savigarbą" - turbūt geriausias Hipokrato principo "Pirmiausia nepakenk" vertimas į psichoterapeutų kalbą."

[Felicia Romano]

Nancy does it again! Love her theories, clinical suggestions, and vantage point for approaching clients on the circumplex model of psychodynamic personality structures.

[Sibora]

Letto per l'uni 😆🥰

[Caroline]

A necessary read for any therapist in training! She is able to cover dense topics with an easy to read prose.

[Jemma]

Nancy is hard not to idealise; a brilliant book.

[m_arti]

nancy io pensavo di leggerti e capire meglio in che scuola di psicoterapia andare e ancora non riesco a scegliere..o forse volerti leggere è già una scelta? non so più niente

[Dane Rich]

Excellent, thoroughly helpful