The Essential Psychotherapies: Theory and Practice by the Masters

by Daniel Goleman (Editor), Ph.D. Kathleen Riordan Speeth (Editor)

Since Freud's Day, the theory and practice of psychotherapy has grown to include a bewildering multiplicity of "brand names." Yet within this wide spectrum of psychotherapeutic concepts and styles, certain key figures stand out as having taken the important new directions, explored the significant new areas, and provided the major new influences. The Essential Psychotherapies brings together the most eloquent and concise essays of these seminal thinkers, in which they describe and explain their theories and methods in the treatment of mental illness. Each selection is placed in its historical and intellectual context by an authoritative introduction and commentary.

308 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 6, 1982

About the author

Author of Emotional Intelligence and psychologist Daniel Goleman has transformed the way the world educates children, relates to family and friends, and conducts business. The Wall Street Journal ranked him one of the 10 most influential business thinkers.

Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence was on The New York Times best sellers list for a year-and-a-half. Named one of the 25 "Most Influential Business Management Books" by TIME, it has been translated into 40 languages. The Harvard Business Review called emotional intelligence (EI) “a revolutionary, paradigm-shattering idea.”

Goleman’s new book, Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, argues that attention — a fundamental mental ability for success — has come under siege. Leadership that gets results demands a triple focus: on our inner world so we can manage ourselves; on others, for our relationships; and on the outer forces that shape our organizations and society itself.

His more recent books include The Brain and Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence - Selected Writings.

Reviews

[Quinn C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this 5 stars not because I agree with every point made by each of the therapists in this book, but because the way the book was constructed with each of the therapist's essays, unfiltered and raw in regards to their philosophies and approaches to therapy, provided me with clarification as to the 'how' and 'why' of their unique psychotherapies. Reading each therapist's essays, written with their own vocabulary, terminology, and personality, helped me better understand their methodologies and how they each fit into the bigger picture of the different psychotherapeutic approaches.

There were certainly points made by different therapists that I didn't agree with -- but I appreciate the opportunity to read their points exactly as they wrote them and with detail typically excluded from textbooks or some other anthologies.