Facilitating Emotional Change: The Moment-by-Moment Process

by Leslie S. Greenberg, Laura N. Rice, Robert Elliott

While emotions are often given a negative connotation people are described as being "too emotional" or as needing to "control their emotions" this book demonstrates that emotions are organizing processes that enhance adaptation and problem solving. Within an experiential therapy framework, the volume shows how to work with moment-by-moment emotional processes to resolve various psychological difficulties. The first two sections introduce the process experiential approach to treatment. Exploring the interrelationships among emotion, cognition, and change, the authors develop a powerful, clinically relevant theory of human functioning. The third section, a detailed treatment manual, outlines the general principles and methods of therapy and provides step-by-step directions for six specific types of interventions. Excerpts from actual transcripts exemplify the various methods, illuminating the moment-by-moment process for both the client and the therapist.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling

346 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie Greenberg has written more recent books about his Emotion-Focused Therapy, but this was the first one, and it stands up well--it doesn't seem like he's changed his philosophy or techniques much in the intervening 19 years. Written with the clinician in mind, it goes into great detail about the sequence of interventions required to guide clients from emotional pain and confusion to more adaptive emotional experiences. This process-oriented, non-directive approach is reminiscent of Gestalt and Rogerian therapy, with a little bit of CBT thrown in.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a complete advocate of PEEFT but this book did nothing to inspire me further! If I wasn't already a big fan of this therapy this book may have turned me off completely!

The authors use overly technical language that is hard to comprehend; good writing should be accessible to the masses not just those academics already highly versed in the jargon of PEEFT. The structure of the book is jarring; explaining micro elements first so the reader has no wider context to help make sense of the information.

Overall, I found this book a frustrating read and not accessible at all.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The practical steps in the second section are great.