Erving Polster (1995) demonstrates with Delisa, who is troubled by her work with geriatric patients. Polster leads Delisa quickly and deeply into her own fears of death and loss. Polster jokes, confronts, and directs Delisa into a greater self-awareness. Following the demonstration Polster explains his work and addresses questions.
Rossi (1992) demonstrates his approach to mind-body healing while working with a volunteer, Jennifer, who has rheumatoid arthristis in her hands, which have become distorted and painful. Rossi explains that mind-body healing follows a predictable pattern. During the final phase of this approach, Jennifer begins to experience automatic movement in her hands. She exclaims that her hands are moving more freely than they have in the last five years. Rossi attributes the success to "a genuine moment of self-empowerment."
Eugene Gendlin (2000) demonstrates with two volunteers. The first is guided through feelings of tension in her shoulders and shakiness in her stomach. Gendlin conducts a second demonstration. The next volunteer presents the trauma of a hysterectomy due to cancer. Gendlin concludes with an explanation of his method.
James Bugental (2000) explains the importance of focusing on immediate subjective experiences. Bugental works with Glenda who is experiencing deep guilt about an upcoming divorce. Bugental addresses questions from the audience. A second volunteer explores issues surrounding her recent career change. Bugental explains his approach and answers questions.
Bugental (1990) provides two demonstrations. First, Bugental works with Molly, an associate who is familiar with this approach at an advanced level. Next he works with a naïve client, demonstrating what therapy might look like on the first visit. After each session, Bugental and his client reflect upon his methods.
James Hillman (2009) Hillman reveals how to bring “soul talk” back into modern psychotherapy. The case history of a client is the diagnosis, present complaint, family history, employment history, but nothing of the “soul” of the person. Dr. Hillman assures us that we can almost ignore the case history. Using “soul” talk (Longings, dreams, secrets, how a client accepts joy and sorrow) takes the session out of the box and returns a resonance to psychotherapy that it has lost.
John Gottman and Julie Gottman (2005) demonstrate through role-playing the ways therapists can break a couples’ gridlock due to conflict. Through an intervention of “dreams within the conflict,” therapists are shown how to help couples be more open for dialogue in order to successfully compromise on unresolvable issues.
Joseph Wolpe (1985) begins with Santiago who has a history of experiencing strong feelings of anxiety and discomfort during social situations. Questioning reveals that these problems are most intense when he is in situations in which he experiences a loss of control. Wolpe uses imagery and desensitization to diminish feelings of anxiety.
Joseph Wolpe (1990) interviews police officer Tom, who has problems resulting from a traumatic event: he had been confronted by a violent man whom he shot and killed. Later it became evident that the man had an empty gun and was mentally ill. Following a thorough interview, Wolpe uses eye movement and systematic desensitization to diminish the established fear hierarchy.
Judd Marmor (1990) outlines the history of brief dynamic psychotherapy by outlining the psychotherapy beginning with Freud and psychoanalysis. He profiles patients he believes will benefit from short-term therapy. He then conducts supervision with two volunteers. Following the demonstration Marmor discusses his technique.