Psychotherapy is an amalgamation of science and art. All we’ve can be created that amalgamates the art of effective therapeutic communication and empirically validated orientations.
The process of contracting for change in the initial session will be described and discussed. Methods of targeting goals will be compared and contrasted.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most common mood disorder on earth and earlier this year was ranked as the number one cause of suffering and disability worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO). Depression is a complex, multi-faceted disorder and many different theories have been formulated to describe its etiology and course. In this joint presentation, Drs. Amen and Yapko will compare and contrast their viewpoints about depression, addressing such topics as the merits of neuroimaging in depression, causes and types of depression, antidepressant medications, the role of diet and use of diet supplements in treatment, and why not all psychotherapies are equally effective in promoting recovery.
There is a professionally familiar dichotomy between the experience of an actual person to person relationship, on the one hand, and the transpersonal expansion. The latter is often given a special place in the therapeutic repertoire but, in actuality, they are overlapping experiences, Drs. Houston and Polster will each tell how these perspectives enter into their work, with an accompanying discussion.
Generative processes are those that promote innovation, evolution and growth. To “generate” means to create something new. Thus, the core focus in of generative change is creativity: How do you create a successful and meaningful work life? How do you create great personal relationships? How do you develop a great relationship with yourself—your body, your past, your future, your wounds and your gifts? These are the basic challenges in leading an extraordinary life, and the processes of generative change offer a way to succeed at them.
We will debate the Promise of attachment science as a guide to the practice of individual couple and family therapy in the 21st century including what this science tells us about how to understand mental health issues and the most direct pathways to positive change, health and resilience.
Strategic therapy and present centered therapy have often received attention as discretely different phenomena. Cloe Madanes will present her views of strategic therapy and its relevance for present centered therapy. Erving Polster will do the same, showing the disparity and commonality of the two. Their individual views will animate a conversation with each other.