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.
Zeig (1995) demonstrates the Ericksonian approach to psychotherapy while working with Carol, a woman whose nail-biting habit is rooted in anxiety. After gathering information on her personal history, Zeig helps Carol utilize her values and history to affect change. The process is both humorous and dramatic. After working to change associations linked to the problem behavior, Zeig offers Carol an ordeal that will produce a "guaranteed cure." Hypnosis is offered as the "dessert", rather than the main course. Ericksonian approach to psychotherapy.
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.