Relational Theory and the Practice of Psychotherapy

by Paul L. Wachtel

While psychoanalysis has traditionally been seen as a world apart from cognitive-behavioral therapy and many other psychotherapeutic approaches, recent developments in the field are changing that. Relational theory, in emphasizing how relationships shape personality, diverges in key ways from traditional psychoanalytic assumptions and therapeutic practices. At the same time, it preserves, and even extends, the depth of understanding of human experience and psychological conflict that has always been the strength of psychoanalysis. Through probing theoretical analysis and illuminating examples, the book offers innovative and powerful ways to revitalize clinical practice.

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