Emotions in the Practice of Psychotherapy: Clinical Implications of Affect Theories

In the past two decades there has been increasing recognition of the role of emotions in psychotherapy as well as in daily life and an awareness of the necessity of emotional changes in order for psychotherapy to be successful. This idea of emotion as a central concept in therapy is relevant to all schools of therapy and all points of view. Clinicians who think of themselves as identified with cognitive behavioral rational-emotive and psychodynamic approaches recognize the need to understand emotions and their role in psychotherapy. The present book does not take a partisan stand on what school of therapy is best or on what the goals of therapy should be. It does however examine in detail the role of emotions as the basis of many psychological symptoms and how emotions can be uncovered recognized and measured. The book describes 26 therapists tactic and strategies for uncovering emotions tactics that can be used by practitioners of any school of therapy. The book also describes 20 distinctions between social conversation and therapeutic communication recognizing that such communication is the basis for much that goes on in therapy. Also included are descriptions of appropriate and inappropriate interventions based on empirical surveys of clinicians. The book also describes four existential crises that all people have to deal with and presents some of the clinical manifestations of these existential issues. Of central significance in the book is the circumplex idea that emotions can be best described by means of a circular model. The book also demonstrates that personality personality disorders and ego defenses can also be described by means of a circumplex model and that all are systematically related to one another. To support these ideas one chapter of the book is devoted to a description along with empirical data of five tests or scales for measuring emotions and their related states. Overall the book provides an integration of a good many clinical ideas with ideas about emotions.