Efficient Therapy for Specific Client Problems

Most clients seeking therapy want to be helped with specific emotional problems with which they are struggling, and yet many therapists are reluctant to offer problem-focused therapy. Efficient Therapy for Specific Client Problems presents the case for such an approach and details how it can be practised efficiently. The book outlines the 26 principles of efficient therapy for specific client problems with clinical examples demonstrating each of the main points. Topics covered include identifying when problem-focused help is appropriate, developing a problem list with the client and setting an agenda for each session, problem assessment, and helping a client find, develop, and implement a solution. The book is highly practical in emphasis with approachable guidelines for helping clients directly with their specific problems and appendices that feature a pre-therapy form, a pre-session form, a session rating form and an end of therapy questionnaire. Designed to be read by therapists, counsellors, counselling and clinical psychologists, and students of these disciplines, this accessible text will be valuable to readers across different levels of experience.

Windy Dryden is in clinical and consultative practice and is an international authority on single-session therapy. He is Emeritus Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has worked in psychotherapy for more than 45 years and is the author or editor of over 285 books.

Introduction 1. Find Out What the Person Wants from Therapy and Offer Problem-Focused Help When Appropriate 2. Get Informed Consent 3. Adopt a Client-Led Stance 4. Encourage Your Client to Prepare for the First and Subsequent Therapy Sessions 5. Use the Working Alliance Concept as a General Guide to Your Work with Your Client 6. Begin Therapy with Your Client As Soon as Possible 7. Develop a Problem List with Your Client and Set an Agenda for Each Session 8. Encourage Your Client to Get the 'Feel' of Being in Therapy with You,if Necessary 9. Establish and Maintain Meta-Therapy Communication with Your Client 10. Identify and Focus on Your Client's Nominated Problem 11. Be Goal Directed with Your Client 12. Problem Assessment: Be Specific with Your Client 13. Be Solution-Focused with Your Client 14. Steps to Take Before Helping Your Client Find a Solution 15. Help Your Client to Select the Solution that Works Best for Them 16. Help Your Client Try Out the Solution in the Session 17. Help Your Client Develop a Plan to Implement Their Chosen Solution 18. Deal with Your Client's Obstacles to Change Before and When They Occur 19. Uncover and Deal with Your Client's Doubts, Reservations and Objections to Therapy 20. Invite Your Client to Summarise the Session and Specify Takeaways 21. Invite Your Client to Generalise Their Learning to Other Relevant Aspects of Their Life 22. End Each Therapy Session Well with Your Client 23. Encourage Your Client to Schedule Sessions (or Not) As They See Fit 24. Encourage Your Client to Engage in Post-Session Reflection 25. Review Periodically Your Client's Views About Therapy Overall and Their Progress 26. End Therapy Well with Your Client References Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5