Product Description

Presenting clear-cut strategies for working with traumatized patients who have multiple co-occurring disorders and life problems, this highly practical manual puts an array of proven cognitive-behavioral strategies at the clinician's fingertips.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154222 in Books
• Published on: 2008-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

Review

'Provides an excellent roadmap for the clinician. The authors outline the many options and choices that CBT practitioners face with patients with PTSD, and show how to deal with these within an individualized case formulation. Instructive clinical examples provide pragmatic, concrete guidance for navigating complex situations. The frequently asked questions on troubleshooting clinical roadblocks are immensely helpful. Zayfert and Becker's approach to CBT provides an excellent balance between structure and flexibility, making a real contribution to the dissemination of evidence-based treatments for PTSD. I would recommend this book to any colleague or student involved in treating those who have suffered psychological trauma and its consequences.' - Nicholas Tarrier, University of Manchester, UK

'A tool that any psychotherapist working with a variety of populations can relate to, thus making the book immediately applicable to a wide range of treatment environments... This book manages to be a significant resource for clinicians of all levels....It is an excellent learning tool for clinicians or graduate students inexperienced with PTSD who may be preparing to tackle their first cases... Simultaneously, it is also an outstanding resource for the experienced clinician, particularly one who is currently being challenged by a PTSD patient who is not processing in therapy....It will be a conduit to improve the lives of many suffering from PTSD.' - APA PsycCRITIQUES

'The book is extremely well written... There is a balance of attention to objective research and clinical implications... Will be best used as either a teaching supplement in graduate programs or as an educational/clinical adjunct for seasoned therapists.' - Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy

'Finally, a CBT guide that gracefully bridges the gap between research-derived therapies and their real-world applications! In plain language, this book highlights the strength of CBT for organizing treatment that works for a lamentably common affliction, PTSD, even in patients with many problems. From literature review to case description, from session transcription to specific instruction, from assessment measures to troubleshooting, every means is exploited in the service of enabling competent care. In their clarity of clinical vision, and with evident commitment and compassion, the authors offer remedy for the concerns of the treater as well as the patient. Highly recommended.' - Elizabeth B. Simpson, Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA

From the Back Cover

Presenting clear-cut strategies for working with traumatized patients who have multiple co-occurring disorders and life problems, this highly practical manual puts an array of proven cognitive-behavioral strategies at the clinician's fingertips. The authors illustrate the "whats," "whys," and "how-tos" of exposure, cognitive restructuring, and other effective techniques for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and show how to organize interventions within a systematic yet flexible case formulation. Throughout, detailed clinical material shows exactly what the process of therapy looks like and offers guidance for overcoming treatment hurdles. More than 20 reproducible clinical tools are included.

Customer Reviews

Clear, understandable and user friendly
The book is easy to follow, flows easily from chapter to chapter and provides sound rationales for utilising a cognitive behavioural approach with clients. It identifies both nomothetic and idiographic formulations and again identifies clear rationales for using both approaches. This is extremely useful when clients present with multiple diagnostic issues or there is a query in respect of primary diagnoses.

Zayfert and Becker begin the journey by identifying the evidence base supporting CT for PTSD, the use of rationales to guide treatment in terms of 'conceptualisation' and then identify the specific therapeutic processes and therapist factors that are needed to achieve a positive therapeutic alliance.

The text goes on to outline the role of collaberation in achieving a true and accurate formulation of problem areas and strengths and uses clear case examples to guide the reader through the processes involved.

As for the treatment paradigm, both authors provide easy to follow sections for treatment planning, psychoeducation, exposure and cognitive restructuring work. The focus of each session is broken down into easy to follow strategies and is particularly useful in identifying potential "road blocks" to therapeutic progress.

The book has easy to follow handouts for the use of therapist and patient alike with a particular emphasis on normalising peoples responses to fear inducing situations which it does admirably with the use of 'third person' statements and metaphor.

Conceptually, the text builds on the work of Foa and Ehlers and Clarkes models. It provides concise treatment strategies for exposure, psychoeducation and restructuring, and provides worksheets that give direction for the reader in addressing the ever so common issues that result from the trauma sequlae and the meaning given to the same by people.

As a UK and Australian registered Psychologist and British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies accredited Cognitive Therapist, I have no hesitation in recommending this text to colleagues. The text is comprehensive and understandable and will provide the reader with a fuller understanding of how to work with trauma and its human consequences.

Philip Hunt
BSc Hons Psychol,P.Grad.Dip.Cog.Th,BABCP Acc,Reg Psychol W.Aust