Overview

In Restoring Mentalizing in Attachment Relationships: Treating Trauma With Plain Old Therapy, Jon G. Allen, Ph.D., argues that the incorporation of mentalizing into attachment theory and research provides a solid foundation for trauma treatment, and offers therapists and patients a pathway to recovery. In plain language accessible to clinicians and laypeople alike, Allen describes trauma in attachment relationships, reviews the literature, and makes a compelling, evidence-based argument for the efficacy of psychotherapy. Specifically, the book: • Presents a comprehensive view of attachment trauma across diverse diagnostic conditions, directly linking these to the psychotherapeutic interventions that work best. • Allows therapists from different theoretical frameworks, by using these best practices, to treat patients with a wide range of problems and disorders. • Situates mindfulness and mentalizing as central to secure attachment, focusing clinicians' attention on these most critical dimensions of healing relationships. • Provides a thorough review of the research on attachment, mindfulness, and mentalizing, and evaluates the effectiveness of the most popular trauma treatments, thereby equipping clinicians to treat patients across the spectrum of trauma-related psychiatric disorders. • Employs a down-to-earth, conversational writing style that makes the book accessible to patients and family members as well as to professionals. Trauma can be the result of blatant events, such as violence, abuse, and neglect, or the subtle yet pervasive failure to connect. Both contribute to developmental psychopathology and cause lasting emotional pain. ""Plain old therapy,"" according to Allen, is a valuable and proven resource for addressing trauma and treating patients with complex psychiatric disorders. This fascinating and eminently useful book should help to restore psychotherapy to its well-deserved stature.

Full Product Details

9781585624188

Table of Contents

Reviews

Dr. Allen provides an extremely engaging and useful call for therapists to reflect carefully before they underestimate the value of plain old therapy when working the clients who have experienced relational psychological trauma. But what he describes is much more than just plain old therapy, it is a complex (but eminently practical) distillation of the core principles and practices that make all the newer evidence-based therapies effective--above all a vital (and in Dr. Allen's words, humbling ) reminder to therapists to first mentalize, then empathize, and only then (if at all) rely on therapeutic techniques. -- Julian D. Ford, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry University of Connecticut Health Center

<p> Dr. Allen provides an extremely engaging and useful call for therapists to reflect carefully before they underestimate the value of plain old therapy when working the clients who have experienced relational psychological trauma. But what he describes is much more than just plain old therapy, it is a complex (but eminently practical) distillation of the core principles and practices that make all the newer evidence-based therapies effective--above all a vital (and in Dr. Allen's words, humbling ) reminder to therapists to first mentalize, then empathize, and only then (if at all) rely on therapeutic techniques. -- Julian D. Ford, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry University of Connecticut Health Center

This is without question the most exciting therapy book I have read in years....By sifting, sorting and synthesizing the breadth of different therapeutic approaches, Allen delivers a brilliant book about trauma written with a common touch that will leave your brain fizzing. I cannot recommend it enough. -- Andrew Barley * Therapy Today *

Author Information

Jon G. Allen, Ph.D., is a Senior Staff Psychologist and holds the Helen Malsin Palley Chair in Mental Health Research at The Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas. He is Professor of Psychiatry in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Allen has authored and coauthored numerous professional articles and book chapters on trauma-related problems, psychotherapy, the therapeutic alliance, hospital treatment, and psychological assessment.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available