Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process
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Book Overview
This acclaimed clinical guide and widely adopted text has filled a key need in the field since its original publication. Nancy McWilliams makes psychoanalytic personality theory and its implications for practice accessible to practitioners of all levels of experience. She explains major character types and demonstrates specific ways that understanding the patient's individual personality structure can influence the therapist's focus and style of intervention. Guidelines are provided for developing a systematic yet flexible diagnostic formulation and using it to inform treatment. Highly readable, the book features a wealth of illustrative clinical examples. New to This Edition *Reflects the ongoing development of the author's approach over nearly two decades. *Incorporates important advances in attachment theory, neuroscience, and the study of trauma. *Coverage of the contemporary relational movement in psychoanalysis. Winner--Canadian Psychological Association's Goethe Award for Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Scholarship
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1462543693
ISBN13:9781462543694
Release Date:February 2020
Publisher:Guilford Publications
Length:426 Pages
Weight:1.32 lbs.
Dimensions:1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Excellent!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I am not educated in psychology, but I found this professional-level book easy to read and very informative. McWilliams looks at various personalities like the sociopathic, paranoid, hysterical, etc. She explains the defense mechanisms that lead to the various personality types. Although this book is written from the standpoint of pathological personality types and is intended for use by professionals and psych students, after reading this book you will have a greater understanding of personality quirks of family, friends, and co-workers. Well-written and very informative, even for the "armchair" psychologist.
Thank You Nancy McWilliams!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
This book is without a doubt the finest psychoanalytic text I have come across. If you desire only one psychoanalytic work in your library, make it this one. Ms. McWilliam's book is beautifully and clearly written, intelligent, informative, and affords both a useful overview of most concepts that any practitioner (or interested layperson) might need, AND the history and development of whatever she discusses. She is smart, does not take herself or the field too seriously, and explains things better than nearly anyone else writing in the field. BUY THIS BOOK!
The lost art in therapy
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This book is clear, concise, and extremely well written. It gives an excellent overview of all of the psychoanalytic theories, development, and defenses which lays a solid foundation for the different types of personalities. Most importantly she gives a clear understanding of how an individuals personality structure should inform the therapist's focus and intervention. This is an excellent book!
exceptionally useful
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Psychoanalytic Diagnosis is one of my favorite books. In a very thorough and systematic way, Nancy McWilliams provides the reader with insights on several forms of character pathology - and does so from each of the four major schools of analytic thought (classical drive, ego, object relational, and self psychological perspectives). Typical countertransferential pulls and helpful guidelines for the conduct of therapy with each of the character types is also included. This is a great book, and I return to it often in my own clinical work.
Clarity, practicality, humor and heart
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
I've been in psychotherapeutic training for several years now and this is perhaps my favorite book. Dr. McWilliams has brought together both useful information and a sense of the humanity of patients in a book that provides an orientation for work as well as some quite practical do's and don't. I recognized myself in her descriptions, but benefitted from her compassion at the same time. It is a "primer" but it holds wisdom that I return to time and again.
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