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Attachment Theory and Research in Clinical Work with Adults

Edited by Joseph H. Obegi, Ety Berant

Published January 16th 2009 by Guilford Press – 529 pages

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    Description

    Written with the practicing psychotherapist in mind, this invaluable book presents cutting-edge knowledge on adult attachment and explores the implications for day-to-day clinical practice. Leading experts illustrate how theory and research in this dynamic area can inform assessment, case formulation, and clinical decision making. The book puts such concepts as the secure base, mentalization, and attachment styles in a new light by focusing on their utility for understanding the therapeutic relationship and processes of change. It offers recommendations for incorporating attachment ideas and tools into specific treatment approaches, with separate chapters on psychoanalytic, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, and emotion-focused therapies.

    Reviews

    "The book is unique in that it addresses domains that have not been attended to in other similar volumes, including psychodynamic aspects of attachment in transference and defence, and the application of attachment theory to interpersonal therapy, and application of attachment theory to cognitive behavioural therapy. The chapters provide a nice integration of theoretical concepts, practice applications through case illustrations, and current research to support it… On the whole, the book maintains high standards of scholarship and clinical complexity throughout, and is highly recommended to scholars, researchers and clinicians." - Dr Shosana Ringel, The Journal of Psychological Medicine, Vol 41, 2011

    "This comprehensive volume stands as the state-of-the-art guide to the clinical applications of attachment theory. Psychologists and other mental health professionals practicing assessment, evaluation, and the full range of contemporary approaches to psychotherapy will repeatedly turn to this well-organized work. Obegi and Berant have brought together the leading experts in each area of practice and scholarship. At a time when psychotherapists are concerned to establish meaningful links with empirical research, this impressive book is especially necessary." - Lewis Aron, Director, Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, New York University, US

    Contents

    Obegi, Berant, Introduction. Part I: Theoretical Foundations. Shaver, Mikulincer, An Overview of Adult Attachment Theory. Farber, Metzger, The Therapist as Secure Base. Jurist, Meehan, Attachment, Mentalization, and Reflective Functioning. Lopez, Clinical Correlates of Adult Attachment Organization. Part II: Assessing Attachment. Levy, Kelly, Using Interviews to Assess Adult Attachment. Fraley, Phillips, Self-report Measures of Adult Attachment in Clinical Practice. Berant, Attachment Styles, the Rorschach, and the Thematic Apperception Test: Using Traditional Projective Measures to Assess Aspects of Attachment. Part III: Clinical Utility. Cobb, Davila, Internal Working Models and Change. Mallinckrodt, Daly, Wang, An Attachment Approach to Adult Psychotherapy. Tolmacz, Transference and Attachment. Mikulincer, Shaver, Cassidy, Berant, Attachment-related Defensive Processes. Nelson, An Attachment Perspective on Crying in Therapy. Part IV: Integration with Clinical Approaches. Eagle, Wolitzky, Adult Psychotherapy from the Perspectives of Attachment Theory and Psychoanalysis. Florsheim, McArthur, An Interpersonal Approach to Attachment and Change. Johnson, Attachment Theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy: Perfect Partners. McBride, Atkinson, Attachment Theory and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Part V: Future Directions. Berant, Obegi, Attachment-informed Psychotherapy Research with Adults: Current Status and Future Directions. Holmes, Getting it Together: From Attachment Research to Clinical Practice.

    Author Bio

    Joseph H. Obegi, PsyD, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant University, San Diego, USA, and Ety Berant, PhD, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Name: Attachment Theory and Research in Clinical Work with Adults (Hardback) – Guilford Press 
    Description: Edited by Joseph H. Obegi, Ety Berant. Written with the practicing psychotherapist in mind, this invaluable book presents cutting-edge knowledge on adult attachment and explores the implications for day-to-day clinical practice. Leading experts illustrate how theory and research in this...
    Categories: Psychotherapy, Psychiatry & Clinical Psychology - Adult, Attachment Issues - Adult