Working with the Core Relationship Problem in Psychotherapy - (Jossey-Bass Psychology Series) by Althea J Horner (Hardcover)

About the Book

An important new work from a master in the field of behavioral health care. Althea Horner offers expert instruction in understanding and treating emotional disorders through a classic object-relations perspective on childhood development.

Book Synopsis

A clinician's Rosetta Stone for understanding and treating presenting problems

"I highly recommend this book to therapists of all persuasions."--Allan N. Schore, department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine

In this important book, noted author, teacher, and psychologist Althea J. Horner shows how to reveal, understand, and use the powerful core relationship problem -- which is formed from earliest childhood and creates an image of the self in relation to others -- so it can act as a Rosetta stone for understanding the underlying conflict that repeatedly plays out in a client's behavior. Once this essential element is uncovered, clinicians learn how to work with their clients to successfully resolve common presenting problems.

From the Back Cover

In this important book, noted author, teacher, and psychologist Althea J. Horner shows how to reveal, understand, and use the powerful Core Relationship Problem?which is formed from earliest childhood and creates an image of the self in relation to others?so it can act as a Rosetta stone for understanding the underlying conflict that repeatedly plays out in a client's behavior. Once this essential element is uncovered clinicians can work with their clients to successfully resolve common presenting problems.

Grounded in the author's wealth of research and practical experience, the book is filled with illustrative examples and accessible information that demonstrates how to work with difficult personality types and problematic issues that often surface during the course of therapy. For example, the author explains how to achieve results with clients who exhibit obsessive- compulsive disorder, dissociated states, and Don Juan behavior. She also shows how to react if a client wants to be hugged, offers a gift, or resents paying for treatment. In addition the book offers practical advice on how to handle the difficult issues of transference/countertranference and work with clients who can sabotage the therapeutic process by trying to win over the therapist.

As timely as it is comprehensive, the book offers specific recommendations for dealing with termination issues and offers solutions for the special problems that can arise when working with patients in a managed care environment. The book is also a vital resource for therapists who are in a supervisory position.

Review Quotes

"In this important book, Dr. Althea Horner, a remarkably skilled theoretician, continues to expand her developmental object relational model, a perspective that is solidly grounded in very recent findings in developmental psychopathology and neurobiology. But in addition, as a master clinician, she then demonstrates how an understanding of early- forming core relationship problems can offer penetrating insights into working with characterological disturbances. Due to her integrative contributions and extraordinary ability to explain complex clinical phenomena in clear and accessible language, I highly recommAnd this book to therapists of all persuasions." --Allan N. Schore, department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine

"Once again, Althea Horner demonstrates that she is a master of the theory and practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy. In her latest book, Horner goes directly to the heart of the treatment. She clarifies the importance of identifying the core relationship problem early in treatment as it is the organizing principle for understanding the many layers of adaptive/defensive elaboration that accrue over the years. . . .The Core Relationship Problem in Psychotherapy is full of material that all clinicians--beginner and seasoned practitioners alike--will find thought provoking and rewarding." --Marion Solomon, author of Narcissism and Intimacy

"A testament to concision, wisdom, and instruction in psychotherapy. . . . My own experiences with patients flickered constantly through my thoughts as I read, and I was pleased to find new insights into clinical encounters about which I had previously been complacent. The handling of specific. . . . clinical issues all are considered with nondogmatic sensitivity." --Douglas H. Ingram, dean, American Institute for Psychoanalysis and clinical professor of psychiatry, New York Medical College

"Dr. Horner does it again! Her clear, concise style and compassionate tone draws the reader effectively through an education in the theory, art, and practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy, utilizing the core conflictual model. Every aspect of this most difficult of professions is elucidated by a elegant and common sense approach that leaves the student of psychotherapy with the feeling of having been touched by a master clinician." --William H. Rickles, M.D., private practice, Los Angeles, CA

About the Author

ALTHEA J. HORNER is a distinguished author, teacher, psychologist, and author of many classic and award-winning books including Object Relations and the Developing Ego in Therapy, Being and Loving, The Wish for Power and the Fear of Having It, Treating the Neurotic Patient in Brief Psychotherapy, and Psychoanalytic Object Relations Therapy.