This book identifies the core competencies shared by expert therapists and helps clinicians--especially those providing brief dynamic/interpersonal therapy--to develop and apply them in their own work. Rather than being a cookbook of particular techniques, the book richly describes therapists' mental processes and moment-to-moment actions as they engage in effective therapeutic inquiry and improvise to help patients achieve their goals. The author integrates the psychotherapy and cognitive science literatures to provide a unique understanding of therapist expertise. Featuring many illustrative examples, the book offers fresh insights into how learning and interpersonal skills can be enhanced for both therapist and client.

Jeffrey L. Binder, PhD, ABPP, is Professor of Psychology in the Clinical Psychology Program of Argosy University/Atlanta (formerly the Georgia School of Professional Psychology). Dr. Binder has served as the director of an outpatient community mental health clinic, helped to develop a private psychiatric hospital, and has had a private practice in psychotherapy. He has been actively involved in practicing and teaching brief psychotherapy since the early 1970s and has presented and published extensively on the topics of brief psychotherapy and psychotherapy training. The book that he coauthored with Hans H. Strupp, Psychotherapy in a New Key: A Guide to Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy, is a classic in the area of brief dynamic treatment. Dr. Binder is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

1. The Key to Good Psychotherapy
2. Competency 1: The Use of Theoretical Models of Personality, Psychopathology, and Therapeutic Process to Guide the Conduct of Psychotherapy
3. Competency 2: Problem Formulation and Treatment Planning
4. Competency 3: Tracking the Issue That Is the Focus of Therapy
5. Competency 4: Planning What to Do and Carrying It Out-The Therapeutic Inquiry
6. Competency 4: Planning What to Do and Carrying It Out-Implementing Change
7. Competency 5: Relationship Management
8. Termination, with Karishma K. Patel
9. Training
Epilogue