What is Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP)? Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is an innovative and intensive form of talk therapy that emphasizes the power of the therapeutic relationship to create meaningful change in clients' lives. Developed in the late 1980s, FAP is rooted in behaviorism and focuses on in-the-moment interactions between therapist and client as a microcosm of the client's broader relational patterns. At its core, FAP posits that many psychological problems stem from interpersonal...
Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy: Merging Mindfulness and Creative Expression
What is Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy? Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy (FOAT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that combines the principles of Eugene Gendlin's Focusing method with the expressive and healing potential of art-making. It is a holistic, experiential model that emphasizes mindful attention to inner experience and the wisdom of the body to facilitate emotional healing, self-understanding, and personal growth. Is Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy Evidence-Based? While FOAT is grounded in established...
Lacanian Psychoanalysis: A Comprehensive Overview
What is Lacanian Psychoanalysis? What is Lacanian Psychoanalysis? Lacanian psychoanalysis is a form of psychoanalytic theory and practice based on the work of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. Lacan's approach built upon and reinterpreted the ideas of Sigmund Freud, focusing on the role of language and the unconscious in the formation of the self. Lacanian theory posits three fundamental registers: the Imaginary, the Symbolic, and the Real. The Imaginary refers to the realm of images, imagination and deception....
The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy: Origins, Techniques, and Modern Relevance
What is The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy? The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy is an influential approach to working with couples that was pioneered by Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson in the 1980s. Drawing on attachment theory, object relations, differentiation, and developmental psychology, the model conceptualizes the growth of intimate relationships through a series of predictable stages. By understanding a couple's developmental stage, level of differentiation, and attachment patterns,...
Discernment Counseling: A New Approach for Couples on the Brink
What is Discernent Counseling? Discernment Counseling is a relatively new form of brief couples therapy specifically designed for couples where one partner is "leaning out" of the relationship—and not sure that regular marriage counseling would help--and the other partner is "leaning in"—that is, interested in rebuilding the marriage. It is a short-term therapy approach aimed at helping couples on the brink of divorce gain clarity and confidence about deciding on a direction for their marriage, whether that is to...
What is Existential Analysis Therapy? A Comprehensive Guide
A Comprehensive Guide to Existential Analysis Table of Contents Introduction Core Tenets and Assumptions History and Development Viktor Frankl: Founder of Logotherapy Influencers and Collaborators Cultural and Economic Context Relationship to Other Psychotherapy Models Key Concepts Meaning and Purpose Freedom and Responsibility Death and Finitude Authenticity Techniques and Interventions Socratic Dialogue Dereflection Paradoxical Intention Attitude Modification Stages of Treatment The Therapeutic Relationship...
Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT): A Comprehensive Overview
Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is an empirically supported treatment for adolescent depression and suicidality that focuses on repairing attachment ruptures between adolescents and their parents. Developed by Guy Diamond, Gary Diamond, and Suzanne Levy, ABFT integrates attachment theory, structural family therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy to promote secure attachment bonds and alleviate psychological distress.
Encounter-Centered Couples Therapy: A Comprehensive Overview
What is Encounter-Centered Couples Therapy Encounter-Centered Couples Therapy (EcCT) is an innovative approach to couples therapy that emphasizes the importance of authentic, emotionally engaged encounters between partners. This article provides an in-depth exploration of EcCT, including its core tenets, development, influencers, cultural context, interventions, goals, and evidence base. Core Assumptions and Tenets EcCT is grounded in the belief that couples often struggle due to a lack of genuine, emotionally...
Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT): A Comprehensive Guide to Healing Family Bonds
What is Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)? Table of Contents Introduction Core Assumptions and Tenets Origins and Development 3.1 Founder's Biography 3.2 Influencers and Collaborators 3.3 Philosophical and Scientific Inspirations Historical Context 4.1 Cultural and Economic Forces 4.2 Clinical Practice Challenges Timeline of ABFT Development Conceptualization of Key Concepts 6.1 Trauma 6.2 The Unconscious 6.3 Sense of Self and Identity Interventions and Techniques Goals and Stages of Treatment Evidence Base...
The Transformative Power of Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling in Psychotherapy
What is Clean Language and Symbolic Meaning Therapy? Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling is an innovative approach to psychotherapy that helps clients explore their inner world and facilitate personal transformation. Developed by counseling psychologist David Grove in the 1980s, this model uses simple, "clean" questions and metaphorical symbolism to assist clients in uncovering their subconscious patterns, resolving trauma, and achieving their therapeutic goals. Core Tenets and Assumptions The core premise of...