Practicing Psychodynamic Therapy: A Casebook

This volume presents 12 highly instructive case studies grounded in the evidence-based psychodynamic therapy model developed by Richard F. Summers and Jacques P. Barber. Bringing clinical concepts vividly to life, each case describes the patient's history and presenting problems and takes the reader through psychodynamic formulation, treatment planning, and the entire course of therapy, including the challenges of termination. The cases address a variety of core psychodynamic problems, with outcomes ranging from very successful to equivocal. The emotional experience of the therapist is explored throughout. Commentary from Summers and Barber on every case highlights important points and key clinical dilemmas.

See also the authored book Psychodynamic Therapy, Second Edition: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice, in which Summers and Barber comprehensively describe their therapeutic model.

Richard F. Summers, MD, is Senior Residency Advisor and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. He served as Co-Director of Residency Training at Penn from 1998 to 2017. Dr. Summers is a nationally recognized educator, author, and clinician. He is treasurer of the American Psychiatric Association and past president of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training. He has published widely on psychodynamic therapy, the therapeutic alliance, focus in psychotherapy, physician well-being, positive psychology, and psychiatry residency training.

Jacques P. Barber, PhD, ABPP, is Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University. He is also Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at New York University and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and in the Graduate Psychology Group at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Barber is past president of the International Society for Psychotherapy Research and a recipient of its Outstanding Early Career Award and Distinguished Research Career Award. He has published more than 300 articles, book chapters, and books on topics including psychodynamic therapy, psychotherapy research, and the therapeutic alliance.