Psychotherapy Classics: Landmark Articles in the History of Psychotherapy and Counseling

Psychotherapy Classics

Featuring contributions from some of the most influential and enigmatic thinkers of the 20th century, Psychotherapy Classics: Landmark Articles in the History of Psychotherapy and Counseling is essential reading for anybody with an interest in this area.

Significant Aspects of Client-Centered Therapy By Carl Rogers

In this landmark publication Carl Rogers outlines the origins of client-centered therapy, the process of client-centered therapy, the discovery and capacity of the client and the client-centered nature of the therapeutic relationship.

The Problem of Psychotherapy by Laurance Shaffer

Originally presented as the address of the President of the Division of Clinical and Abnormal Psychology, American Psychological Association; this landmark paper draws attention to issues relating to the nature of the therapeutic process within psychotherapy which are just as relevant today:

How can we understand what takes place in the therapeutic interview? Why does it readjust the distressed person? Under what conditions is psychotherapy applicable? What techniques, applied in appropriately selected circumstances will produce predictable and effective results?

Shaffer's central argument is that the psychologist's major problem with respect to therapy is not that of the professional conditions of practice, but is the problem of understanding what therapy is and does.

Psychotherapy And The Placebo Effect by David Rosenthal & Jerome D. Frank

Describes the placebo effect, discusses some of its implications for the evaluation of psychotherapy, and makes recommendations concerning research design in psychotherapy based on these considerations.

Rational Psychotherapy and Individual Psychology by Albert Ellis

One of the first published accounts of rational psychotherapy; a theory of personality and a system of therapeutic technique that would eventually develop into what is now known as rational emotive behavior therapy.

In the course of this landmark paper Ellis introduces and expands upon his hypothesis that thinking represents the most important way in which human emotion is caused and controlled. He then goes on to outline the main points of agreement and disagreement between rational therapy and the individual Psychology of Alfred Adler.

Recollections of A Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: The Case of "Prisoner K" by Thomas-Szasz

Fascinating account of "psychoanalytic psychotherapy" conducted by Thomas Szasz; who was soon to elevated into a position of international renown and controversy following the publication of his classic text "The Myth of Mental Illness."

Psychotherapy As A Learning Process by Albert Bandura

In this classic paper eminent psychologist Albert Bandura explores systematic attempts to apply principles of learning to the area of psychotherapy. Bandura begins this exploration by asking whether human behavior can be modified through psychological means and if so, what are the learning mechanisms that mediate behavior change? He then sets about discussing some of these learning mechanisms in turn i.e., counterconditioning, extinction, discrimination learning, methods of reward, punishment and social imitation.

Psychotherapy Classics: Landmark Articles in the History of Psychotherapy and Counseling has been produced as part of an initiative by the website www.all-about-psychology.com to make historically important psychology publications widely available.

Carl Rogers(1902-1987) was one of the most influential psychologists in American history. He received many honors, including the first Distinguished Professsional Contributor Award and the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association.

David M. Rosenthal received his Ph.D. in counselor education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. For 23 years, he was a faculty member at the University of Iowa, teaching in the Colleges of Medicine, Public Health, and Education. Dr. Rosenthal was named Teacher of the Year by residents in the Department of Family Medicine and was given the College of Medicine Service Award. He was also the Director of Counseling and Health Promotion Services at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Later he became the Director of La Bodega de La Familia in New York City. Dr. Rosenthal has also written a number of professional articles and books. With Dr. Michael Teague and David Gould, he produced a series of award-winning videos focusing on health. He also produced and co-directed, with Steven Henke, two award-winning video documentaries about Native Americans in South Dakota. Dr. Rosenthal has been a licensed marriage and family therapist and served as president of the Iowa Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. He has given more than 100 presentations in the United States and has conducted workshops in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Russia, and Greece. Dr. Rosenthal was also Executive Director of the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center in Manhattan and an adjunct faculty member in the College of Education at Brooklyn College. He is currently a faculty member at Columbia University where he works with Family Medicine Residents and graduate students at the Mailman School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of two non-profit organizations: Heritage Health and Housing and the Burmese Refugee Project. David and his wife, Jane, enjoy living in New York City and spending time with their children, Daniel (and wife, Courtney) and Rebecca (and husband, Chris) and their five grandchildren Isaac, Darby and Emily, Cyrus and Max.