Since the publication of Heinz Kohut's monumental book, The Analysis of the Self, in 1971, self psychology has undergone a vibrant and exciting evolution that has significantly influenced and expanded the range of psychoanalytic thinking. New Developments in Self Psychology P...

It has been 35 years since the publication of Heinz Kohut's monumental book, The Analysis of the Self, in 1971, and in this period self psychology has undergone a vibrant and exciting evolution that has significantly influenced and expanded the range of psychoanalytic thinking. While undergoing this change, self psychology has kept the developmental importance of self-object relatedness and the primacy of subjective experience as central tenets of the theory. But where other theories of mind can tend to stagnate and resist innovations that transcend their founding figure, Kohut's self psychology continues to grow in depth, complexity and richness. Indeed one of the great strengths of the self psychology movement has been the openness of the succeeding generations to push the theoretical envelope—to entertain, examine and integrate new understandings and perspectives. New Developments in Self Psychology Practice gives voice to many of these developments, reflected in its four sections. The first section examines complexity theory, attachment theory and the work of the Boston Change Study Group. The second section is concerned with the treatment of children, while the third section examines various treatment modalities such as family therapy, group therapy, and supervisory process. The final section looks at diversity, difference, and otherness within both the therapeutic dyad and therapeutic community and considers how shame, enactments and traumatic experiences influence the therapeutic process.

This comprehensive, introductory text makes the concepts of self psychology accessible for students and clinicians. It begins with an overview of the development of Kohut's ideas, particularly those on narcissism and narcissistic development and explains the self object concept that is at the core of the self psychological vision of human experience. It also includes brief overviews, of the allied theoretical perspectives of intersubjectivity and motivational systems theory. Numerous clinical vignettes are furnished to illustrate theoretical concepts as well as one continuous case vignette that is woven throughout the book.

Object Relations and Self Psychology are two leading schools of psychological thought discussed in social work classrooms and applied by practitioners to a variety of social work populations. Yet both groups have lacked a basic manual for teaching and reference -- until now. For them, Dr. Eda G. Goldstein's book fills a void on two fronts: Part I provides a readable, systematic, and comprehensive review of object relations and self psychology, while Part II gives readers a friendly, step-by-step description and illustration of basic treatment techniques. For educators, this textbook offers a learned and accessible discussion of the major concepts and terminology, treatment principles, and the relationship of object relations and self psychology to classic Freudian theory. Practitioners find within these pages treatment guidelines for such varied problems as illness and disability, the loss of a significant other, and such special problems as substance abuse, child maltreatment, and couple and family disruptions. In a single volume, Dr. Goldstein has met the complex challenges of education and clinical practice.

Dr. Mruk has produced a highly readable new edition of his original work on an often misunderstood psychological construct--self-esteem. Mruk's view that self-esteem is a critically important influence on psychological adjustment and quality of life is now an accepted tenet in personality theory. Lack of self-esteem is frequently a precursor to depression, suicidal behavior, and other personality disorders. Nonetheless, the clinical diagnosis of self-esteem problems has lacked the basis of an overarching theory. Dr. Mruk's comprehensive analysis distills the literature on self-esteem into practical and reliable treatment methods for both clinicians and researchers. The new edition contains updated research and current terms, and addresses the self-esteem "backlash." He concludes with worksheets and detailed guidelines for conducting self-esteem building workshops. Added features include: Major theories of self-esteem Chapter on the new positive psychology 150 new references Dr. Mruk has developed a writing style that is successfully oriented toward both academic and clinical audiences in the areas of counseling, education, nursing, psychology, and social work, thus providing much-needed information for teachers, students, and practicing clinicians in a clear, concise way.

Intersubjective Self Psychology: A Primer offers a comprehensive overview of the theory of Intersubjective Self Psychology and its clinical applications. Readers will gain an in depth understanding of one of the most clinically relevant analytic theories of the past half-century, fully updated and informed by recent discoveries and developments in the field of Intersubjectivity Theory. Most importantly, the volume provides detailed chapters on the clinical treatment principles of Intersubjective Self Psychology and their application to a variety of clinical situations and diagnostic categories such as trauma, addiction, mourning, child therapy, couples treatment, sexuality, suicide and sever pathology. This useful clinical tool will support and inform everyday psychotherapeutic work. Retaining Kohut’s emphasis on the self and selfobject experience, the book conceptualizes the therapeutic situation as a bi-directional field of needed and dreaded selfobject experiences of both patient and analyst. Through a rigorous application of the ISP model, each chapter sheds light on the complex dynamic field within which self-experience and selfobject experience of patient and analyst/therapist unfold and are sustained. The ISP perspective allows the therapist to focus on the patient’s strengths, referred to as the Leading Edge, without neglecting work with the repetitive transferences, or Trailing Edge. This dual focus makes ISP a powerful agent for transformation and growth. Intersubjective Self Psychology provides a unified and comprehensive model of psychological life with specific, practical applications that are clinically informative and therapeutically powerful. The book represents a highly useful resource for psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists around the world.

Heinz Kohut's work represents an important departure from the Freudian tradition of psychoanalysis. A founder of the Self Psychology movement in America, he based his practice on the belief that narcissistic vulnerabilities play a significant part in the suffering that brings people for treatment. Written predominantly for a psychoanalytic audience Kohut's work is often difficult to interpret. Siegel uses examples from his own practice to show how Kohut's innovative theories can be applied to other forms of treatment.

Now available in paper for the first time, this classic text is about how an analyst analyzes. Rooted in the theory of psychoanalytic self psychology as put forth by Heinz Kohut and his colleagues, Treating the Self focuses on the application of the self-psychological concept of the psyche to the actual conduct of psychoanalytic treatment. The result is not a "how-to" approach, but rather a volume that suggests a theory of treatment and offers guidelines for creative ways of thinking about therapy. Written by Ernest Wolf, a close collaborator of Heinz Kohut, this is a personal account of the process of self psychology presented by one of the foremost experts in the field.

Originally published in 1983, Reflections on Self Psychology records the development of a powerful initiative to alter psychoanalytic theory and practice, and an evaluative questioning of this initiative. It presents a dialogue that developed at the Boston Symposium of 1980 between vigorous proponents of self psychology, equally energetic critics, and many participants between these polar positions. This book attempts to capture within its pages not only the content of what was presented, explored, and evaluated in Boston, but also a sense of the people, about 1,000 strong, who exchanged their ideas on and off the podium – and the remarkable spirit of open inquiry that invigorated these proceedings. The book, as was the meeting, is organized to explore four subjects: the development of the self: infant research; the implications of self psychology for psychoanalytic practice; self psychology and psychotherapy; and the implications of self psychology for psychoanalytic theory. The final section of the book is devoted to an essay by Heinz Kohut that provides an integrated response to the issues and criticisms raised in the course of the symposium. This essay while based on extemporaneous responses by Kohut during different phases of the meeting, is, in its written version, a cohesive, carefully revised, and edited statement prepared in the mellowing period following the meeting and before Kohut’s untimely death.

Shows how self psychology allows child patients who were in the past often considered difficult and even untreatable to be understood and effectively helped.