Beginnings, Second Edition: The Art and Science of Planning Psychotherapy

Utilizing a decade's worth of clinical experience gained since its original publication, Mary Jo Peebles builds and expands upon exquisitely demonstrated therapeutic approaches and strategies in this second edition of Beginnings. The essential question remains the same, however: How does a therapist begin psychotherapy? To address this delicate issue, she takes a thoughtful, step-by-step approach to the substance of those crucial first sessions, delineating both processes and potential pitfalls in such topics as establishing a therapeutic alliance, issues of trust, and history taking. Each chapter is revised and expanded to include the latest treatment research and modalities, liberally illustrated with rich case material, and espouse a commitment to the value of multiple theoretical perspectives. Frank and sophisticated, yet eminently accessible, this second edition will be an invaluable resource for educators, students, and seasoned practitioners of any therapeutic persuasion.

About the Author

A psychoanalyst and writer, Mary Jo Peebles, Ph.D., studied, practiced, and taught at the Menninger Clinic for nearly two decades, was a member of the medical staff at Chestnut Lodge Hospital, and completed independent fellowships in child/adolescent and adult psychology. She is board certified in clinical psychology and clinical hypnosis, is a psychoanalyst and member of the American Psychoanalytic Association, and trained in family systems theory, biofeedback, and EMDR. Dr. Peebles has given workshops and presentations internationally on therapy planning, trauma, and psychological testing, and currently works with children, adolescents, and adults in private practice in Bethesda, MD, where she has resided for the past 12 years.