Functional Analytic Psychotherapy Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Therapeutic Relationships, Paperback

Cowritten with the founders of functional analytic psychotherapy, Functional Analytic Psychotherapy Made Simple offers a practical, behavioral treatment approach focused on client interpersonal relationships and the therapeutic relationship.

Functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP) is a research-based treatment for mental health disorders and has been shown to enhance the quality of interpersonal relationships. If you're a therapist, how you relate to your clients can have a profound impact on treatment outcomes. This book integrates the latest research on the importance of the therapist-client relationship with the new science of social connection into a user-friendly, flexible clinical framework.

In this book, you'll find an introduction to the conceptual foundations and clinical practice of FAP, with an emphasis on practical clinical scenarios and personal reflection. You'll learn the theoretical basis of FAP in contextual behavioral science and how to apply functional analysis--the core assessment method of behavior therapy--to the therapeutic relationship. You'll learn to understand the therapeutic relationship and social connection in terms of the Awareness, Courage, and Love model. You'll also learn how to balance authenticity and compassion with strategy and case conceptualization to make your therapeutic relationships more compassionate, flexible, and effective. And finally, you'll discover how to apply principles to effectively cope with challenging moments in the therapeutic relationships--such as how to address ineffective behavior happening in the therapy interaction from the first moment of therapy, what to do when therapy does not seem to be progressing, and how to end therapy well.

No matter your treatment background, this book will provide invaluable strategies for adopting functional analytic psychotherapy in your practice, enhancing relationships with your clients, and improving overall treatment outcomes.

About the Author:

Gareth Holman, PhD, is a Seattle-based psychologist and consultant. Holman is partner at OpenTeam--a consulting firm that helps business and leadership teams communicate openly and cooperate effectively towards their purpose. His private practice focuses on improving relationships and communication, and he trains and consults with therapists and coaches worldwide who are practicing functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP) and related behavioral therapies.

Jonathan Kanter, PhD, received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Washington in 2002. He is currently research associate professor and FAP term professor in the department of psychology at the University of Washington, where he directs the Center for the Science of Social Connection. The center's research focuses on FAP and other interventions based on a contextual-behavioral understanding of social connectedness and intimate relations in areas of public health significance where relationships matter, such as psychotherapy and racism. Kanter is regarded as a leader in research on FAP, and is regularly invited to lecture, provide workshops, and provide consultation on FAP internationally.

Mavis Tsai, PhD, is cofounder of FAP, and director of the FAP Specialty Clinic at the University of Washington. Tsai has an international following as a trainer, consultant, and clinician.

Robert Kohlenberg, PhD, is cofounder of FAP and professor of psychology at the University of Washington.

Foreword writer Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is Nevada Foundation Professor and director of clinical training in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of forty-one books and nearly 600 scientific articles, his career has focused on analysis of the nature of human language and cognition, and its application to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering and promotion of human prosperity. Among other associations, Hayes has been president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. His work has received several awards, including the Impact of Science on Application Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.