The Silent Language of Psychotherapy [Hardcover]

David M. Young (Author), Ernst G. Beier (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0202306097 | ISBN-13: 978-0202306094 | Publication Date: December 31, 1998 | Edition: 3

The third edition of this classic work, a documented study of the critical role of covert communication, persuasion, and social reinforcement taking place between therapist and patient, offers a simple and theoretically sound model of therapeutic process. Beier and Young integrate the dynamic processes of unconscious motivation with behavioral principles in a theory of psychotherapy that demonstrates the social reinforcement of unconscious processes. This new edition teaches the practitioner how to view patient problems as evidence of early "patterns" of behavior that give the patient a secret sense of "deliciousness." Even when a pattern of patient behavior appears to have no element of reward, the authors demonstrate methods to assist the patient in understanding the familiar comforts of apparently self-destructive behavior. The patient's subtle cues, especially those observed in nonverbal communication, are the key to understanding the patient's conflicting motives. An experienced therapist, therefore, can "observe" the unconscious by understanding the nature of the patient's nonverbal cues within the framework of the patient's silent rules and with a knowledge of the patient's preferred patterns.

Significantly revised and expanded, this edition devotes attention to new areas of practice facing today's therapist. There are two new chapters, one on managed care and the clinical impact of the control of healthcare delivery, the other on biological intervention and issues related to psychotropic medication. The chapters on nonverbal communication and the ethical problems of behavior control have been expanded to integrate recent research and contemporary issues. Designed both as a guide for practicing professional therapists and as a comprehensive text for many levels of training, this book makes a unique and important contribution to effective treatment.

CONTENTS Preface to the Third Edition. Acknowledgments. 1. Introduction and Overview. 2. The Anatomy of a Message: Structure and Motivation. 3. Developing Patterns: Choosing Responses to the Environment. 4. Information-Gathering Process in Psychotherapy. 5. The Use of Conventions. 6. Interventions in psychotherapy. 7. Labeling the Therapist's Activity. 8. Content Choices in the Psychotherapeutic Hour. 9. Extratherapeutic Incidents. 10. Technical Problems in the Therapeutic Process. 11. Communication Analysis in Family Group and Group Therapy. 12. The Child's Communication in Therapy. 13. The Changing Landscape of Psychotherapy Practice: Managed Care. 14. The Therapist as a Consultant. 15. Supervision in Communication Analytic Therapy. 16. Nonverbal Communication in Psychotherapy. 17. The Ethical Problems of Control of Behavior. 18. Pills and Caring Talk. 19. Summary and Conclusions: Being Asocial in Social Places; Giving the Patient a New Experience. References. Author Index. Subject Index

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 308 pages
• Publisher: Aldine Transaction; 3 edition (December 31, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0202306097
• ISBN-13: 978-0202306094
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,210,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, June 7, 2007

By 

Chris Michael "Ph.D." (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Silent Language of Psychotherapy (Hardcover)

A terrific book of "general principles" that anyone of practically any theoretical orientation will likely find useful. Incomprehensibly and inexplicably underrated. The theory is based on very sound principles of behavior and simply extends them to include times when we are not aware of what we are doing and why, and are also unaware of what might be rewarding about even our negative behaviors. It makes sense, because in many cases humans can be subject to reinforcement (reward) and punishment without full awareness. It gets really interesting when the interaction of two persons, each of whom is always "pulling" for a certain response from the other, interact. I won't give the rest away, as it's too much of a pleasure to read. It's a must-have for therapists who do more than just "band aid" therapy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic book on counseling process and technique., March 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Silent Language of Psychotherapy (Hardcover)

I read the first edition in 1977 or so and it revolutionized my work as a therapist. Beier's original thinking about how unconscious processes are rewarded can help the practicing psychotherapist understand the richness of the therapeutic relationship.

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!!!!!!!, July 25, 2011

By 

Russpears - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Silent Language of Psychotherapy: Social Reinforcements of Unconscious Processes (Paperback)

This book has been one of a handful of books that have made an impression on my worldview. While steeped in the practice of psychotherapy and patient therapist interactions, there is at it's core a powerful interpretive framework that is explicated throughout key chapters in this book. Without a doubt, in any area of ones interests, you can use this powerful hermeneutic, that gives justice to the myriad of human interactions and our abhorrent behaviors, to understand the dynamics at play.

I had the pleasure of having Dr David young as my Professor in 1991 as a freshman at IPFW. However, only I find out after realizing how powerful this narrative is, that one of its authors I had already known years prior.