The Tactics of Change: Doing Therapy Briefly (Social & Behavioral Science Series) [Hardcover]

Richard Fisch (Author), John H. Weakland (Author), Lynn Segal (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0875895212 | ISBN-13: 978-0875895215 | Publication Date: May 21, 1982 | Edition: 1

A best-selling, seminal manual on treating a wide range of clinical problems briefly and effectively. Explores the principles of brief therapy and discusses the basic elements of treatment. Examines common situations in therapy and what therapists can do to initiate change.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

This book is a comprehensive and detailed manual on treating a wid range of clinical problems briefly and effectively. The clinical problems dealt with include, among others, anxiety, depression, marital and family conflict, psychosomatic complaints, schizophrenia, sexual problems, and drug and alcohol abuse. The authors' tactics for brining about change reflect an interest in making treatment efficient and measuring it in terms of weeks rather than months.The authors, pioneers in the field of brief strategic therapy, build on sixteen years and refining their approach at the Brief Therapy Center of the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto.The book opens with a concise explanation of the authors' conception of human problems-how they begin, why they persist, and how they can be resolved quickly. It then goes on to discuss all the basic elements of treatment: maintaining control, setting the stage for treatment, conducting the first interview, assessing the patient's position or point of view, planning overall treatment strategy, using specific intervention, and terminating treatment. In a long and detailed section, the authors examine situation that frequently arise during the course of treatment and provide extensive examples of what therapists can do, say, suggest, and imply to initiate beneficial change.Case studies with commentary explaining the reasons for the therapist's actions, illustrate successful uses of techniques and further clarify the approach. The book concludes with a summary of the basic principles of brief therapy and their potential application to many kinds of human problems.

From the Back Cover

This book is a comprehensive and detailed manual on treating a wid range of clinical problems briefly and effectively. The clinical problems dealt with include, among others, anxiety, depression, marital and family conflict, psychosomatic complaints, schizophrenia, sexual problems, and drug and alcohol abuse. The authors' tactics for brining about change reflect an interest in making treatment efficient and measuring it in terms of weeks rather than months.

The authors, pioneers in the field of brief strategic therapy, build on sixteen years and refining their approach at the Brief Therapy Center of the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto.

The book opens with a concise explanation of the authors' conception of human problems-how they begin, why they persist, and how they can be resolved quickly. It then goes on to discuss all the basic elements of treatment: maintaining control, setting the stage for treatment, conducting the first interview, assessing the patient's position or point of view, planning overall treatment strategy, using specific intervention, and terminating treatment. In a long and detailed section, the authors examine situation that frequently arise during the course of treatment and provide extensive examples of what therapists can do, say, suggest, and imply to initiate beneficial change.

Case studies with commentary explaining the reasons for the therapist's actions, illustrate successful uses of techniques and further clarify the approach. The book concludes with a summary of the basic principles of brief therapy and their potential application to many kinds of human problems.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (May 21, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875895212
• ISBN-13: 978-0875895215
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT TEACHING TEXT, March 27, 2000

By 

CLAUDE H. MAY - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tactics of Change: Doing Therapy Briefly (Social & Behavioral Science Series) (Hardcover)

This is not a recent text, published first in 1982, but is one of the BEST on the topic. It explains accurately, with great case examples, the Brief Therapy model developed @ the Mental Research Institute. Am presently in process of developing a doctoral level course for clergy in counseling and will include this text.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No One to Blame But Us, December 16, 2007

By 

Mary Bast - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tactics of Change: Doing Therapy Briefly (Social & Behavioral Science Series) (Hardcover)

I first encountered this classic in the eighties when I was finishing my graduate work and took a course at the Mental Research Institute - the BEST thing I ever did for myself. The tactics the authors describe could appear to be only for therapy, but I've used them in my coaching practice for more than twenty years. It's fundamental to this approach that problems occurring between people are situational difficulties - all parties are doing something to maintain the problem. Also, it's normal and appropriate to resist attempts by another to "fix" us; such so-called resistance is more usefully labeled as a source of energy with positive potential if you can find a way to use it. I have found a way, in business and personal coaching settings. As with all publications in the Jossey-Bass Social and Behavioral Science Series, this text is golden for anyone doing change work at any level: individual, group, or organizational.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredibly practical and powerful book, January 14, 2008

By 

Raymond M. Bergner (Normal, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tactics of Change: Doing Therapy Briefly (Social & Behavioral Science Series) (Hardcover)

As a therapist and as teacher of a graduate level family therapy course, I have used this book for many years. It's 26 years old now, but it remains one of the best therapy books ever. It is full of sound, therapist tested, ultra-practical ideas,and in my experience these ideas really work.