The Responsive Psychotherapist: Attuning to Clients in the Moment

This book examines how psychotherapists can be appropriately responsive to clients' unique needs across a variety of therapeutic approaches by saying or doing the right thing at the right time. Expert contributors from a variety of theoretical orientations synthesize key research and identify common factors across the field of psychology as well as unique contributions that each approach offers. Chapters first explore important broad concepts and strategies, including therapists attuning to their clients' needs, examining the importance of the therapeutic relationship, the role clinicians play as attachment figures for their clients, and repairing ruptures in the working alliance. Building from this foundation, chapters then explore specific types of therapy in detail, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotion-focused therapy, control mastery theory, narrative therapy, relationship-focused therapy for LGBTQ individuals and their nonaccepting caregivers, and integrative therapies. They review strategies for responding to specific client markers, cultural diversity considerations, guidance for training and supervision, and directions for future research. Clinical case examples enrich the material, demonstrating the dos and do nots of responsiveness with diverse clients.