Intensive Psychotherapy for Persistent Dissociative Processes

<br /><em>Intensive Psychotherapy for Persistent Dissociative Processes</em> brings readers into the consultation room and into the minds of both patient and therapist like no other work on the treatment of trauma and dissociation. Richard A. Chefetz marries neuroscientific sophistication with a wealth of extended case histories following patients over several years and offering several verbatim session transcripts. His unpacking of the emotionally impactful experience of psychodynamic talking therapy is masterfully written clearly accessible and singularly thorough.<br /><br />From neurobiological foundations he builds a working understanding of dissociation and its clinical manifestations. Drawing on theories of self-states and their involvement in dissociative experiences he demonstrates how to identify persistent dissociation and its related psychodynamic processes including repetition compulsion and enactment. He then guides readers through the beginning stages of a treatment with particular attention to the psychodynamics of emotion in both patient and therapist.<br /><br />The second half of the book immerses readers in emotionally challenging clinical processes offering insight into the neurobiology of fear and depersonalization as well as case examples detailing struggles with histories of incest sexual addiction severe negativity negative therapeutic reactions enactment and object-coercive doubting. The narrative style of Chefetz's casework is nearly novelistic bringing to life the clinical setting and the struggles in both patient and therapist. The only mystery in this clinical exposition as it explores several cases over a number of years is what will happen next.<br /><br />In the depth of his examples and in continual self-reflexive analysis of flaws in past treatments Chefetz is both a generous guide and an expert storyteller. <em>Intensive Psychotherapy for Persistent Dissociative Processes</em> is unique in its ability to place readers in the consultation room of psychodynamic therapy. With an evidence-focused approach based in neurobiology and a bold clinical scope it will be indispensible to new and experienced therapists alike as they grapple with the most intractable clinical obstacles.<br />