How Psychotherapy Can Become A Science”  
Dr. Alvin R. Mahrer 

Concerning this subject Dr. Mahrer wrote;

“Today there are teams of researchers, theorists, and practitioners scurrying around in an energetic search for the causes of things, some of which are delightfully unreal, fictitious, make believe, nonexistent. We look for the causes of schizophrenia, borderline conditions, depressive disorder, anhedonia, addictive personalities, and lots of other things. We poke and probe, speculate and theorize, explore and research for the causes. Do the causes lie in brain structure, in cultural differences, in blood chemistry, in information processing, in problems in the crucial stage of development, in genetic encoding, in maternal bonding and attachment, in self-defeating cognitions, in inadequate coping mechanisms, in infantile trauma, in developmental disruptions, in the breaking of support bonds, in group disintegration?”

“Biting the bullet, and taking steps toward becoming more of a science, can mean seeing unreal and nonexistent things as unreal and nonexistent. Once this is done, the next step can be letting go of the search for causes of things that are essentially unreal and nonexistent.”  (Mahrer, 2007. P.49-50)

                                                                                A.M.

Howard Gontovnick wrote; 

With all its insistence on research, research, research, psychotherapy is still in its medieval period of development as a science. How Psychotherapy Can Become A Science, introduces the reader to revolutionary ways for psychotherapy to join the real sciences. Like most paradigm shifts, this volume speaks to the entire field, from practitioners of the art and science to teachers and supervisors, from researchers to theorists, from trainees to professionals.

Throughout the years, Dr. Alvin Mahrer (Professor Emeritus at the University of Ottawa) has explored and invited his fellow psychotherapists to exceed the usual parameters of thinking. Whether with regard to the practice of psychotherapy or research methods, Mahrer passionately invites those interested and the discipline of psychotherapy to revolutionize the way we understand and think about the field. At least, consider the possibilities?

In this his 17^th book, Dr. Mahrer  is asking, can there be a way to discover how this field called Psychotherapy can open its doors and take advantage of the possibilities that can make it more of a science like other sciences? How Can Psychotherapy Become A Science, creatively and honestly explores not just what the field is right now, but more so what Psychotherapy can become.

If you treasure and think about the field of psychotherapy – you must read this book!

Lastly, How Psychotherapy Can Become A Science, is a look at revolutionizing what psychotherapy can become. Alvin Mahrer shares his passion for moving psychotherapy forward and lays down the challenge to his readers to consider several possible ways for psychotherapy to join the real sciences. Like most paradigm shifts, this volume speaks to the entire field, from practitioners of the art and science to teachers and supervisors, from researchers to theorists, from trainees to professionals. At this moment in time, this is a subject matter that requires your attention and invites your input. In this his 17th book, Mahrer explores several options to discover how this field called psychotherapy can open its doors and take advantage of the possibilities that can make it more of a science like other sciences? More importantly, How Psychotherapy Can Become A Science is not just simple reflection of what the field is right now, but a way of exploring several options as to how psychotherapy can become what it has the potential to become. If you treasure and think about the field of psychotherapy you must read this book! 

Table of Contents: 

(1) Develop Psychotherapy As Its Own Field.... 

(2) Ground The Field Of Psychotherapy In Concrete Reality.... 

(3) Study And Improve The Foundational Beliefs' Of The Field Of  Psychotherapy 

(4) Provide Better And Better Answers To The Basic Questions' In The Field Of Psychotherapy 

(5) Welcome Philosophy Of Science As An Integral Part Of The Field Of Psychotherapy 

(6) Do Periodic Appraisals That Can Guide The Field Toward Becoming More Of A Science.

Spiral-bound: 151 pages

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