Relational Patterns, Therapeutic Presence: Concepts and Practice of Integrative Psychotherapy

Relational Patterns, Therapeutic Presence presents a comprehensive integrative theory and style of therapeutic involvement that reflects a relational and non-pathological perspective. Containing work from the course of Richard Erskine’s career, this book provides an essential introduction to developmentally-based, relationally-focused integrative psychotherapy. The methods described are contact based, profoundly respectful, developmentally attuned, co-constructive, and intersubjective. Rather than a theoretical integration of therapeutic concepts and techniques, Erskine focusses on the concept of internal integration—a convergence of physiology, affect, and cognition so that behaviour is by choice of the current contacts, and not simulated by fear, compulsion, or conditioning. This Classic Edition includes a new prelude by the author. Written in a conversational style, Relational Patterns, Therapeutic Presence will be essential reading for psychotherapists in practice and in training.