Interpersonal reconstructive therapy for anger, anxiety, and depression : healing broken hearts, not broken brains

"Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT) is an integrative, interpersonal, and intrapsychic psychotherapy that is organized by the IRT case formulation model that assesses each of a patient's presenting symptoms (one or more disorders) in relation to interactions between inherited proclivities (e.g., startle responses) and early lessons from caregivers about what to be afraid of (threat) and how to be safe (safety). This book is organized into four sections. Part I is about foundational concepts and includes presentations of Natural Biology and Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB). Natural Biology grounds IRT case formulation and treatment models in principles of evolution. It presents a reliable and accurate method of pattern recognition in the discussion of SASB. Part II is about the IRT case formulation and treatment models. It provides detail and illustrates the mechanisms that connect a patient's presenting symptoms to perceived current stresses (persistent threat and failure to find safety) and also links those stresses and responses to earlier patterns shaped by lessons in safety and threat. It also provides a review of the IRT treatment model, and describes the phases of the action stage of change. Part III is about applications of the IRT case formulation and treatment models to anger, anxiety, and depression. Part IV provides data on the validity and effectiveness of the IRT case formulation and treatment models."--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved). Read more... This book shows clinicians how to use Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT) to change maladaptive patterns regarding safety and threat in treatment-resistant patients. According to IRT theory, patients who suffer from maladaptive anger, anxiety, or depression are reenacting dysfunctional lessons in affect management modeled by parents and other early attachment figures. For example, a depressed woman who is afraid to assert herself can be described as reliving a childhood during which speaking up was dangerous, leading to rejection, even abandonment. IRT gives sufferers the tools to revise or replace internalized versions of attachment figures (the “family in the head”) to create a more secure internal base. IRT is integrative, drawing on any intervention relevant to the case formulation, and it is compatible with medications as needed for stress management. Evidence of effectiveness is provided for a treatment-resistant population. In this warm and engaging book, author Lorna Smith Benjamin shows how patients can more effectively cope with threat and find safety in their everyday lives. "This book shows clinicians how to use Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT) to change maladaptive patterns regarding safety and threat. According to IRT theory, patients who suffer from maladaptive anger, anxiety, or depression are reenacting dysfunctional lessons in affect management modeled by parents and other early attachment figures ... IRT gives sufferers the tools to revise or replace internalized versions of attachment figures to create a more secure internal base. IRT in integrative, drawing from any intervention relevant to the case formulation, and it is compatible with medications as needed for stress management. Evidence of effectiveness is provided for a treatment-resistant population. In this engaging book, Lorna Smith Benjamin shows how patients can more effectively cope with threat and find safety in their daily lives"--Back cover "This book shows clinicians how to use Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT) to change maladaptive patterns regarding safety and threat. According to IRT theory, patients who suffer from maladaptive anger, anxiety, or depression are reenacting dysfunctional lessons in affect management modeled by parents and other early attachment figures...IRT gives sufferers the tools to revise or replace internalized versions of attachment figures to create a more secure internal base. IRT in integrative, drawing from any intervention relevant to the case formulation, and it is compatible with medications as needed for stress management. Evidence of effectiveness is provided for a treatment-resistant population. In this engaging book, Lorna Smith Benjamin shows how patients can more effectively cope with threat and find safety in their daily lives" -- Back cover Contents 8 Preface 10 1. Introduction and Overview 16 I Foundational Concepts 26 2. Natural Biology: Mechanisms Of Psychopathology And Change 28 3. Structural Analysis Of Social Behavior: The Rosetta Stone For Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy Case Formulation And Treatmen 66 II. The Case Formulation and Treatment Models 96 4. The Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy Case Formulation Model 98 5. The Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy Treatment Model 116 6. Phases Of The Action Stage Of Change 146 III Applications to Affects Precipitated by Threat 164 7. Anger 166 8. Anxiety 188 9. Depression 216 IV Empirical Support 256 10. Validity Of The Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy Models And Effectiveness Of Treatment 258 Glossary 286 References 292 Index 314 About The Author 328 Interpersonal,Reconstructive,Therapy I. Foundational concepts -- Natural biology : mechanisms of psychopathology and change -- Structural analysis of social behavior : the Rosetta Stone for IRT case formulation and treatment models -- II. The case formation and treatment models -- The Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy case formulation model -- The Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy treatment model -- Phases of the action stage of change -- III. Applications to affects precipitated by threat -- Anger -- Anxiety -- Depression -- IV. Empirical support -- Validity of the Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy models and effectiveness of treatment -- Glossary -- References -- Index.