Introduction to the Practice of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy [Paperback]

An essential guide to psychoanalytic psychotherapy in modern practice. A must-have for those new to the field and seasoned professionals alike

Introduction to the Practice of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy provides up-to-date, practice-oriented coverage of the latest research and techniques in psychoanalysis. Distinguished clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Alessandra Lemma synthesizes decades of clinical experience and the latest research into actionable advice for developing analytic skills with clarity, confidence, and adaptability across diverse therapeutic settings.

This popular textbook offers step-by-step guidance on essential areas of practice, including conducting assessments, formulating cases, and navigating therapeutic endings. Throughout the book, detailed yet accessible chapters demystify the processes behind psychoanalytic psychotherapy while offering real-world insights into the day-to-day practice of psychoanalytic therapy.

Fully revised to reflect contemporary practice, this edition features three entirely new chapters on psychoanalytic ethics, working with the body, and online therapy. Updated and expanded chapters address new developments in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), discuss the current evidence base for psychoanalytic interventions, present new case studies and illustrative examples, and more.

Very few psychoanalysts are capable of what Alessandra Lemma achieves with this book: a deep understanding of the life of the mind coupled with a comfortable familiarity with the science of the mind.
MARK SOLMS, Ph.D., Editor, The Revised Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud (2024).

A third edition of this classic text is testimony to how well the original edition was written. Yet it also demonstrates that psychoanalytic therapy and the contexts in which it is practiced are in continualls&