Psychotherapy Classics

Featuring contributions from some of the most influential and enigmatic thinkers of the 20th century, Psychotherapy Classics: Landmark Articles in the History of Psychotherapy and Counseling is essential reading for anybody with an interest in this area.

Significant Aspects of Client-Centered Therapy By Carl Rogers

In this landmark publication Carl Rogers outlines the origins of client-centered therapy, the process of client-centered therapy, the discovery and capacity of the client and the client-centered nature of the therapeutic relationship.

The Problem of Psychotherapy by Laurance Shaffer

Originally presented as the address of the President of the Division of Clinical and Abnormal Psychology, American Psychological Association; this landmark paper draws attention to issues relating to the nature of the therapeutic process within psychotherapy which are just as relevant today:

How can we understand what takes place in the therapeutic interview? Why does it readjust the distressed person? Under what conditions is psychotherapy applicable? What techniques, applied in appropriately selected circumstances will produce predictable and effective results?

Shaffer's central argument is that the psychologist's major problem with respect to therapy is not that of the professional conditions of practice, but is the problem of understanding what therapy is and does.

Psychotherapy And The Placebo Effect by David Rosenthal & Jerome D. Frank

Describes the placebo effect, discusses some of its implications for the evaluation of psychotherapy, and makes recommendations concerning research design in psychotherapy based on these considerations.

Rational Psychotherapy and Individual Psychology by Albert Ellis

One of the first published accounts of rational psychotherapy; a theory of personality and a system of therapeutic technique that would eventually develop into what is now known as rational emotive behavior therapy.

In the course of this landmark paper Ellis introduces and expands upon his hypothesis that thinking represents the most important way in which human emotion is caused and controlled. He then goes on to outline the main points of agreement and disagreement between rational therapy and the individual Psychology of Alfred Adler.

Recollections of A Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: The Case of "Prisoner K" by Thomas-Szasz

Fascinating account of "psychoanalytic psychotherapy" conducted by Thomas Szasz; who was soon to elevated into a position of international renown and controversy following the publication of his classic text "The Myth of Mental Illness."

Psychotherapy As A Learning Process by Albert Bandura

In this classic paper eminent psychologist Albert Bandura explores systematic attempts to apply principles of learning to the area of psychotherapy. Bandura begins this exploration by asking whether human behavior can be modified through psychological means and if so, what are the learning mechanisms that mediate behavior change? He then sets about discussing some of these learning mechanisms in turn i.e., counterconditioning, extinction, discrimination learning, methods of reward, punishment and social imitation.

Psychotherapy Classics: Landmark Articles in the History of Psychotherapy and Counseling has been produced as part of an initiative by the website www.all-about-psychology.com to make historically important psychology publications widely available.