Insight in Psychotherapy

by Louis G. Castonguay, Clara E. Hill

Overview

Insight, or the acquisition of a new understanding, is recognized as an important vehicle of change across a variety of theoretical approaches in psychotherapy. While it has been associated with psychotherapy for much of the past century, insight is not clearly understood. The distinguished contributors to this book delineate and integrate what is currently known about insight, and discuss new directions that could help clinicians and researchers better understand this rich and complex process. At a theoretical level, the individual chapters cover insight from psychodynamic, humanistic-experiential, cognitive-behavioral, family therapy, and integrative perspectives. A review of empirical literature is included, as well as a number of studies (involving quantitative and qualitative analyses) on insight. In addition, the book addresses important clinical issues, such as the link between insight and action, and the role of therapist and client in fostering insight. Other chapters examine how social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and philosophy can enhance our understanding of insight. The final chapter integrates the perspectives of prominent psychotherapy researchers on four central questions: What is insight? What facilitates it? What are its consequences? What remains to be known about it?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591474777
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	01/28/2007
Edition description:	1ST
Pages:	479
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.50(d)

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Susan Richardson, MA, PsyD (Private Practice)
Description: This book speaks to an important element in human change, looking at current conceptions of insight from many different theoretical perspectives.
Purpose: The authors seek to define insight, review important research, and consider how to facilitate it for the purpose of linking it with changed behavior and improved mental health and functioning. The contributing authors meet their goals of creating an exhaustive, contemporary consideration of the subject of insight.
Audience: This is a largely theoretical work, suitable reading for graduate students, academicians, and interested clinicians. The contributors are distinguished in their field and write with great command of the subject.
Features: The book is divided into sections that are arranged in a logical, easy to use manner. The early chapters seek to define insight according to theoretical perspectives and modalities of psychotherapy. Thorough discussions of empirical research follow, and the book also addresses important clinical issues surrounding the role of the therapist in fostering insight and linking it with behavioral change.
Assessment: This is a unique book on a subject of great interest to clinicians and academics in psychotherapy. The topic of insight is mercurial, hard to stabilize and pin down. The contributors' lively discussions do justice to this important clinical issue.

Doody's Review Service