Psychological Therapy: Principles and Methods

Author: Zeng Wenxing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: As everyone knows, psychotherapy is the application of psychological knowledge and methods to treat patients' psychological problems. Psychotherapy can be said to be the essence of psychiatry and an important tool for psychiatrists and mental health workers to assist others. The principles and techniques of psychotherapy can not only be used in clinical settings to help patients but can also be widely applied in general interpersonal interactions and daily life. It can be said that it is a field of study that helps us "understand ourselves and help others." Although the basic principles and methods of psychotherapy can be universally applied, their practical implementation must be adapted to people's actual lives and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, only by fully understanding the psychological life, mental structure, and daily habits of the Chinese people and applying practical experience and data from treating Chinese patients can we develop psychotherapy that is suitable for the Chinese. This book was originally published in 1987 by People's Medical Publishing House under the title "Psychotherapy." Due to the continued rise in interest and demand for psychotherapy in China over the past decade and the need for appropriate teaching materials for therapists, this book has been revised and republished by Beijing Medical University Press under the title "Psychotherapy: Principles and Methods" to complement "Psychotherapy: Theory and Analysis," which was published by the same press in 1994. The two books are being released as sister volumes to meet the needs and purchasing convenience of readers. The decision to publish this book in China originated from the suggestion of Professor Shen Yu, Honorary Director of the Institute of Mental Health at Beijing Medical University. During her efforts to promote mental health work in China, Professor Shen deeply felt that the compilation and publication of Chinese-language professional books were essential for popularizing mental health knowledge and developing psychotherapy. Her foresight, enthusiasm, and support were the greatest factors in the writing of this book. We extend our special thanks for this. The publication of this revised edition was recommended and supported by Professor Lü Qiuyun, Vice Director of the Institute of Mental Health at Beijing Medical University, and by President Lu Yindao of Beijing Medical University Press. We are grateful to them all. In writing this book, we have strived for clarity and simplicity, using practical examples to illustrate concepts so that readers can gain a concrete and practical understanding. We hope that this book will not only be read and referenced by psychiatrists and the general public but will also increase public understanding and concern for mental health, jointly promoting the mental well-being of the Chinese people.