Positive Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice of a New Method

Author: [German] Norbert Pezeshkian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The author combines Eastern and European perspectives into an effective psychological therapy, which is very welcome. Especially the fables, engagingly symbolically reveal Eastern wisdom, providing psychological insights in seemingly extremely simple forms. The author understands how to incorporate his background into psychotherapy. The scope of his psychological system, such as basic and real abilities, etc., is indeed just one of many possible theoretical constructs, but from his exposition, we cannot help but conclude that his psychological therapy can effectively treat illnesses. However, in terms of understanding principles and clarifying issues, such a categorical system and such a spiritual approach help psychotherapists more than patients. Ultimately, for patients seeking help from a psychotherapist, what matters most is whether the doctor or psychologist is sincere with them and whether they will accept them unconditionally regardless of who they are. Pezeshkian's "Positive Psychotherapy" and his personal encouraging attitude leave readers with the impression that he is a competent psychotherapist and possesses a special motivation to help patients resolve conflicts in the role of a doctor. He grew up in Iran but can express his thoughts in German and leave such a deep impression, which is particularly commendable. I wish the author great success with this book. The book elaborates on some major psychological and psychosomatic disorders and introduces several basic models for psychological treatment of these disorders. In line with the spirit of positive psychotherapy, this treatment is not limited to the doctor-patient relationship but also adopts many self-help strategies and educational preventive measures. The goal is to familiarize doctors who have not received psychotherapy training with practical methods and to enable laypeople to observe psychological diseases free from prejudice in detail. To help readers understand, an Eastern story is appended to and commented on for each group of issues. The author elaborates on positive psychotherapy as a new form of psychotherapy through various methods, cases, and examples. Here, it is first necessary to reveal the continuity between illness, culture, family, education, and psychotherapy. Positive psychotherapy does not understand itself as an isolated form of treatment but places itself in close connection with the following three activities: education centered on the relational person, self-help centered on the patient, and psychotherapy centered on the therapist. New possibilities in psychotherapy should be revealed, which are not only economically sound but also very effective and closely related to other psychological treatment methods. The book also discusses famous therapeutic schools such as psychoanalysis, individual psychology, behavior therapy, psychotherapy, exchange analysis, analytical psychology, and group psychotherapy, comparing them with positive psychotherapy. Starting from a nosological model of many psychological and psychosomatic diseases, the book proposes a feasible psychological treatment model, namely the five-step treatment strategy of positive psychotherapy. At the level of patient self-help, revised self-help methods are also elaborated. The book elaborates on the basic theory and methods of positive psychotherapy. The theory emphasizes the importance of an individual's actual and potential abilities and psychosocial factors, understanding the patient as an individual with self-help capabilities, eliminating the patient's negative imagination, and thereby achieving the goal of treatment. The uniqueness of positive psychotherapy lies in—● Using intuition and imagination during the treatment process;● Using stories as a medium between the therapist and the patient;● Proposing suggestions to change the patient's perspective without directly conflicting with their views;● Due to the change in perspective, the patient eventually abandons their one-sided views and gains a new understanding of the problem.