Ecological psychotherapy

This book describes a new approach to psychotherapy that includes an ecological dimension. It takes into account the fit between the capacities of the individual and the corresponding properties of the environment. Personal growth is promoted when the individual shapes his or her environment into a "personal niche". The development of the individual takes place in interaction with the development of this niche. All forms of mental disorders impair the individual's effectiveness in creating the niche, and every impairment of the niche is a risk factor for mental health. After looking at the theoretical principles behind Ecological Psychotherapy, the book goes on to show exactly how the concepts of his this approach can be applied in clinical practice. Three main aspects of the Ecological Psychotherapy approach are described here: -- The ecological concept of supportive therapy, which is concerned with supporting the patient in shaping the personal niche that he or she uses sues for psychological regulation; -- Coevolutionary focal therapy, which focuses on the ont he observation that when psychological decompensation occurs, it has generally been preceded by a change in an important relationship that required a developmental step (which was not taken); -- Coevolutionary focus formulation, which allows a case conceptualization that is usable in individual, couple, and family work. By including an ecological dimension, the concepts concept formulated in this book open up a new way of accessing and understanding patients. This new and independent therapeutic approach is also eminently suitable for inclusion in existing approaches. The author, Professor Jurg Willi, is well known for his books on couples therapy and marriage counseling, including Couples in collusion Collusion, Dynamics of Couples Therapy, and Growing Together -- Staying Together. His books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and have been translated into eight languages. Prof. Willi has also published numberous numerous scientific articles in renowned specialist journals, including the American Journal of Psychiatry and Family Process.