Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide

Authored by renowned expert Frank E. Yeomans, this insightful manual presents a cutting-edge model of borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment, grounded in contemporary psychoanalytic object relations theory. The approach, developed by leading thinker Otto Kernberg, M.D., is enriched by findings from current phenomenological and neurobiological research, and illustrated through real-world case studies.

A Comprehensive Model for Expert Assessment and Treatment Planning

The book provides clinicians with a comprehensive model of borderline pathology, essential for expert assessment and treatment planning. It delves into the empirical underpinnings and specific therapeutic strategies of transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP), offering a nuanced understanding of this complex condition.

Clinical Assessment and Treatment Selection

In the chapter on clinical assessment, clinicians learn how to select the most effective treatment approach based on the patient’s level of personality organization, symptoms, and areas of compromised functioning. This involves examining the patient’s subjective experience, observable behaviors, and psychological structures, such as identity, defenses, and reality testing.

Establishing the Conditions of Treatment

The clinician learns how to establish a verbal treatment contract with the patient, defining the responsibilities of each participant and the reality of the therapeutic relationship. This sets the stage for a collaborative and effective treatment process.

Treatment Interventions and Addressing Clinical Challenges

The book equips therapists with the skills to employ the four primary techniques of TFP: interpretation, transference analysis, technical neutrality, and the use of countertransference. It also provides guidance on addressing particularly difficult clinical challenges, ensuring that clinicians are well-prepared to tackle complex cases.

Long-Term Treatment and Personality Change

The text covers the early, middle, and late phases of treatment, preparing clinicians to address predictable challenges and work toward symptom amelioration and personality change. This includes understanding tests of the frame, impulse containment, movement toward integration, episodes of regression, and termination.

Accompanying Online Videos

The book is accompanied by instructive online videos, demonstrating a range of clinical situations and providing invaluable guidance on assessment and modeling critical therapeutic strategies.

Recognizing that each BPD patient presents a unique treatment challenge, this comprehensive guide is grounded in the latest research and rich with clinical insight. Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Clinical Guide is an indispensable resource for mental health professionals seeking to provide thoughtful, effective care to these patients.

Published by American Psychiatric Publishing, April 1, 2015. ISBN: 9781585624379, 9781585625437.