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  • © 2019

Cognitive Psychodynamics as an Integrative Framework in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Paves the way towards a cognitive psychodynamic approach

  • Integrates insights from the cognitive behavioural tradition, the psychodynamic approach and cognitive neuroscience to provide a coherent theoretical framework

  • Provides an overview of the current the current context of psychotherapy

  • Examines the contribution of cognitive science to understanding mental processes and psychological distress

  • Combines the fields of neuroscience and psychotherapy in a way that can be easily grasped by practitioners

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxi
  2. Insights from Cognitive Neuroscience

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 25-52
  3. In Search of the Good Life

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 53-67
  4. Defined by Our Past

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 69-88
  5. Principles of Cognitive Psychodynamic Therapy

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 89-104
  6. When Life Loses Its Lustre

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 105-130
  7. Traumatic Experiences: When the Home Collapses

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 131-159
  8. Invaded by Threat: Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Thoughts

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 161-189
  9. Possible Worlds

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 191-216
  10. High-Level Navigation

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 241-262
  11. Conclusions and Future Directions

    • Tony Ward, Arnaud Plagnol
    Pages 263-269
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 271-277

About this book

This book proposes a novel method of combining the current approaches to counselling and psychotherapy into one coherent framework. The authors argue that the cognitive behavioural tradition (largely focused on thought patterns) and the psychodynamic approach (centred on the client’s experience and relationships), can be successfully integrated with insights from cognitive neuroscience, to form a fruitful synthesis. In doing so they provide a perspective that will enable practitioners to more fully appreciate each client’s unique inner world, based on their individual history and environment.

The authors point towards the brain’s innate ability to understand and learn from experience so as to direct the growth of that inner world. This book elaborates a method of tapping into this innate growth potential, so as to help clients move forward when they have become trapped in non-productive patterns or mental stalemates. It will provide fresh insights and a valuable resource for counselling psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists, as well as for academics and students in these fields.


Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

    Tony Ward

  • Paris 8 University, St. Denis, France

    Arnaud Plagnol

About the authors

Tony Ward is Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of the West of England, UK. His research has included therapeutic approaches to working with clients with complex neurological conditions, as well as holistic approaches to depression.

Arnaud Plagnol is Professor of Psychology and member of the Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Neuropsychologie at the University Paris 8, France. He is also a clinical consultant to the medical home Toulouse-Lautrec in Aulnay-sous-Bois, France. His research has included representational spaces and new models of care.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access