Psychotherapy and the Dangerous Patient

Here is the first book written for psychotherapists that addresses the growing phenomenon of danger in the office. It explores psychotherapy with patients who are destructive not only to their own persons, but to the larger social networks with which they have failed to link. In Psychotherapy and the Dangerous Patient, seasoned clinicians describe theory and practice in dealing with dangerous patients. The book is rich in detail and pragmatically helpful in providing therapists with ways to work effectively with troublesome patients and to protect their own lives. Contributing authors, from a variety of theoretical backgrounds, address their own blind spots and working approaches and discuss what has been helpful and unhelpful to them.

Psychotherapy and the Dangerous Patient views dangerousness in its many forms: physical, emotional, legal, and moral. All have a damaging impact on the therapist and the patient/therapist relationship. This book is pointedly practical and specific in nature--a “how to” for protecting body, soul, and career from danger. It takes this singular patient affect and approaches it from a variety of disparate treatment modalities. The contributing authors share personal experiences and case studies, exploring

• disaster anxiety and defenses against it
• patient manipulation of the therapist
• dangerous processes in psychotherapy
• concerns surrounding the patient who is dangerously exciting
• compliance theories of the origin of evil
• problems associated with classifying and predicting antisocial behavior
• what constitutes a dangerous situation
• alcohol and drugs and their relationship to aggression
  
  Psychotherapy and the Dangerous Patient is a must-read book for all practicing psychotherapists and especially for those who may be concerned about their safety. The book contains pertinent information for anyone who sees clients on either an in-patient or out-patient basis.