Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy

Now in its second edition, this concise volume helps therapists develop the resilience and flexibility they need to deliver effective therapy.

Clients who are provocative, angry, shut down, or emotionally labile often arouse strong emotional responses in therapists. Without proper training and practice, these experiences can make it difficult for therapists to stay self-aware, attuned, and clinically flexible.

Founded on the principles of deliberate practice, this book presents a clear and concise training plan to help readers identify, develop, and master the inner skills necessary to be effective therapists. Authors Tony Rousmaniere and Joel Jin explain the theory and value of deliberate practice and guide readers through six experiential exercises to help them build psychological capacity. Readers select their own materials for exposure, ranging from movie clips to videotaped therapy sessions, and learn techniques to navigate their emotional reactions.

This second edition includes a new chapter for course instructors, extended and updated research, and expanded clinical resources.

Prologue to the 2nd Edition

Introduction: Building Therapists’ Psychological Capacity

Part I. Foundations of Deliberate Practice in Psychotherapy

• Chapter 1. A Case Example
• Chapter 2. What Is Psychological Capacity?
• Chapter 3. Effective Stimuli for Deliberate Practice
• Chapter 4. Principles of Building Psychological Capacity
• Chapter 5. Training Safely

Part II. Deliberate Practice Exercises for Inner Skills

• Exercise 1. Noticing Discomfort
• Exercise 2. Redirecting Inner Attention
• Exercise 3. Noticing Discomfort While Staying Engaged

Part III. Advanced Deliberate Practice Exercises for Inner Skills

• Exercise 4. Getting Back into Capacity
• Exercise 5. Expanding Psychological Capacity Using Interval Training
• Exercise 6. Customizing Your Deliberate Practice

Part IV. Training Strategy

• Chapter 6. Tracking Progress
• Chapter 7. Overcoming Common Challenges
• Chapter 8. Growing Personally as a Therapist
• Chapter 9. Teaching Deliberate Practice in Your Courses

Afterword: Looking Forward

References

Appendix A. Recommended Reading on Deliberate Practice

Appendix B. Self-Regulation Techniques

Appendix C. Deliberate Practice Exercise Form

Appendix D. Sample Videos

Appendix E. Customizing DP Exercises Form

About the Authors
 

Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD, is the program director of the Sentio Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program and the executive director of the Sentio Counseling Center. He has authored many books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training and is coeditor of the APA book series The Essentials of Deliberate Practice. In 2017, Dr. Rousmaniere published the widely cited article in The Atlantic Monthly, “What Your Therapist Doesn’t Know.” Dr. Rousmaniere supports the open-data movement and publishes clinical outcome data on his websiteopens in new window. He is president of APA Division 29.

Joel Jin, PhD, is acting assistant professor at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, where he trains family medicine residents in behavioral health skills. He has also trained PhD clinical psychology students in alliance-building, clinical interviewing, experiential dynamic therapy, and attachment-based family therapy at Seattle Pacific University. Dr. Jin is an author of Deliberate Practice in Multicultural Therapy and has published on deliberate practice in the journals Training and Education in Professional Psychology and Practice Innovations. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Washington. Visit joeljin.com to learn more.

Tony Rousmaniere has a great ability to help therapists learn deliberate practice skills. Not only does Tony have an incredible grasp of the scholarly literature, but he also knows how to make it practical and actionable. This second edition of Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy is even better than the first. I don’t know of another book that addresses ways for therapists to manage their internal reactions within a deliberate practice framework. I’m excited to recommend this to others!
—Ryan B. Seedall, PhD, LMFT, Professor and Director, Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States

This second edition of Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy is a tour de force. Tony Rousmaniere is a master storyteller who leads the reader through his own very personal quest to become more than a “good enough” therapist. In the process, Rousmaniere reveals the secrets of deliberate practice in a down-to-earth, accessible, practical, and impactful manner. A must-read for therapists who won’t settle for less than bringing forth the best of themselves in the challenging work they do.
—Hanna Levenson, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Supervisor, Researcher; Professor Emeritus, The Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States

This book is a substantial contribution to the field of psychotherapy and is uniquely designed to foster deeper reflection and skill development among practitioners committed to mastering their craft. The inner skills of psychotherapy can be nurtured and developed through the deliberate practice exercises included in this essential manual. No other resource in our field today so effectively tackles the therapist as a person and addresses how to enhance our ability to tolerate painful and distressing affect in the room with our clients. Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy: A Deliberate Practice Manual on Building Psychological Capacity, Second Edition should be required reading for therapists of all levels of training.
—Tracy A. Prout, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, IMPACT Psychological Services, Fishkill, NY, United States

Watch the author(s) discuss Mastering the Inner Skills of Psychotherapy.opens in new window Interested in this book? Purchase a copy to continue (or start) the conversation with your clients.