ABSTRACT
Examining only the current state of affairs in any field reveals recent trends but can obscure other critical issues. And often it is what is left behind in our efforts to attain progress that reveals much about the field. Psychotherapy, shaped by context, actors, and allied fields (particularly medicine), is no exception. The pursuit of progress—or maybe better said, the inevitable process of progress—comes with a cost. It may well be that what is cast off as archaic is actually the essence, and what is retained is a façade. On the other hand, innovation and progress can be achieved, and nostalgically clinging to the past can be damaging. In this book, a critical examination of the progress in psychotherapy is undertaken with attention to the hidden, forgotten, and ignored factors, as well as to the current practices, policies, and research.
