Our Inner World

This book introduces and explains the major theories of psychodynamic psychotherapy and integrates them into a model of psychodynamics that can be used to treat common psychiatric complaints. Ahles applies an integrated approach to two general areas of patient discomfort: problems with sense of self, such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of worthlessness; and problems with interpersonal relationships, such as difficulty forming long-term relationships, excessive shyness or fear of others, and aggressive personality. He also discusses the psychodynamic model in relation to neurobiological research into brain function, and he explores how psychotherapy can best be combined with pharmacotherapy. Throughout, the primary concepts of object relations and ego psychology are demonstrated with diagrams and case studies.--From publisher description.