Using Homework in Psychotherapy: Strategies, Guidelines, and Forms

Front Cover
Guilford Press, 2004 M07 5 - 286 pages
A step-by-step guide for therapists who want to start implementing homework or to increase the effectiveness of assignments, this hands-on book is ideal for clinicians from any theoretical orientation. Presented are creative strategies for developing meaningful homework assignments, enhancing compliance, and overcoming typical homework obstacles. Nearly 50 reproducible forms are featured along with detailed recommendations for using them to accomplish five broad therapeutic goals: increasing awareness, scheduling activities, improving emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness, and testing assumptions. Also provided are tips for working with special populations, including adolescents, older adults, couples, and clients with severe depression or anxiety. Bursting with helpful tools, tips, and examples, the volume is designed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" format with lay-flat binding for ease of photocopying.
 

Contents

Introduction
1
What Is Psychotherapy Homework?
2
Benefits of Psychotherapy Homework
3
Approach of the Book
6
Key Steps to Successful Homework Assignments
9
Step 1 Create a Meaningful Homework Assignment
11
Provide Clear Homework Rationale Linked to Clients Treatment Goals
12
Make Homework Relevant to Focus of Therapy Session
16
Homework to Schedule Activities
85
Types of Homework to Schedule Activities
86
Enhancing Compliance with Homework to Schedule Activities
103
Homework to Increase Emotion Regulation
105
Types of Homework to Increase Emotion Regulation
106
Enhancing Compliance with Homework to Increase Emotion Regulation
113
Homework to Increase Interpersonal Effectiveness
117
Types of Homework to Increase Interpersonal Effectiveness
118

Make Homework Acceptable to Client and Therapist
19
Make Homework Appropriate to Clients Sociocultural Context
21
Step 2 Set Up the Homework Assignment and Secure Compliance with It
25
Work Collaboratively
27
Make Homework a NoLose Proposition
29
Review Homework Rationale and Secure Commitment to Comply
31
Start Small
34
Agree to a Method of Recording
35
Anticipate Obstacles and Develop a Backup Plan
40
Develop a Contingency Plan
42
Write a Precise Set of Homework Instructions
45
Step 3 Review the Homework Assignment
49
Be Consistent
51
Be Curious
55
Be Complimentary
57
Be Careful
60
Consider Reassigning Homework after Troubleshooting Problems
61
Applying the Steps
63
Homework to Increase Awareness
65
SelfMonitoring
66
Psychoeducation
82
Enhancing Compliance with Homework to Increase Interpersonal Effectiveness
129
Homework to Test Assumptions
140
Types of Homework to Test Assumptions
141
Enhancing Compliance with Homework to Test Assumptions
151
Overcoming Homework Obstacles
153
Three Stages in Overcoming Homework Obstacles
154
Evaluating Potential for Homework Noncompliance
155
Strategies for Overcoming Four Common Homework Obstacles
166
Therapists Beliefs and Attitudes as Homework Obstacles
180
Homework with Special Populations
186
Children and Adolescents
190
Couples and Families
196
Groups
203
Highly Anxious Clients
208
Highly Depressed Clients
212
Clients with Personality Disorders
215
Clients with Neurocognitive Disorders
218
APPENDICES
223
REFERENCES
271
INDEX
277
Copyright

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Page 275 - REFERENCES Addis, ME, & Jacobson, NS (1996). Reasons for depression and the process and outcome of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 1417-1424.

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About the author (2004)

Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, is the Director of Professional Training at the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. He is in private practice in Oakland, California.

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