"Brief Therapy" doesn't mean the same thing to all therapists. In this book, Preston presents a thorough discussion of the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of therapy, and carefully integrates key elements from diverse theoretical viewpoints. Includes sections on Basic Assumptions; Maps of the Mind: Making Sense of Psychological Adaptation and Pathology; Assessment and Treatment Planning, and Treatment. Chapters include: The Nature of Human Emotional Suffering; Actions that Facilitate Emotional Healing; Characteristics of Mental Health; The Mind and the Brain: A Neurobiological Perspective; Targeting Specific Problems; and The Role of Psychotropic Medications.