Psychotherapy: Theory, Practice and Research (PST 453)
Sylabus 2019
Guarantee: PhDr. Roman Hytych, Ph.D.; e-mail: romhyt@gmail.com
Lectures: Mgr. Michal Čevelíček, Ph.D., PhDr. Roman Hytych, Ph.D, Mgr. Martin
Novák,Mgr. Tomáš Řiháček, Ph.D., MUDr. David Skorunka, Ph.D.,
Mgr. Monika Skutková, Mgr. Luia Ukropová, prof. PhDr. Zbyněk
Vybíral, Ph.D., Gregor Žvelc, Ph.D. (University of Ljubljana)
ECTS: 4 credits
The course is offered for foreign students of BA and MA programs. It consists of
lectures listed below. The final exam will take form of an essay (8 - 10 pages) on a
chosen theme. 80% attendance on lectures is compulsory. Lectures are conducted on
Wensdays from 14:00 till 15:40 in the room U35
Courses start on September 26th.
Dates of lectures:
25/9, 2/10, 9/10, 6/11, 13/11, 20/11, 27/11, 4/12, and 11/12.
.
Course lectures:
Gregor Žvelc Integrative psychotherapy and mindfulness (25/9)
Mindfulness is non-judgmental acceptance of the present moment. Research has demonstrated
numerous benefits of mindfulness practice for mental health. In the lecture, we will present how
mindfulness processes can be used within integrative psychotherapy.
Zbyněk Vybíral: Introduction to Theory, Practice and Research in
Psychotherapy (2/10)
The lecture offers basic overview covering themes such psychotherapy as a profession, scientific
view in psychotherapy and variety of research designs. The focus on psychotherapy as both, the
science and “gift” includes several issues for questioning and discussion. Some biases are
mentioned as well.
Stiles, W. B., Shapiro, D. A., Elliot, R. (1986). „Are All Psychotherapies Equivalent“? American
Psychologist 41 (2), s.165-180;
O’Donohue, W., Cummings, N. A., Cummings, J. L. (2006). Clinical Strategies for Becoming a
Master Psychotherapist. Burlington, San Diego, London: Academic Press.
Tomáš Řiháček: What makes a good therapist? (9/10)
Although this question has been asked from the beginning of the psychotherapeutic profession, an
ultimate answer is still missing. We will explore this topic from several perspectives (axiological,
theoretical, empirical, and developmental), trying to develop a more comprehensive picture.
Building on existing research, we will strive to formulate what establishes therapeutic competence
and what are the best methods to search for it and develop it.
Tracey, T. J. G., Wampold, B. E., Lichtenberg, J. W., & Goodyear, R. K. (2014). Expertise in
psychotherapy: An elusive goal? American Psychologist, 69(3), 218-229.
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035099
David Skorunka: Contemporary family therapy and systemic practice (6/11)
The lecture introduces main assumptions and variety of practice in contemporary family therapy
including integrative approaches in this field. Major research findings regarding both outcome and
process of family therapy will be presented.
Dallos, R., Draper, R. Introduction to Family Therapy, Open University Press, 2010, 3rd
Edition
Carr, A. Family Therapy; Concepts, Process and Practice, Wiley and sons, 2009, 2nd
Edition
Roman Hytych: Mindfulness in contemporary psychotherapy: Clinical
practice and research findings (13/11)
Mindfulness is a core skill for life coping developed within Buddhist tradition. Recent years of its
psychotherapy application and scientific research have showed a huge range of its benefits for
psychotherapy clients as well as psychotherapists themselves.
Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., Creswell, J. D. (2007). Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundation and
Evidence for its Salutary Effects. Psychological Inquiry. 4, 211-237.
Lucia Ukropová, MartinNovák: Introduction to “Open dialogue” - the role of
psychotherapy in mental health care services (20/11)
The seminar focuses on introducing the “Open dialogue ” (OD) , a psychosocial network–based
approach to working with people experiencing mental health difficulties. Main principles, used
interventions, possibilities and limitations of this approach will be discussed. Also, we will discuss
case study from lecturers practice and the role of psychotherapy in mental health and social care
community services.
Olson, M., Seikkula, J., Ziedonis, D. (2014) Key Elements of Dialogic Practice in Open Dialogue.
The University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
Seikkula, J. & Olson, M. (2003) The Open Dialogue Approach to Acute Psychosis: Its Poetics and
Micropolitics. Family Process, 42, 403-418.
Schutze, W. (2015). Open dialogue as a contribution to a healthy society: possibilities and
limitations. Advances in Psychiatry and Neurology, 24, s. 86-90.
Michal Čevelíček: Case formulation as a process and product of therapists'
thinking about their clients (27/11)
Broadly defined, psychotherapy case formulation captures the ways in which therapists think about
their clients (cases). Specifically, it is a process and a product of capturing and structuring complex
information, developing hypotheses about the nature of issues at hand, and forming plans to resolve
these issues. First, we will focus on specifics of “therapeutic thinking”. Is thinking of therapists any
different from “common” thinking? What do therapists learn to think as therapists? Second, we will
take a look at some specific methods of case formulation (both integrative and orientation-specific),
which therapists' may use to shape their thinking.
Eells, T.D. (Ed.). (2007) Handbook of Psychotherapy Case Formulation. New York, London: The
Guilford Press.
Ingram, B. L. (2010). Clinical case formulations: Matching the integrative treatment plan to the
client. New Jersey, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Monika Skutková: Helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy (4/12)
The lecture will focus on research of helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy – its history,
way of analysis of significant events, overview of the most important results and
connection of events to therapy outcome. Understanding of helpful and hindering events can be
useful particularly for therapists in practice.
Timulák, L. (2010). Significant events in psychotherapy: An update of research findings.
Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practise, 83, s. 421-447.
Timulák, L. (2007). Identifying core categories of client-identified impact of helpful events in
psychotherapy: A qualitative meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 17(3), 310-320.
Zbyněk Vybíral: Adverse effects and (potential) deterioration of client’s state
in psychotherapy and counseling (11/12)
Lecture gives overview of past and current studies in the field. More and more attention is given to
negative effects of psychological treatment in the contemporary psychotherapy research of efficacy
and effectiveness, and in theoretical studies, too. What are unwanted events in psychotherapy?
What do we mean when we are talking about side effects of psychological treatment? Examples
would be given and discussed. Differentiation between bona fide treatment and malpractice is
needed. Psychotherapists’ optimism would be mentioned and discussed.
Schermuly-Haupt, M.-L., Linden, M., Rush, A.J. (2018). Unwanted events and side effects in
cognitive behavior therapy. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 42, 219–229.
Vaughan, B., Goldstein, M. H., Alikakos, M., Cohen, L. J., & Serby, M. J. (2014). Frequency of
reporting of adverse events in randomized controlled trials of psychotherapy vs.
psychopharmacotherapy. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 55(4), 849–855.
Themes for final essay (choose one of them):
1. Short outline of situation of psychotherapy in your country;
2. Main psychotherapy approaches, personalities and training institutes in your country;
3. Psychotherapy politics in your country (legal framework);
4. What are the researchers focused on in the field of psychotherapy in your country?
Final essay submission deadline: 15th December, 2019
Essay evalutation criteria:
 personal elaboration of the subject – predominance of own considerations, insights, opinions
and interpretations (work with literature, but do not just describe or cite it.)
 sophistication, structuring, dictint line of thought or concept
 content density and depth (of course depth is inversely proportional to the breadth of the
topic – also an essay with a broad topic and less sophisticated sub-themes may be
excellent; anyway we rather recommend to elaborate a chosen sub-theme, in detail and in
context.)
 ability of a clear presentation of the main ideas of the essay and ability to participate in
critical discussion
 keeping to the topic and length
 formally correct working with terminology and literature, apparent distinguishing of own
ideas from those of others, citing according to APA standard
 see also Bad and Good example of final essay in Information system