BIBLIOGRAPHY OF COHERENCE THERAPY
Formerly Depth Oriented Brief Therapy
Practice Manual
Coherence Therapy Practice Manual & Training Guide -- by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley
Oakland, CA: Pacific Seminars (2007).
This 86-page manual incorporates many detailed features of practice, principles, training exercises and troubleshooting guides that are not available in any other publication. Table of contents and ordering information»
Book Chapters
Coherence therapy: Swift change at the core of emotional truth -- by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley
In J. D. Raskin & S. K. Bridges (Eds.), Studies in Meaning 3. New York: Pace University Press (2008).
A study of a single session for a woman’s 20-year compulsive eating and weight problem illustrates the methodology and principles of Coherence Therapy and describes their neuropsychological correlates.
Depth oriented brief therapy: Accelerated accessing of the coherent unconscious
by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley. In J. Carlson & L. Sperry (Eds.), Brief therapy with individuals and couples (pp. 161-190). Phoenix: Zeig, Tucker & Theisen (2000).
A delineation of the methodology and principles of DOBT/Coherence Therapy, specific techniques for implementing this methodology, and detailed case examples from individual therapy for underachieving and low self-esteem and couple therapy for chronic power struggles.
The order in clinical “disorder”: Symptom coherence in depth oriented brief therapy
by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley. In R. A. Neimeyer & J. Raskin (Eds.), Constructions of disorder (pp. 63-89). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press (2000).
Four case examples of anxiety and panic are used to show that symptoms diagnosed as “disorder” in standard psychiatric taxonomy are produced by the same coherent pattern of unconscious self-organization as in non-symptomatic psychological process. The rapid accessibility and resolvability of symptoms’ unconscious emotional basis is also demonstrated.
Postmodern approaches to psychotherapy -- by Robert A. Neimeyer & Sara K. Bridges
In A. S Gurman,. & S. B. Messer (Eds.), Essential psychotherapies, 2nd Ed. (pp. 272-316). New York: Guilford (2003).
Includes a n examination of DOBT (Coherence Therapy) in the context of a wide range of postmodern psychotherapies.
Varieties of constructivism in psychotherapy -- by Robert A. Neimeyer & Jonathan D. Raskin
In K. S. Dobson (Ed.), Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (pp. 407-411). New York: Guilford (2001).
Includes an examination of DOBT (Coherence Therapy) in the context of a wide range of other constructivist psychotherapies.
Book
Depth Oriented Brief Therapy: How To Be Brief When You Were Trained To Be Brief, and Vice Versa
by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley San Francisco: Jossey-Bass (1996).
A nuanced guide to DOBT/Coherence Therapy with many case examples illustrating the techniques, the methodological principles, and the constructivist conceptual framework of this approach applied with individuals, couples and families.
Journal Articles
Of neurons and knowings: Constructivism, coherence psychology and their neurodynamic substrates
by Brian Toomey & Bruce Ecker
Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 20, 201-245 (2007).
This first of a set of three articles examines the neuroscientific support for coherence therapy’s model of symptom production--a model centering on unconscious knowledge structures in implicit memory. Download reprint»
Depotentiation of symptom-producing implicit memory in coherence therapy
by Bruce Ecker & Brian Toomey
Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 21, 87-150 (2008).
This second of three articles describes how coherence therapy operates both experientially and synaptically. Particular attention is given to the neural basis for coherence therapy’s purported ability to produce a profound depotentiation of long-term, symptom-generating constructs in implicit memory. It is proposed that coherence therapy achieves transformative change by inducing the reconsolidation of memory, a recently discovered, potent form of neuroplasticity, and evidence is presented for this hypothesis. A fundamental distinction is made on neuroscientific grounds between transformative change, which permanently eliminates symptom-generating constructs and neural circuits, and counteractive change, which creates new constructs and circuits that compete against the symptom-generating ones and is inherently susceptible to relapse. Download reprint»
Competing visions of the implications of neuroscience for psychotherapy
by Brian Toomey & Bruce Ecker
Journal of Constructivist Psychology (2008, in press).
This third and final article of the series considers three current, influential interpretations of the implications of neuroscience for psychotherapy: pharmacological treatment, reparative attachment therapy, and the cognitive regulation of emotion and behavior. On the basis of efficacy data and neuroscientific research, it is concluded that each of the three interpretations implements only part of the brain’s known capabilities for change, and that fuller use of these capabilities occurs through a therapeutic strategy of selective depotentiation of implicit memory, as epitomized by coherence therapy.
Articles
The hidden logic of anxiety: Look for the emotional truth behind the symptom -- by Bruce Ecker
Psychotherapy Networker, 27 (6), pp. 38-43, 58 (Nov-Dec 2003).
Four case examples show that when the unconscious basis of anxiety and panic symptoms is brought to light, a deep sense and coherence is found, and that effective methods of transformation embrace rather than try to counteract these underlying emotional truths. Download text-only edition»
DOBT toolkit for in-depth effectiveness: Methods & concepts of depth-oriented brief therapy
by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley
New Therapist, 20, 24-29 (July-Aug 2002).
A long history of severe panic attacks comes to a surprisingly fruitful end in five sessions that show the main features of Coherence Therapy/DOBT in action. Download text-only edition»
Deep from the start: Profound change in brief therapy -- by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley
Psychotherapy Networker, 26 (1), pp. 46-51, 64 (Jan-Feb 2002).
An introduction to Coherence Therapy/DOBT demonstrating its use in dispelling a woman's lifelong "black cloud" of depression, stagnation, low self-esteem and family issues. Download text-only edition»
A new zone of effectiveness for psychotherapy -- by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley
New Therapist, 6, 31-33 (2000).
Argues that the 1990s saw the emergence of a new paradigm of psychotherapy allowing far swifter in-depth effectiveness and accuracy than has been assumed possible in the field. Describes this constructivist paradigm of coherence , contrasts it with the disorder paradigm shaping most therapeutic modalities throughout the 20th century, and indicates modalities of therapy that can implement the coherence approach. Available online»
DOBT: Insights in a small space -- by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley
Family Therapy News, 29 (7), 27-28 (1999).
A case study of couples therapy in which DOBT/Coherence Therapy is applied to loss of sexual desire, weight problems, and the struggle of a logic-based man and a feelings-based woman to communicate.
Briefer and deeper: Addressing the unconscious in short-term treatment
by Bruce Ecker & Laurel Hulley
Family Therapy Networker, 22 (1), 75-83 (1998). Republished in: R. Simon, L. Markowitz, C. Barrilleaux, & B. Topping (Eds.) (1999). The art of psychotherapy: Case studies from the Family Therapy Networker (pp. 32-41). New York: Wiley.
A close look at a single session of depth oriented brief therapy with a couple in chronic conflict, illustrating how focusing the work directly into the unconscious emotional basis of the problem can be the very means of making therapy brief.