This may be somewhat tangential, but...
Notwithstanding the two disclaimers: I have not read Hurd's
psychotherapy book, only the reviews in Amazon, and virtually all of
my psychotherapy information and experiences are 30 years old, it
seems to me that Hurd's approach to psychotherapy is shallow and
overly intellectual.

[Without a reading of Michael Hurd's books and articles themselves (at least
those which are concerned with psychotherapy) and those of other cognitive
therapists, your conclusions have been formed with insufficient research. He is
among a relatively small number of therapists who view psychotherapy as having
two broad tasks: the elimination of negatives (phobias, anxiety, depression,
self-destructive attitudes, etc.) -- and the cultivation of positives (living
consciously, self-acceptingly, self-responsibly, self-assertively, purposefully,
with integrity, a positive attitude toward the challenges and opportunities of
life, etc.) Another therapist in this number, one with whose works I am also
familiar, is Nathaniel Branden. **Kitty]


It also seems to me that Arthur Janov's "Primal
Therapy" is probably far superior to any other therapy.
Briefly, primal therapy involves a vivid and thorough
reexperiencing of early emotionally painful events.

[While healing of traumas is often essential for self-esteem, reliving
emotionally painful events does not automatically bring about this result. The
elimination of negatives does not produce positives. The elimination of anxiety
does not produce confidence. The elimination of suffering does not produce
happiness. The *building* of self-esteem is covered extremely well by Nathaniel
Branden in several books he has written on the subject. I highly recommend them.
(His website contains actual self-esteem enhancing programs;
http://www.nathanielbranden.net/fs/new.html **Kitty]

Why do I claim this? While getting a PhD in clinical psychology
in the late 1960's I took a seminar in Research in Psychotherapy; at
the conclusion it became fairly clear to me that no current
psychotherapies had been proved more effective than chance (this was
pre-Primal Therapy.) I subsequently ran across Primal Therapy, and
both I and my wife went through primal therapy; it was vastly better
than other tharapies I had been through and was a real watershed for
me.

[As I stated above, the healing of traumas can help clear the way for the
building of self-esteem, and therefore the bettering of relationships - on all
levels. **Kitty]

[I think that the number of people whose psychological problems (particularly
the lack of "proper" self-esteem) result from a major past traumatic experience
is probably in the minority - maybe even the vast minority. Those with past
"trauma" are the ones who are most publicized. However, most people have simply
gotten the way they are from the life-long observation and emulation of the
incorrect, and negative, thinking and action of others. These people have no
"primal" experiences to relive and to heal. They will not benefit from primal
therapy, but they still have much to gain from positive mental reforming and
building lessons. --Paul]