States and Processes for Mental Health: Advancing Psychotherapy Effectiveness presents a novel mechanism of action for psychotherapy, revealing how psychotherapy actually works by advancing key states and processes characterizing mental health. This new understanding is presented in three sections. The first section identifies 7 states and processes for mental health. The second section examines 15 major forms of psychotherapy and non-specific factors with a comprehensive overview of each, followed by an empirical and theoretical proof of concept showing how they do indeed enhance the states and processes for mental health. In the third section, the author explores conceptual and practical problems in the current approach to psychotherapy, whereby discrete forms of psychotherapy are oriented to remedying psychopathology. Dr. Bowins then offers a new trans-therapy approach applying general strategies and those derived from existing forms of psychotherapy, to advance each of the states and processes characterizing mental health.

Identifies states and processes for mental health-activity, psychological defense mechanisms, social connectedness, regulation, human specific cognition, self-acceptance, and adaptability

Reveals how current forms of psychotherapy and non-specific factors actually advance the states and processes characterizing mental health

Demonstrates problems with the current system of psychotherapy

Provides a novel unified approach to psychotherapy