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Time Perspective Theory; Review, Research and Application pp 481–498Cite as

Time Perspective Therapy: Transforming Zimbardo’s Temporal Theory into Clinical Practice

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Abstract

Based on Zimbardo’s Temporal Theory, Time Perspective Therapy (TPT) was developed by Richard and Rosemary Sword as a new therapeutic clinical skill as described in The Time Cure (Zimbardo et al., The time cure: Overcoming PTSD with the new psychology of time perspective therapy. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2012) A 4 year pilot study which evaluated the effectiveness of TPT by following 29 veterans clinically diagnosed with chronic and severe PTSD indicates long-lasting decreases of self-reported depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. In addition, participants reported affirmative shifts in their time perspectives that trended towards the healthier ideal. The importance of the ZTPI as a groundbreaking tool in determining clinical evaluations and change, as well as two actual case studies are detailed in this chapter.

Dr. R.M. Sword (Deceased)

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Our review of the cognitive processing therapy studies show that a significant number of veterans drop out or fail to complete their study. No reason is given for why they failed to completed the study or why they dropped out. Statistical analyses were produced only on the program completers, which positively skewed the results. It would be instructive and responsible for these researchers to follow up with the “dropouts” to determine whether they were harmed by the process and the reason for their leaving the study.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Z Team, 30 Ahuwale Place, Makawao, 96768, HI, USA

    Richard M. Sword & Rosemary K. M. Sword

  2. The Z Team, Concord, CA, USA

    Sarah R. Brunskill

Authors
  1. Richard M. Sword
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  2. Rosemary K. M. Sword
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  3. Sarah R. Brunskill
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosemary K. M. Sword .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Maciej Stolarski

  2. Groupe de Recherche en Psychologie Sociale, Institut de Psychologie, University of Lyon, Lyon-Bron, France

    Nicolas Fieulaine

  3. GGZ Veenendaal, Veenendaal, The Netherlands

    Wessel van Beek

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Sword, R.M., Sword, R.K.M., Brunskill, S.R. (2015). Time Perspective Therapy: Transforming Zimbardo’s Temporal Theory into Clinical Practice. In: Stolarski, M., Fieulaine, N., van Beek, W. (eds) Time Perspective Theory; Review, Research and Application. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07368-2_31

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