Author Description

Wyn Bramley has worked in the mental health field for more than 50 years. In this book, she invites experienced therapists and counsellors to consider becoming more self-directed practitioners. She advocates a coming together of the various disciplines as opposed to the old factionalism, believing that modern psychodynamic principles and concepts can be assimilated into all modalities. Old ideas in this field that have stood the test of time are placed-along with lively case material-in a contemporary context. The latest in relational thinking is also included. The author's central conviction is that mature therapists should dare to open up their own internal world to the work to make therapy deeper and richer. Described in plain, accessible language, and with clinical illustrations, the reader is given a guide to how this may be accomplished. Attention is given to the controversial issue of disorders of personality, the best way to do short term therapy in the NHS, the differences between couple and individual therapy, and how defence mechanisms and the developmental perspective operate in the consulting room of a modern self-reflective practitioner. [Subject: Counseling, Psychotherapy]