Product Description

`As someone who is often engaged in trying to clarify psychoanalytic ideas for others (and for myself) I found this book inspiring and useful in many ways but perhaps most notably in its skilful re-visiting and articulation of what happens in psychoanalysis and why it is helpful' - Journal Child Psychotherapy

`… well constructed and easily digested book' - Mental Health Nursing

`This well-written and understandable book will be useful to a cross-section of professional as well as the general-public'- Community Care

`This is quite simply the best introduction to psychoanalysis ever written. It is uncluttered yet the interested reader will find most of what they need to know about what psychoanalysis is and is not, with ample links connecting to where to find the rest. The book is exceptionally accessible, balanced and entertaining. There is no need to search any longer as to what to recommend to anyone who wants to orient themselves around this complex field'- Peter Fonagy, Freud Memorial Professor of Psychoanalysis, University College, London and Chief Executive, Anna Freud Centre, London

A Short Introduction to Psychoanalysis is a down-to-earth guide to arguably the most misunderstood of all the psychological therapies. With reference to contemporary developments in theory and practice, the book explains what psychoanalysis really is, providing the reader with an overview of its:

} basic concepts

} historical development

} main critiques, and

} research base.

Demonstrating the far reaching influence of psychoanalysis, the authors - all practicing psychoanalysts - describe how its concepts have been applied beyond the consulting room and examine its place within the spectrum of other psychological theories.

Whether reading about psychoanalysis as part of an academic course or purely for personal interest, A Short Introduction to Psychoanalysis provides the ideal `way-in' to the subject for new readers. For those who are thinking of becoming a psychoanalyst, the book also provides information on the training process and the structure of the profession.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60683 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Review
`This is quite simply the best introduction to psychoanalysis ever written. It is uncluttered yet the interested reader will find most of what they need to know about what psychoanalysis is and is not, with ample links connecting to where to find the rest. The book is exceptionally accessible, balanced and entertaining. There is no need to search any longer as to what to recommend to anyone who wants to orient themselves around this complex field'- Peter Fonagy

Customer Reviews

A comprehensive overview of psychoanalysis
Having completed my psychotherapy training over ten years ago, my own clinical approach has evolved considerably since that time. So, for me, re-visiting the key concepts of psychoanalysis has been an interesting exercise. This book provides a fairly comprehensive overview - not only of the theory of psychoanalysis but of its history and the 'psychoanalytic diaspora' triggered by World War II & fuelled by the totalitarian regimes of other practicing countries. All the chapters are well referenced & well structured, with some interesting case vignettes and good use of bold type to highlight the abundance of complex concepts that psychoanalysis contains.
Rather than merely providing an uncontested introduction to psychoanalysis, the authors - all practicing psychoanalysts - have included full chapters on various major critiques of psychoanalytic theory and practice. With further chapters on both the research base & the research potential of psychoanalysis and 'the diversity of talking treatments', this book provides excellent reference and starting points for anyone who needs a basic but quite broad grounding on the subject.
Good enough to capture and retain my interest from start to finish, this book also served to remind me that psychoanalysis in its purest form remains accessible only to a very small number of people. The authors do make reference to this through Jonathan Lear's comment that we are part of a culture 'which wishes to ignore the complexity, depth and darkness of human life'. The rising popularity of cognitive-behaviour therapy seems to support this cultural trend 'to the detriment of psychoanalytic approaches'. Yet the undeniable richness and therapeutic potential of psychoanalysis sings from every page of this well constructed and easily digested book.

What psychoanalysis really is (and what it really isn't)
An excellent introduction which manages to be both scholarly and highly readable. The book is remarkably comprehensive considering its brevity, and should serve as an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to learn about the theory and the practice of psychoanalysis.