Autorentext

David Smail was awarded a PhD in psychology by University College London in 1965. While working for the NHS as a clinical psychologist, he helped pioneer the 'therapeutic community' approach to mental disorder. He moved to Nottingham in 1968 he held the honorary post of Special Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nottingham from 1979 until 2000. Other books by David Smail include The Origins of Unhappiness, How to Survive Without Psychotherapy, The Nature of Unhappiness, and Why Therapy Doesn't Work.

Klappentext

Therapeutic psychology suggests that we are essentially self-creating and able to heal ourselves emotionally. This view reflects the wishful thinking necessary for the success of consumer capitalism, but it does not reflect the way things are. Smail examines how our experience of ourselves and our conduct can be explained in terms of the social operation of power and interest.

Zusammenfassung
Argues that to take ourselves seriously as social beings, embodied in a real world over which as individuals we have very little influence, is by no means grounds for despair; rather, it encourages modesty, appreciation of good fortune, compassion and recognition of our common humanity.

Inhalt

Introduction; 1. Looking Back; 2. A Societal Perspective; 3. The Cultural Context of Therapy; 4. Responsibility; 5. What Then Must We Do?; Epilogue