It is said that the question "how does psychotherapy work?" cannot be answered conclusively - that we cannot reach into the depths of a deeply private relationship and pluck out a precise truth about what occurs within it. This book defies that notion. Here, the question is both beautifully explored and answered by leading psychotherapists from different schools to create a fascinating volume of ground-breaking ideas and theory. Each contributor unravels the procedures of the work, discussing the qualities of good psychotherapy from their own personal and theoretical perspectives. They explore the reasons why people seek help, how they can be helped and the goals of the therapeutic journey, each of them writing with precision, clarity and passion for the work they do. Despite the wide range of variations in their theory and technique the eleven contributors to this book are united in finding certain common denominators in successful psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy is nowadays considered an effective way to help people with emotional problems, but how exactly does it work? Are some therapy models more effective than others, and if so, why? What makes a good psychotherapist? Is psychotherapy an evidence-based science?Leading psychotherapists from different schools of thought come together in this fascinating volume to attempt to answer these questions. The volume is based on a popular series of lectures, which acted as a medium for debating the qualities of successful psychotherapy. The experienced contributors discuss such topics as the history of psychiatry and psychotherapy; the qualities of a good psychotherapist; the practicalities of psychotherapy; and the reasons why people seek help through psychotherapy. This volume examines the differences between normal social interaction between two people and psychotherapy - when does the capacity to listen become a profession? Despite the wide range of variations in the theory and technique in psychotherapy, the contributors in this book are united in finding the common denominator in successful psychotherapy. How Does Psychotherapy Work? presents a thought-provoking dialogue on psychotherapy and its place in the modern society."It is widely believed that psychotherapy does work, both subjectively from the positive statements of those who have undertaken this form of personal development, and statistically from before-and-after research into its efficacy. Interestingly, the results of some studies suggest that the basic components of successful psychotherapy are common to all therapeutic approaches and that possibly all models share the significant features that make the relationship effective. These are thought to include the existence of a special relationship that exists uniquely for the client's well-being, the use of a consistent method, the therapeutic value of hope through experiencing the possibility of change and, something which is little discussed, the willingness and capacity of the client or patient to commit to this challenging process and to be a partner in making it work." -- Jane Ryan from IntroductionContributors: Neil Altman, Roz Carroll, Sue Cowan-Jenssen, Nicola Diamond, Carol Holmes, Brett Kahr, Dianne Lefevre, Susie Orbach, James Pollard, Jane Ryan, Joseph Schwartz, Robert Maxwell Young

Many people strive to be normal, and deviation from accepted norms can feel like failure. But why do we want to be normal? And what does that mean? Ordinary? Sane? Similar? When probed, the notion of normality starts to look fragile. It is not clear who decides what being normal means or who is entitled to say. Nonetheless, concerns about conforming and being accepted are deeply pervasive. With an extraordinary diversity of perspectives, the authors featured in this collection - all psychotherapists - use biographical accounts, political analyses and clinical vignettes to challenge the concept of normality. Through these stories and discussions, it emerges that our very uniqueness, oddness and differences as individuals are what make us fully human. At a time of rapid social change, the freedom to be oneself - whatever form that takes - is at the core of contemporary debate, and this volume makes a vital contribution to that project.