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Creativity in Times of Constraint: A Practitioner's Companion in Mental Health and Social Care

Author(s) : Jim Wilson

Reviews and Endorsements

‘This is an important book – a passionate and empathic book full of creative ideas and compassionate stories of sensitive systemic practices. These stories inspire and enthuse. According to Jim Wilson, our focus as practitioners has to be clear: we work for humanisation and connection. Everything else is a distraction. The book really is a practitioner’s companion. It re-connects us with our generosity as practitioners, mobilised as we are by the suffering of others who ask for our help. It re-connects us with our humility, as well as with our curiosity for the stories our clients want to share with us because we are mortals like them. It re-connects us with our creativity and our ability to offer fresh ideas that may possibly be useful for our clients in dealing with the challenge life poses for them. Wilson’s book is a tour de force. He succeeds in discussing the ethical aspects of the dominant discourses of bureaucratic must-dos, and of a neoliberal secret agenda, with wisdom and a light tone, generating hope rather than despair. If you buy one book about family therapy this year, let it be this one.’
- Peter Rober, clinical psychologist and family therapist, and Full Professor at the University of Leuven, Belgium

‘Jim Wilson poetically shows us that connection and companionship shift constraint to possibility and centre our attention on the humanising potential of our work as mental health and social care practitioners. Wilson acknowledges the ease with which we can fall into a mechanisation of social care that dehumanises those with whom we work as well as ourselves. Yet, as a “possibilist” (and not a pessimist nor optimist) his systemic humanism breathes life (and joy) into our work and reminds us to maintain our curiosity about all forms of practice and all forms of life experience. It is the binary, either/or thinking that traps us. Instead, Wilson reminds us that curiosity generates creativity; creativity generates humanising practices. Wilson gives us the “nod”, like a musician inviting what is needed at the moment. And, in this moment, practitioners and clients need systemic humanism.’
- Sheila McNamee, PhD, University of New Hampshire and the Taos Institute

‘This is an elegantly written, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book. It is rich in creative ideas and skilfully weaves together theory, practice, the self of the practitioner, and ethics. It is a book full of (realistic) hope and optimism about what might be possible to achieve in difficult times. And what shines through is Jim Wilson’s ability to engage and connect with children, families and colleagues, not just by being sensitive but also by being empathically challenging. It was a pleasure to read.’
- Dr Barry Mason, family and systemic psychotherapist, and a former Director of the Institute of Family Therapy, London