Critical Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis and Counselling: Implications for Practice

There is increasing concern about the growing state influences on the talking therapies. Critical Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis and Counselling: Implications for Practice is a response to that concern. It is the first book to assess the use of the word 'critical' as a prefix for psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and counselling. It also contributes to an understanding of such issues as capital governance, power and social inequalities, and their influence on the provision of the talking therapies in our neoliberal society.

In this groundbreaking book, authors from Europe and North America are brought together to offer a background to critical movements in the mental health fields and to consider what psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and counselling can learn from them. The chapters look at what 'critical' means in terms of both theory and practice, from perspectives such as queer theory, feminism, Marxism and users of talking therapies, and explore implications for training and education in the talking therapies.

This book will be of interest to practitioners and students in psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, counselling and counselling psychology as it is not only a welcome exploration of the way in which the state influences the talking therapies, but it also encourages critical thinking about both theory and practice.