Why do not more client-centred therapists work in psychiatric settings? Whatever the answer, this book is a solid attempt to pave the way for a greater involvement. Lisbeth Sommerbeck brings over 25 years' experience of working as a client-centred therapist in psychiatric contexts to her explanation of the psychiatric system and how to forge a working relationship with other staff. This is a positive bridge-building book, aiming to bring together two helping cultures that otherwise might see each other as hostile. With diploma and masters students in sight it should both widen placement possibilities, and encourage therapists to work in multi-disciplinary teams with confidence.
PART ONE: The Author's Conceptualisation of Client-Centred Theory: The basic concepts. On the universality of client-centred therapy. On the relative importance of the three core conditions with psychiatric clients. On the role of developmental theories. A note on ideals and reality. PART TWO: Relating with the professionals of psychiatry. The complementarity of client-centred therapy and the medical model. Client-centred theory and the question of psychiatric diagnosis. The patients from the psychiatrist's viewpoint. The duality of the client-centred therapist in the medical model setting.The role of the client-centred therapist in staff conferences. Helping the helpers and taking care of the caretakers. The limits of the setting are the therapist's limits. Advantages of working in the medical model setting of a psychiatric hospital. PART THREE: Relating with the patients of psychiatry. Patients diagnosed with psychotic depression. Characteristics of the therapy process.The issue of suicide. Patients diagnosed with other kinds of psychoses. The diagnosis of schizophrenia. 'Out of contact' Pre-therapy. Other characteristics of therapy processes with psychotic clients. Patients diagnosed with a near-psychotic condition. The risk of facilitating actualisation of the client's more destructive potentials. Near-psychotic clients and unconditional positive regard. Near-psychotic clients and empathic understanding. Near-psychotic clients and congruence. Near-psychotic clients and non-directivity. Doing no harm. PART FOUR: Cultural differences, the critique of psychiatry and another perspective.
