Taking Care: An Alternative to Therapy - Softcover

Smail, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782202862 ISBN 13: 9781782202868

Publisher: Routledge, 2015

Synopsis

Taking Care established the author as an important social and political analyst whose background happened to be in clinical psychology. In this work the author develops the analysis of mental illness, and psychology in general, in the contexts of society, power and interest. People's experience is embodied in the world in which they exist. Notwithstanding the claims of some, psychology cannot, in the same way that magic cannot, change the nature of that experience fundamentally. At best, psychotherapy might provide a degree of understanding about that limitation. The historical relationship between psychology and magic is examined. The socio-political and economic structures of the society in which we live have the greatest influence on mental health, as on many other matters. Therefore, the individuation of focus in psychology on personal relationships, happiness, and sexuality can significantly miss the point. We need to develop political and social structures that 'take care' of people, to enable them to have meaningful 'public' lives.

About this title

About the Author:

David Smail was a consultant clinical psychologist in the NHS and Special Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nottingham.

Review:

"David Smail richly deserves his place amongst the great psychological, philosophical and political writers of the modern age. His critical analysis of the way we are harmed by our experiences in a world that is systematically structured to do so demands our urgent attention. Based on decades of experience as a clinical psychologist, his writing liberates us from fake doctrine, illuminates what is best in humanity, and gives us the courage to embrace our fears, inadequacies and fallibility." (Elie Godsi, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, therapist, and author of Violence and Society: Making Sense of Madness and Badness)

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1782202862
• ISBN 13: 9781782202868
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176