Intellectual Disability and Psychotherapy: The Theories, Practice and Influence of Valerie Sinason

Intellectual Disability and Psychotherapy: The Theories, Practice and Influence of Valerie Sinason charts the transformative impact of the noted psychotherapist’s work with children and adults with intellectual disabilities upon both a generation of clinicians and the treatment and services delivered by them.

Examining how contemporary Disability Therapists have discovered, used and adapted such pioneering concepts as the Handicapped Smile and Secondary Handicap as a Defence Against Trauma in their clinical work, the book includes contributions from renowned practitioners and clinicians from around the world. It shines a light on how Sinason’s work opened doors for working with people who were previously thought of as unreachable.

Intellectual Disability and Psychotherapy will be an essential resource to anyone working with children or adults with disabilities, as well as psychotherapists interested in exploring Valerie Sinason’s work.

Alan Corbett (1963-2016) was the author of a number of books, chapters, and papers on aspects of working psychoanalytically with trauma, abuse, and disability. Alan worked as a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice and had been Clinical Director of Respond, ICAP, and the CARI Foundation in Dublin.