Why Therapy Doesn't Work

Smail, Professor David (special In Clini

ISBN 10: 1841193496 / ISBN 13: 9781841193496

Published by Constable & Robinson, 2001

About this Item

Seller Inventory # U9781841193496

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Why Therapy Doesn't Work
• Publisher: Constable & Robinson
• Publication Date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1841193496
• ISBN 13: 9781841193496
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1778050237.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: 14801683
• Signed: 5/6/2026 6:50:37 AM
• Seller catalogs:
  • 1
  • U
  • 9781841193496

About this title

Synopsis

David Smail's titles work to a central theme - that psychological distress arises not from illness or personal failure, but as a response to damaging influences from the outside world. He believes that such distress can be tackled far more effectively by social than by therapeutic procedures. He examines how the dominant values of society and politics can have devastating effects on the individual, and consequently that counsellors and therapists can have limited success in treating such problems - that in fact it is the circumstances and not the individual, that need to be altered.

About the Author

David Smail was awarded a PhD in psychology by University College London in 1965. While working for the NHS as a clinical psychologist, he helped pioneer the 'therapeutic community' approach to mental disorder. He moved to Nottingham in 1968 he held the honorary post of Special Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nottingham from 1979 until 2000. Other books by David Smail include The Origins of Unhappiness, How to Survive Without Psychotherapy, The Nature of Unhappiness, and Why Therapy Doesn't Work.