Alastair Gibson graduated with an MA in History before becoming frustrated as a hospital administrator and deciding to move into the more challenging and rewarding practice of social work. He worked in Aberdeen and Gateshead in a variety of health care social work settings and then taught at RGU. Developing his enthusiasm for inter-professional practice, he was a founder member of CAIPE and helped develop shared training for social work, health, education and police trainees. He has thoroughly enjoyed teaching Human Growth and Behaviour as well as being Course Leader of the BA (Hons) Social Work by Distance Learning before retiring in 2009. He is now an independent practice teacher. Neil Gibson graduated with a BA in Communication and worked in the media, travel and tourism before re-entering education and obtaining an MSc in Social Work. He has worked in residential childcare, substance use, care management, and adult protection before joining the social work teaching team at Robert Gordon University where he currently works.

Gibson and Gibson have created an important student-friendly resource in this well-written and informative book.  If you struggling to make sense of life course theory, particularly key psychodynamic theory’s and concepts, and their impact across the life course this highly readable book will help! Primarily aimed at social work students, the coverage of key theories is comprehensive. Learning is supported through links to case studies, and providing opportunities for critical thinking and reflection to support their application to practice. This book provides a welcome extension to the important discussions in life course theory practice.

• IntroductionChildhood in the early yearsAttachment – bonding and brain developmentErikson - the initial stagesObject Relations Theory – meet my needsFrom childhood through adolescence to becoming an adultAttachment – new relationships on old foundationsErikson - from identity to intimacyObject Relations Theory – looking for the perfect matchAdulthood and Older AgeAttachment – the complexity of adult attachmentsErikson (stages 7-8) – from mid-life to contentment or despairObject Relations Theory - maturity or immaturitySurviving life’s challengesLoss, Change & TransitionsFamily Systems and psychodynamics – is there such a thing as a “normal family”?Trauma & ResilienceVoices from practice