How to Choose a Psychotherapist

Joan Symington is a child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. She was consultant Child Psychiatrist at the Royal Free Hospital, London, for ten years. Having trained at the British Psycho-Analytic Association, she now works in Sydney and is a training analyst of the Australian Psychoanalytical Society. She has published articles on infant observation and psychoanalysis and she is the co-author with her husband Neville of the book 'The Clinical Thinking of Wilfred Bion'. Neville Symington is a member of the British and Australian Psychoanalytical Societies. His books include 'Narcissism: A New Theory', 'The Making of a Psychotherapist', 'A Pattern of Madness' and 'Becoming a Person Through Psychoanalysis' (all published by Karnac Books); 'The Analytic Experience', and 'The Clinical Thinking of Wilfred Bion' (written with Joan Symington). He has a private psychoanalytic practice in New South Wales, Australia.

The demand for psychotherapy and counselling is greater than ever. More and more people are enrolling on psychotherapy and counselling courses; the number of different associations in this industry has doubled and everyone knows someone who is in therapy or at least thinking about it. So are standards of practice being sacrificed while we are trying to keep up with the demand? Are the right people training to be a psychotherapists? Have you got the right psychotherapist?'This little book is written for patients. It is a challenge to action. Do not be satisfied with a malingering treatment. Gird your loins and challenge your psychotherapist and be prepared to go to a new one. It is worth the trouble to find the right person. Psychotherapy is a long and expensive process so ensure that youy make it effective. It is your responsibility to find the right person. This book is a guide to help you in that search.' - From the Introduction.

• Introduction: the psychotherapy explosion -- The purpose of psychotherapy -- How does therapy work? -- Therapeutic tasks -- Why therapy fails -- The inadequate therapist -- Defining the good therapist