This study considers the fundamental literary value and the underlying psychological meaning of Beckett's work. John Keller explores the central place of the emotional world in Beckett's writing, believing the texts embody a struggle to remain in contact with a primal sense of internal goodness.

How is consciousness possible? What biological purpose does it serve? Why do we value it so highly? In Soul Dust the psychologist Nicholas Humphrey, a leading figure in consciousness research, returns to the front-line with a startling new theory. Consciousness, he argues, is nothing less than a magical-mystery show that we stage for ourselves inside our own heads. This self-made show lights up the world for us, making us feel special and transcendent.Tightly argued, intellectually...

"Backs up anecdotal studies of creativity with up-to-date Information about the latest research into brain function . . . a fascinating book." —Anthony Storr, author of Solitude: A Return to SelfIn these accelerated times, our decisive and businesslike ways of thinking are unprepared for ambiguity and paradox, and we've lost our appreciation for the value of "sleeping on it." We assume that the quick-thinking hare brain will beat out the slower intuition of...

"A beautiful and brilliant reexamination of love and its perils."—Barbara Fisher, Boston GlobeCommon wisdom has it that love is fragile, but leading psychoanalyst Stephen A. Mitchell argues that romance doesn't actually diminish in long-term relationships—it becomes increasingly dangerous. What we regard as the transience of love is really risk management. Mitchell shows that love can endure, if only we become aware of our self-destructive efforts to protect ourselves from...

Freud's theory of the unconscious mind, as outlined in his Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis, has had a profound influence on the study of human thought. This essay length guide examines 'parapraxes', the dream-works, neurotic diseases and symptoms, as well as its pivotal role in psychoanalysis.

A perfect book for anybody interested in mental health issues whether in the family or as a profession.

New to the bestselling Counselling in a Nutshell Series, this pocket-sized book is the beginners guide to the essentials of Gestalt Therapy, from its principles to practice. Assuming no previous knowledge of the subject, the book introduces:- the origins of the approach- the key theory and concepts- the skills and techniques important to practice.Written in an accessible, jargon-free style, this book includes vivid case examples, end of chapter exercises and...

Goldststein, Koffka, Khler, Lewin and Wertheimer were scientists who, at the turn of the 20th century, founded the gestalt approach in psychology. Fritz Perls (1944) recognized the potential of the gestalt approach in psychotherapy and founded what is now the widespread system of gestalt therapy.Perls understanding of gestalt theory was broadened by Zinker with recognition of stages of development of each gestalt so that what is now termed the Cleveland cycle of experience was reco...

People with eating disorders often make desparate attempts to exert magical control over their bodies in response to the threats they experienced in relationships. Mary Levens takes the reader into the realm of magical thinking and its effect on ideas about eating and the body through a sensitive exploration of the images patients create in art therapy, in which themes of cannibalism constantly recur. Drawing on anthropology, religion and literature as well as psychoanalysis, she discusses...

Winner of the 2010 Haskell Norman Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Psychoanalysis!Why is dreaming the mind's single most important psychoanalytic activity?This Art of Psychoanalysis offers a unique perspective on psychoanalysis that features a new way of conceptualizing the role of dreaming in human psychology.Thomas Ogden's thinking has been at the cutting edge of psychoanalysis for more than 25 years. In this volume, he builds on the work of ...

The Dead Mother brings together original essays in honour of André Green. Written by distinguished psychoanalysts, the collection develops the theme of his most famous paper of the same title, and describes the value of the dead mother to other areas of clinical interest: psychic reality, borderline phenomena, passions and identification.The concept of the 'dead mother' describes a clinical phenomenon, sometimes difficult to identify, but always present in a substantial nu...

Have you ever felt there is more than one you? That sometimes you are one type of person, sometimes another? Do you ever find yourself saying `yes' when you meant to say `no'? Or deciding to do one thing, then actually doing another?Most of us have had this experience of another personality taking us over, causing us to behave in an unintended way. Why do we do it? What's going on? Well known psychologist and writer John Rowan shows how each of us is made up of a number of `subperso...