This book provides an intimate portrait of a clinician’s psychoanalytic approach to working in the public health sector with people suffering from acute and chronic emotional pain.

Drawing on three central psychoanalytic concepts of countertransference, projective identification, and the destructive superego, Paul Terry weaves together a unique and distinctive psychoanalytically-based approach to psychotherapeutic work. He illustrates this approach in detailed, almost moment-by-moment case studies of his work with people suffering from depression, psychosis, dependency, loneliness, dementia, and terminal illness. He also shows how his approach helps him to understand social and political issues of war, the holocaust, entitlement, and sexual identity. For readers unfamiliar with psychoanalytic theory, the book concludes with an appendix in which there is a summary of some Kleinian psychoanalytic concepts and psychoanalytic studies of psychosis.

This informative, compelling, and moving book will act as a valuable resource for students training in psychoanalysis and to work in public settings along with career psychologists and mental health professionals seeking to better understand their clients and experiences.

‘Paul Terry’s unique blend of clarity, rigour, warmth and candour makes this a valuable addition for both experienced and trainee counsellors and psychotherapists. It elucidates key theoretical ideas and detailed clinical processes as well as broadening out to offer intriguing insight into wider political and social issues.’

Sue Kegerreis, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex

Paul Terry is a consultant clinical psychologist in private practice. During a career in public health spanning four decades Paul has worked in child, adolescent, adult mental health, forensic settings, and latterly in a specialist mental health service for older people. In tandem with clinical practice, he was lecturer in Counselling at Birkbeck College, University of London.