We have just come across this excellent review of the CTA book, Cynical Therapies, which was published last year in the Australian edition of The Spectator. The reviewer, Dr Peter Stanley, is a retired clinical psychologist and a regular contributor to The Spectator. He provides a thoughtful, subtle and balanced overview and opens by stating that the book is “a carefully structured and systematic exposition that represents a marked reaction to recent trends in psychotherapy theory and practice. Simply put, this book is dedicated to turning around aspects of present day practice and returning things to how they were. Clearly, this is a contentious and emotionally charged thesis, but it is a case that deserves to be heard; and not least because if the argument is correct, activities that are now associated with psychotherapy and allied professions are actually antitherapeutic, and consequentially these professions could be considered to be in crisis.”
He highlights the range of this anthology, noting that “The assortment of contributors, and their rich experiential base, allows for multiple perspectives on CSJ, and for innovative writing and reporting scenarios.” And he also zooms in on particular chapters, such as the one written by Christine Sefein Wolk (one of our CTA co-directors) on her experience of being a professor on a ‘woke’ counseling training program.
It is gratifying to read this reviewer’s final remarks as to why our book is deserving of close attention. “In conclusion, Cynical Therapies provides a detailed appraisal of CSJ in relation to therapy, and this is a significant achievement because the revolutionary forces that it is responding to can be both baffling and bewildering; and they may operate through many small and subtle shifts to repurpose established institutions.”
You can read the whole review here.
You can purchase a Kindle version of Cynical Therapies on Amazon (we hope to have print copies again in the near future when we secure a new publisher.)
Leave a Reply