Star Rating: 3/5

The Oxford Concise Dictionary defines compassion as "pity, inclining one to help or be helpful". It is a key component of any helping relationship particularly in social work or counselling but how often is this concept explored? It seems rarely, writes David O'Driscoll.

This book sets out to change this with a collection of essays by an international group of authors. The first half of the book deals with conceptualisation and research on compassion, while the second half focuses on its clinical use in psychotherapy. The concept is neglected in the western psychological tradition but in the eastern tradition it is an important aspect in Buddhism.

But I found it difficult at times to contemplate such a diverse group of ideas from social constructivism to cognitive behavioural theory and Buddhism. I was also puzzled that psychoanalysis was dismissed, despite several authors' interest in attachment theory, which is rooted in psychoanalysis. But, overall, I would recommend this book to clinicians.

David O'Driscoll is a psychotherapist and assistant director at Respond, which works with people with learning difficulties who abuse or who are abused.