Book review: Setting out – The importance of the beginning in psychotherapy and counselling

SETTING OUT: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BEGINNING IN
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELLING

STAR RATING 3/5

A detailed and, at times, bewildering book that sweeps across many
different theories and dilemmas for psychotherapists, writes
Richard Curen. The writers draw heavily on the work of French
psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan in order to illustrate their
thinking.

The most enjoyable part was the section that dealt with the
development of a narrative self. The writers use Luke Jackson’s
book Geeks, Freaks and Asperger’s Syndrome and Mark Haddon’s
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time to discuss how people
with autism experience language and how in therapy “finding the
right words” leads to a hope and the possibility of change.

Other chapters cover the difficult issues of diagnosis,
contracting, expectations, transference and countertransference,
and the therapeutic relationship. Strangely the book ends with a
section that looks at psychotherapeutic training and the rigid
hierarchy and schism in this field.

An interesting read but primarily for therapists who want to
carefully consider the minutiae of their first contact with
clients.

Richard Curen is director of Respond, a therapeutic organisation
working with people with learning difficulties