Marital Psychotherapy&dquo; by Brunner/Mazel at $17.95.I have no doubt that this book will become the standard introductory text for all those interested in family and marital work, certainly in Britain, and quite probably in America too.It is the distillation of many years of clinical experience, combined with creative theoretical application, producing a work of maturity, strength and mellowness .Skynner writes with authority, yet with great sensitivity, at times presenting poetical, near mystical imagery.The book has a universality, setting a context whose boundaries are limitless.It is rare to find such consistency of lucid, unpretentious style, with total absence of jargon and defensive technical manipulation of the reader.It is a work of 'integration, utilising the approaches of many disciplines. Skynner acknowledges his debt to group analysis, and frequently employs psycho-analytic concepts in his formulations.However, he emphasises the need for an active, confronting component to the therapist's armamentarium.In his own words (page 288) :-&dquo;A model is needed which does more to keep transference projections between the members and away from the leader, in which too much regression is discouraged and in which the leader is more active, challenging and involved.&dquo;. He maintains that &dquo;a personal individual analysis does not seem the best approach to this&dquo; (i.e. understanding and acceptance of one's inner world alone); &dquo;in some cases it appears even to diminish the wide vision, flexibility and spontanity that family work demands&dquo; (page 287). This last statement made good sense to me, and its basic truth is validated by the whole concept of the book itself.The way in which Skynner explains and develops psycho-analytic theories and ideas is truly remarkable, and his clarity of understanding is probably linked to his own therapeutic exploration in group analysis, rather than in individual analysis.One can often miss the wood for the trees! It may be said that this book could do more for the acceptance of psycho-analytic ideas, than the many weighty tomes devoted to the pure analytic approach.I liked particularly his reference to the inability of the therapist to make a careful selection, as is possible with stranger groups :-&dquo;The family is like a badly selected group, in that pathological attitudes, obstructions to communication and defences against recognition of both are shared by all, and the therapist carries the full responsibility for somehow introducing new ideas and attitudes into the family system&dquo;. (page 192).
