Books published by Free Association Books

Donna Haraway analyses accounts, narratives, and stories of the creation of nature, living organisms, and cyborgs (cybernetic components); showing how deeply cultural assumptions penetrate into allegedly value-neutral medical research.

From the author ofA Wedding in the Family, Annette Byford continues her examination of how mothers experience life changes in family contexts and how it impacts their sense of who they are. The book picks up the theme of family transitions and moves it to the wider focus of what happens to a family when children grow up and leave home, and the particular challenges this phase brings.Becoming a mother is not just a question of learning how to bring up a child - it brings a profound change of identity. The same happens years later, when children leave home and the job is, supposedly, done.The author draws on her own experiences, both personal and professional, to discuss how mothers negotiate this change. She includes material from interviews with mothers and looks at these experiences against the background of analytic psychotherapy and family therapy. Also included is an exploration of images and depictions of mothers-in-law, grandmothers etc in literature and media, along with several, illustrative short stories on the theme of mothers and their adult children. Throughout the book there are discussions about what constitutes a successful or unsuccessful transition.This title will appeal to readers, mainly mothers, who are over fifty and interested in psychological processes in families, who may well have read books on childcare when their children were young, but who find themselves unprepared for this stage of motherhood.

Understanding Children and Teens shows the reader how to use Neuro Linguistic Programming, and Emotional Freedom Technique as well as mindfulness and Art Therapy in order to connect with children and teens to help them overcome their problems.

The impact of finding out your child is disabled can be wide ranging. The author's experience as a psychologist and parent of a disabled child informs this book which focuses on what helps, and hinders, parent-carers' emotional wellbeing. Research shows that mental health, relationships, family life, access to work and leisure activities, as well as finances can all be affected. For many parents the focus of those around them is solely on the child and their own needs become neglected. The author re-focuses attention onto the wellbeing of the parent. This includes acknowledging emotions, connecting with positive others, empowering yourself, regularly engaging in self-care and finding your own sense of meaning and purpose in life. Identifying the myriad of different emotions parents may experience as an understandable reaction to an unexpected situation the book includes quotes from parent carers. Connecting to psychological theories, such as positive re-framing and post-traumatic growth, the book applies these in practical ways to the parent-carer experience. She acknowledges that the journey is neither linear nor simple and transitions such as secondary school, puberty and adulthood require further periods of adjustment. Parents rarely get the time or support to stop and reflect on how they are feeling as they are caught up in the day to day busyness of caring. The difficulty is exacerbated by limited resources and battling for services. Building on the author's Doctoral research and having supported parent carers in different roles over the last 13 years this book provides a compass to ensure parents know they are not alone.

The Silly Thing is an account of a woman's acceptance of and struggle with living and dying with a grade 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer of the brain. It is told from the perspective of her daughter, Esther Ramsay-Jones, a psychotherapist and academic.

Jane Teverson expertly explains how counselling theory can be used by parents throughout the child's life, from infancy to adolescence, and makes a case for compassionate parenting.

In this new title from Wyn Bramley, many different views on causation and treatment of depression are explored. The emphasis is on real people's experiences from all aspects of the depressions - sufferers, helpers, family and friends - not a self-help work but an all-encompassing aid to understanding this common condition.

Medard Boss and the Promise of Psychotherapy reacquaints counselors, psychotherapists and psychiatrists practicing today with the ideas of this remarkable figure in the history of twentieth-century clinical psychology who quietly but radically deviated from the mainstream of standard thinking and practice of his time.

In The Dreamer's Odyssey, the author provides a step-by-step guide to help the individual interpret and work through their own dreams. It can also be used by counsellors and other professionals to give them an understanding of the basis of Jung's dream analysis.

This book offers a scientific, explanatory, visual model of the mind affected by schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, the general pathway it follows when it receives remedial treatment with psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and a way of visually conceptualizing its resolution when treated by this method.

Fathom, an experimental memoir, explores the hinterland of the narrator's mind. Much like a kind of detective work to begin with, the narrative unravels the depths that appear in psychotic breakdown.

Written in straightforward language, and accessible to the average reader, Discover Attachment Theory is the first of a series of short books which will show how Attachment Theory can be relevant to everybody.

A model for therapy developed through work with women in street prostitution 2005-2018.

Holding Time contributes to an increasing recognition of the importance and value of relationship-centred care in the field of dementia in the UK. It is informed by the author's work in dementia care and palliative care as a psychodynamic psychotherapist.

The author provides an insight into the wedding experience from the mother's point of view and explores the complexities of family relationships that this rite of passage can expose.

By turns informative and irreverent this book takes a new approach to tackling gender inequality in the home and at work, focusing on dads being entitled to a bigger role in parenting. It presents the barriers men face to being active dads - from sexist security guards to Tory MPs and even Homer Simpson - and, crucially, it outlines how to tackle them for the good of men, women and children. In Dads Don't Babysit two dads outline some of the biggest problems facing families that want dad to get his turn at raising the kids, and offer a range of solutions in a manifesto for parents and policy makers to consider and hopefully adopt. The book tackles topics such as the gender pay gap, lack of a strong parental leave system in the UK, the financial penalties of taking time off to look after children and the limiting expectations parents find colleagues, relatives and the media have on mums and dads. The authors draw on their own experience of parenting and that of others. Interviews are backed up by extensive research so that the book presents these important issues in an accessible, personal and at times light-hearted way that the apolitical reader will be able to relate to. There is a lively and growing argument about men's role in the 21st century and this book offers a unique perspective, giving a feminist argument by men offering solutions to benefit everyone.

This book tackles some of the challenges that face a child aged 4-11 in the modern world. A team of clinical psychologists guide you through exactly what to do, from figuring out the roots of the problem, to making and reviewing a manageable plan of action.

The book presents the first thorough analysis of Freud's Project for a Scientific Psychology for Neurologists.

The field of forensic arts therapies is dynamic and diverse, and so this unique volume covers a fascinating range of work. It brings together a collection of presentations given at FATAG conferences, case studies, research, new developments in theory, and explorations in the peculiarities of forensic arts therapies: art, music, drama, and dance.

Chris Stringman gambled, and lost, GBP130,000, destroying his savings, losing his car and almost his house, but he managed to escape his addiction just before he fell over the precipice. This is not a book about how to win, rather a book about how not to lose - essentially a self-help book for the delusional gambler.

After forty years' experience in the field of psychotherapy, Wyn Bramley presents a clinical memoir, which is simultaneously 'light' but serious, outlining all that happens (or fails to happen) that is not covered by books or training.

Mad to be Normal presents Laing's own words, about his work and about his life. It is the most complete record on Laing, by Laing.

A combination of memoir, case-studies, and a diverse range of perspectives from medical professionals, this book presents a comprehensive study of the realities of post-natal depression. The author give an honest account of her own experiences as well as talking to other mothers and fathers who have suffered.

My Mother, My Daughter, My Self is a significant self-revelatory work which chronicles the separation process between mother and child, focusing most specifically on the mother/daughter relationship.

The Studio is a unique and exciting work, referencing Freud and other psychoanalytic pioneers to examine a difficult past - loss, trauma and the complexities of life are addressed and explored. Each chapter takes a painting as its focus, the author engages with each work and psychoanalytic processes while reflecting on her own life.

Ciaran O'Connor looks at how gaming and addiction have come together so rapidly in recent years. Mobile based gaming and free-to-play games have revolutionised the gaming world - but what are the implications of this? And how does it affect current thinking on addiction? Control the Controller addresses gamers, their families, mental health professionals and game developers in this thorough and fascinating discussion of the nature of video game addiction. Many questions are answered including how we can recognise a gaming addiction, what causes it, and what we can do to return an addict to healthy behaviour. A step by step process for this is outlined by the author, making this an invaluable title for all affected by video game addiction and all those who encounter it. The disease model, the addictive personality and the indications from neuroscience are all considered before looking at gaming addiction as an escape from distress - the book's chosen stance on addiction. This is then expanded upon by looking at how pressures, both internal and external, can encourage a flight into games.

This pioneering study shows that it is possible to establish a dialogue with a psychotic child and that schizophrenia in small children in treatable.