Dr Ian StewartEric Berne (Key Figures in Counselling and Psychotherapy series)

The curative power of nature...This book is part of a series about key figures in counselling and psychotherapy and each book - including this one is laid out the same way.Chapter 1 is a sketch of Eric Berne's life and career.Chapter 2 covers major theoretical contributions.Chapter 3 covers practical consideration of how to actually "use" the theory covered in the previous chapter.Chapter 4 is a critique and also covers other authors who have critiqued Berne without actually reading his contributions...Finally, chapter 5 is an appraisal of Berne's influence upon current (20 years old now) psychotherapy and counselling.Eric Berne built:"a psychodynamic theory of the person in which transference phenomena are systematically observable. That theory comprises the familiar four colloquial headings: ego states, transactions, games and script."He also:"developed a contractual method of practice in which the contract goals are behavioural and measurable, yet are linked to intrapsychic change."This book is a very good overview of Transactional Analysis as practiced by Eric Berne and is well worth reading because of how wide and deep the theory of Transactional Analysis has become.There are differences in practice and emphasis on different theory between different "schools" of TA and this book helps to clarify Eric Berne's pressing goal as a psychotherapist - which is to "cure"...Cure is an interesting concept and has heavily influenced my own practice as a specialist in addiction, weight loss, relationships and generally helping people to "get better" or "get well" as Eric would say.Get well first and we'll work out what happened afterwards is one of my favourite sayings that i have adapted from Berne and Ian Stewart.If you currently study TA or counselling / psychotherapy then this book will enhance your understanding of a very interesting "key figure" and is written in a very clear and concise style.It's also a very readable book and had snippets of Ian Stewart's own brilliance and also his dry Scottish wit...Anyway, I am biased as Ian Stewart is a colleague, mentor, trainer, supervisor of mine and he has heavily influenced the way I practice psychotherapy and has encouraged me to become the person I am today - thanks Ian...Buy this book and keep learning how to "get well", personally and professionally...