Intellectual Disability and Psychotherapy: The Theories, Practice and Influence of Valerie Sinason

by Alan Corbett (Editor)

Intellectual Disability and Psychotherapy: The Theories, Practice and Influence of Valerie Sinason charts the transformative impact of the noted psychotherapist’s work with children and adults with intellectual disabilities upon both a generation of clinicians and the treatment and services delivered by them.


Examining how contemporary Disability Therapists have discovered, used and adapted such pioneering concepts as the Handicapped Smile and Secondary Handicap as a Defence Against Trauma in their clinical work, the book includes contributions from renowned practitioners and clinicians from around the world. It shines a light on how Sinason’s work opened doors for working with people who were previously thought of as unreachable.


Intellectual Disability and Psychotherapy will be an essential resource to anyone working with children or adults with disabilities, as well as psychotherapists interested in exploring Valerie Sinason’s work

Review
Disability therapy is a remarkable and constantly developing specialty and Valerie Sinason is its major pioneer. The book celebrates her bravery, wisdom and honesty. Alan Corbett and Tamsin Cottis have assembled in her honour a gifted group of contributors who are open to the often very challenging nature of disabled people’s lives but have found clinically urgent and wonderfully creative ways of helping them to flourish. The therapists and carers have found highly imaginative ways of opening lines of communication with their clients, but also, equally importantly, within their networks and worlds. This is an exciting book.

Dr Anne Alvarez, PhD, M.A.C.P. Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, retired Co-Convener of the Autism Service, Child and Family Dep't. Tavistock Clinic, London


Valerie Sinason, with her powerful words, her challenging ideas and her empathic insights into the sometimes painful emotional lives of people with labels of disability has taught me to listen with more than my ears, and, at times, helped me to bear the unbearable. This book is testament to her place as a respected, cherished and highly influential figure in the lives and professional careers of many and diverse people, myself included.

Dr Roger Banks FRCPsych FRCGP(hon) FIPD, National Senior Psychiatric Lead, NHS England, President of the European Association of Mental Health in Intellectual Disability

About the Author
Alan Corbett (1963-2016) was the author of a number of books, chapters, and papers on aspects of working psychoanalytically with trauma, abuse, and disability. Alan worked as a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice and had been Clinical Director of Respond, ICAP, and the CARI Foundation in Dublin.