Psychotherapy and Mental Handicap

Explores the use and effects of psychotherapy with the mentally handicapped. The theory, practice and techniques of a range of individual or group therapeutic approaches for different circumstances are outlined. This thought-provoking book shows how psychotherapy can be an important and empowering resource for a client group that has frequently been denied such services - mentally handicapped people. The contributors discuss a range of therapeutic approaches, including group analytic therapy and transactional analysis, within this context. They also examine specific issues such as countertransference with mentally handicapped clients, understanding secondary mental handicap as a defence against trauma, group work around the stigmatized identity of being a handicapped person, reminiscence as a way of helping clients address the personal implications of moving from an institutional setting `into the community′ and work with families with mentally handicapped children.