Book Reviews
Are You Sitting Uncomfortably?
Dryden, W. (1998)
Ross-On-Wye:
PCCS Books -
ISBN:
1 898059 18 7
In this collection of 12 lectures, Windy Dryden gives his "live and uncut" opinions on counselling and psychotherapy through challenging topics like "Looking for the good in Hitler and acknowledging the bad in Mother Teresa". Windy Dryden sprinkles his perceptive reflections on the theory and practice of counselling with his own distinctive brand of humour. Specifically, he emphasises the need for counsellors to be aware of the needs and goals of their clients, and he is relentlessly scathing in his criticism of those who do not. For example, he writes "That perennial analysand, Woody Allen was once asked how his analysis of twenty years was going; he replied, ‘slowly’ - and presumably aimlessly. There is a danger that counselling can become an aim in itself where there is a timeless and directionless quality about the work." (p.8).
Again, he points out, if the client does not understand the counsellor’s methods, the therapy is likely to stall: "Three or four years ago an article appeared in The Guardian entitled ‘Probationer did not understand Apple Therapy’. The client, who was in probation, went to a day centre where he attended a group in which role playing was used. In one of the exercises the group leader encouraged him to play the role of a fruit, more specifically an apple. He absconded from the centre because, he claimed, this activity did not really get to the ‘core’ of his issues. By running away, we could say that he ‘blew a raspberry’ at the leader for asking him to engage in a meaningless task" (p.12). The anecdote illustrates a serious point. Counsellors have a responsibility to ensure that the client understands what counselling is and what the tasks of counselling are likely to be. Mystification is, in his view, totally unnecessary.
Windy Dryden, as you would expect, promotes Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) throughout the book, and explains his orientation in language and diagrams which are accessible to lay-person and practitioner alike. But there are general lessons to be learned on such topics as the therapeutic alliance, the rights of clients, the value of research and the role of the therapist as educator. He is also, as you would expect , clear and rational about the reasons for the unpopularity of REBT in Britain in comparison with psychodynamic and person centred approaches, but remains dedicated to this approach.
I recommend this book for an entertaining and thought-provoking insight into the world of counselling.
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