Our Books

Process Press is proud to present the re-issuing of one of our founder's, Bob Young's, later works: Mental Space.

What enhances and constricts mental space–space for reflection, for feeling, for relating to others, for being open to experience? The author addresses this question in the light of two sets of issues: how we locate psychoanalysis in the history of thought about nature and human nature, and which psychoanalytic approaches are most useful and resonant with our experience, as contrasted with scientistic versions of psychology. He turns to concepts which bear on these issues: culture and cultural studies, transference and countertransference, psychotic anxieties and other primitive processes, projective identification and transitional phenomena. In each case he gives a careful exposition of the history of the concept and the debates about its scope and validity in individual and social terms, including group relations, racism and virulent nationalism. Particular attention is paid to the kinds of accounts of human experience which are most enabling, as opposed to those which diminish the richness of experience. This is a book about the problematic idea of mental space and about the concepts which the author has found most helpful in understanding what enhances and threatens it.

Process Press is proud to present the re-issuing of one of our founder's, Bob Young's, later works: Mental Space.

What enhances and constricts mental space–space for reflection, for feeling, for relating to others, for being open to experience? The author addresses this question in the light of two sets of issues: how we locate psychoanalysis in the history of thought about nature and human nature, and which psychoanalytic approaches are most useful and resonant with our experience, as contrasted with scientistic versions of psychology. He turns to concepts which bear on these issues: culture and cultural studies, transference and countertransference, psychotic anxieties and other primitive processes, projective identification and transitional phenomena. In each case he gives a careful exposition of the history of the concept and the debates about its scope and validity in individual and social terms, including group relations, racism and virulent nationalism. Particular attention is paid to the kinds of accounts of human experience which are most enabling, as opposed to those which diminish the richness of experience. This is a book about the problematic idea of mental space and about the concepts which the author has found most helpful in understanding what enhances and threatens it.

EPUB and Mobi formats.

A rich, engaging, and wide ranging history of a much ignored sense, Roger Smith’s The Sense of Movement: An Intellectual History utilises philosophy and the history of science to explore the under-acknowledged “sixth sense”; the sense of movement. Smith reflects on the way various types of movement have interacted with physiology, psychology and the social sciences to create an idea of what this “sixth sense” really encompasses. He then expands his ideas to how personal awareness of this sense can affect lived experience.

'Smith admirably shows how inescapable the sense of movement has been to theorizing about the human… Smith delivers a rich and impressive history of the ubiquity of the movement sense that will be sure to spark interest in closer mappings of intellectual views with their particular cultural expression.' - Susan Lanzoni, Ph.D., in Isis: a Journal of the History of Science Society

'This examination of the perceived sensation of movement from an interdisciplinary perspective, has much to offer the history of science as well as those engaged in the history and practice of the movement arts and other practices that interrogate the dualism of mind and body.' - Olivia Sabee, in Journal for the History of the Behavioural Sciences

'…I recommend this book to any historian of science who wants to watch an idea permeate every aspect of culture from the philosopher's rooms to the laboratory and the summit of the Matterhorn.' - Christopher Lawrence, in Annals of Science

In this acclaimed book, first published almost thirty years ago, Peter Barham examines the changing fortunes of mental patients in the era of the asylum and its aftermath. He demonstrates powerfully that the closure of mental hospitals cannot meet the real needs of people with severe mental health problems without a profound rethinking of the role, rights and status of the former mental patient in society.

This new edition features a preface by veteran mental health survivor, trainer, campaigner and poet Peter Campbell and an extensive prologue by Peter Barham.

The price is low so that should be affordable. If not and you want a copy please get in touch directly with Em Farrell at [email protected]

Praise for Closing the Asylum:

'This is a book about deinstitutionalisation, and its failings, but it is also an important and empathetic reminder of the humanity of people who live with severe and enduring mental distress… Barham's new prologue critically analyses how the growing assault on the welfare state and dependency has affected mental health policy since Closing the Asylum was first published…' – Dr. Vicky Long

'Barham's writing is fired by a fervent belief in the potential of the mentally ill person and their right to full membership in society.' – Dr. Allan Beveridge

EPUB and MOBI formats.

This book deals with the nitty-gritty of understanding why countertransference remains an on-going challenge for psychotherapists and psychoanalysts. Over the years the emphasis has moved from theoretical disapproval to potential clinical advantage. This advantage is in practice often hard to achieve, sometimes due to the fear of the closeness in the psychoanalyst as much as in the patient. This thorough and thoughtful book will help students and more seasoned practitioners understand the way differing trends in understanding countertransference connect, relate and sometimes contradict. It aims to provide practical insight into the way countertransference experiences can be grasped, worked through and then worked with to powerful and good effect in the clinical work.

'The "Alive Moments" of the title refers to the heart of the matter. The essential emotional aspects of any contact between therapist and patient that are fresh and immediate, are now understood to underpin any intervention that has a real mutative outcome. Hinshelwood argues very persuasively that it is around these alive moments that the claims of psychoanalysis as a method for psychic change, rests…'

'In summary, this is an excellent book which offers a scholarly yet easily readable review of the field, and as such is a helpful contribution to the literature.' - Michael Halton, in the British Journal of Psychotherapy

'… Hinshelwood is describing his own quite original attempt among British analysts to reach a view of countertransference which synthesizes an object relations perspective, which tends to view it more as the result of the patient's projection, and the relational one, which inclines rather towards seeing the subjective contribution of the analyst.'

'… a useful book for the interested reader who is looking for a succinct account of counter-transference, its history and its impact on both analytic work and practice.' - Karen Stobart, in the International Journal of Psychoanalysis

Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses. This book gets inside the mind and the body of anorexics in order to demonstrate, that although it is hard work, they can recover and have a better life. This book is for parents, families and friends of anorexics. It is also for psychotherapists, counsellors and for you, if you suffer from anorexia. Em Farrell has worked with eating disordered patients for over 25 years. She is a psychotherapist, teacher and author of 'Lost For Words; The Psychoanalysis of Anorexia and Bulimia'. This books shows you that the primary motivator in anorexia is not to be thin. It is rather an addiction to the emotional and physical impact of self-starvation. Em Farrells shows you how and why this happens. Deep, deep down it is about an attempt to deal with unmanageable, uncontrollable feelings and thoughts that the sufferer is not usually aware of.
• Find out about the history of anorexia

• Find out the facts and figures about anorexia
• Find out what anorexics eat
• Find out how anorexics survive
• Find out what the symptoms are
• Find out what happens in the mind of an anorexic

Once you know, you can:
• Discover how to help your anorexic child
• Discover how to help yourself if you are the parent of an anorexic
• Discover how to help yourself if you are anorexic
• Discover sources of help for when you have reached your limit
• Discover hope and compassion and help the anorexic recover and have a better life
• Get an inside view on working with anorexics in the consulting room

If you are a parent discover the reasons why your child might have become anorexic and discover how to help them recover.

This is a re-print of Em Farrell's first book on Eating Disorders. 'Lost for Words' explores the nature of anorexia and bulimia, paying particular attention to the issues of mortality and the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship. It stresses the importance for technique of understanding the violent and agonising nature of these individuals' inner worlds. It is primarily for psychotherapists and counsellors who wish to understand how anorexia and bulimia have been understood and worked with by clinicians. It includes some clinical vignettes and some pointers on technique.