EARLY AFFECT CONFUSION : RELATIONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR THE BORDERLINE CLIENT Kindle Edition

In his latest book, Dr Richard Erskine draws upon years of his research and valuable clinical experience to provide an in-depth analysis of clients suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. What makes this book a profound and practical read for any therapist or counsellor is the shift in perspective – Dr Erskine does not believe in pathologizing his clients’ condition. Instead, he focuses on his clients’ unmet relational needs and with great empathy and compassion, he works through the various traumas and setbacks they faced during different developmental stages of their childhood and teenage years. He prefers to use the term Early Affect Confusion and through detailed case studies of clients that he worked with in his practice, he shows how it is possible to help these individuals overcome their condition to go on to lead more fulfilled lives. His clients were able to form better and lasting relationships, both at work and in their personal lives, understand their traumas, accept them, learn from them and move on in their lives. Through in-depth case studies, he shows how he, as a therapist, facilitated change through a deeply empathic response, how he grappled with the practical dilemmas, how he navigated delicate points in their therapeutic relationship where a rupture could have been imminent and derailed the whole process. If there is one book you choose to read to understand how to work in a relationally-focussed way with clients suffering from BPD, there is perhaps no better option than this one. Read more