Some dark and difficult things are besetting the world today. There is war and plague, and many lands are being ravaged by fires and floods, and intense weather. Books are being written, but many authors were predicting this years ago, in both fact and fiction. Still, here we are. What do we do? What can we create?

Unfortunately, many answer with no answer, and others experience a mental and emotional overwhelm that leads to another modern crisis – mental ill-health.

There is a rise of mental and emotional disturbance around the world. There are calls for more professional therapists to help the many people in need. But waiting lists have become part of the problem. People needing immediate assistance are asked to wait months for an appointment. What is the impact on effectiveness in therapy? We need more capable and effective therapists. We need to encourage what Scott Miller and others describe as deliberate practice – continuous learning, discussion, and self-reflection. That is a key intention of the Science of Psychotherapy Academy and this magazine.

It is important to explore psychotherapy from a variety of perspectives. We open this issue with an excerpt from Michael Alcee’s excellent new book, Therapeutic Improvisation: How to stop winging it and own it as a therapist. His descriptions of therapeutic practice in relation to art, music, theatre and film is a wonderful and intriguing perspective. Matthew Dahlitz continues his commentary on the works of Iain McGilchrist exploring The Science of Life from the perspective of the brain hemispheres and the modern “machine model” espoused in many scientific disciplines. We then enter the perspective of the client in a fascinating conversation with Rise Faith Rosello as she speaks about her experiences with schizophrenia and how it has contributed to her positive views on life. Our friend Rubin Battino returns with a case study that takes us into the practice of Guided Imagery, Secret Therapy, and the Yenta Syndrome. It is always valuable to delve into the actual dialogue of a therapeutic session. We round off the issue with a reply to the book reflection in our May issue. Ken Benau shares his response to the review and clarifies some important elements in his book, Shame, Pride, and Relational Trauma: Concepts and Psychotherapy.

I encourage readers to send their comments and arguments about articles we publish. This is a valuable way for us to gain knowledge and explore different perspectives. Simply write to me at – richard@thescienceofpsychotherapy.com Suitable pieces will be published!

The Science of Psychotherapy wishes everyone the very best during these challenging times and we hope that continuing curiosity for a better understanding of our “human being” will lead us into better days.

RICHARD HILL | EDITOR