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Why is psychotherapy the focus of so much critical assessment? Religion is similarly the object of debate - indeed, of a very much longer and widespread debate - but it is not haunted and harassed by statistical studies of its efficacy. The reason for the priests' immunity is probably because they do not lay claim to improving things in a way that lends itself to scientific investigation. Perhaps psychotherapists should take note of this.
The criticisms made in Psychotherapy and its Discontents are not of great variety and the theme of statistical proof has a major role in the book. Each essay is followed by a critique from a writer whose interests are appropriate to the task, and the original contributor is given the final word. All the essays, including the elegant preface by Andrew Samuels, are well written - for which the editors deserve our gratitude.
Jeffrey Masson ensures a combative start with a vigorous defence against criticisms of his published work. Masson's passionate attack on hypocrisy in the profession claims our sympathy but his intemperate assault on the personalities of Freud, Jung, Bettelheim and other distinguished psychoanalysts compares unfavourably with the more scholarly and balanced accounts of Paul Roazen. Moreover he fails to consider adequately the bearing of the therapist's personal failings on his or her therapeutic efficacy. If we all had our failings paraded in public few of us would pass muster as models of worthy and sensible behaviour; but this does not, I believe, debar us from practising competent psychotherapy. Masson does, however, have a point. There is, presumably, a threshold of moral frailty beyond which the capacity to help others is seriously diminished. In his sober response to this essay Jeremy Holmes makes some good points but, unfortunately, reveals the very professional complacency that so enrages Masson. And, sure enough, this is exactly what happens again.
When we come to Gellner we leave intemperance behind. Gellner