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To the trainee, the therapeutic frame can initially appear to be a confusing and abstract concept. In this well-structured and enjoyable book, Anne Gray has set out to clarify and demystify the use of boundaries within therapy. Using Marion Milner's metaphor, she demonstrates that the frame can facilitate creativity by providing a secure space, rather than act as a restrictive strait-jacket.
When an artist completes a piece of work, it is usually framed and the choice of frame is important. If a decision is taken not to have a frame then the edge of the canvas will tell us where the imaginative work ends. When a frame is used, then it is this that performs the function of containing; the artistic creation has a boundary.
The book is divided into eleven chapters, each of which begins with a brief introduction and ends with a short summary, allowing the book to be read at intervals and providing ease of reference. The reader is taken on a journey through each stage of the therapeutic work, from the initial contact with the client to the last meeting. I found the well-sited practical suggestions concerning contact by letter or telephone, dealing with the third-party communication and money matters particularly helpful. Gray's energetic and honest style of writing helps the reader to think about difficult concepts and bear uncertainty without being overwhelmed. Theoretical terminology is clarified, without being over-simplified, through the use of clinical examples. The author uses clinical cases to give insight into the first contact, ongoing work and endings. By using excerpts from work with the same clients, the reader is more able to follow their journey and gain a greater insight into the work, despite the relative brevity of the clinical illustrations.