The Therapeutic Relationship in Systemic Therapy is one of a series of publications about systemic family therapy by the British-based editors David Campbell and Ros Draper. The editors, and most contributors to this particular book, are Australian; and there is a commentary by two prominent British family therapists. The book is organised into two sections: theory and application. Its structure is representative of the interesting and rich collaborations between these two regions of the world. The strength of mutual influence is obvious: from the inclusion of comments by psychoanalytic migrants from Britain, like Neville Symington; and the impact of Australian Michael White on family therapy in Britain.

The central thesis of the work, the relationship aspect of systemic therapy, is timely. A major theme amongst trainers in family therapy is the development of the therapist in terms of what they ‘bring with them and are involved in creating’ when they are with families. Although there is a growing agreement that this is an important element