Web-only book reviews, August 2015

The Social Psychology of Disability

Dana S. Dunn

As someone who runs an MSc course in rehabilitation psychology, I am always looking for up-to-date texts that offer new perspectives on rehabilitation. The author starts by setting the context of the social psychology of disability and clarifies what the reader can expect from the book. The book goes beyond 'traditional' models of disability and is informed by recent literature to offer contemporary perspectives. There are concepts that will be familiar from undergraduate psychology study (e.g. stigma, stereotyping, halo effects, just world beliefs) that are then applied to the context of disability and rehabilitation, with consideration of the implications of these.

The book is likely to be a useful resource for teaching as it poses questions to the reader within the text and key questions at the end of each chapter. The questions at the end of each chapter could form useful discussions for use in teaching and seminars. The author raises some thought-provoking topics, for example, highlighting the power and importance of language used when talking about disability, and the implications of perspectives for both individuals and society. Of particular interest were the sections on narrative approaches to understanding disability identity and the contribution of positive psychology to disability and rehabilitation. The author also signposts to further reading and the text is supported by a comprehensive reference list. Overall the book seems comprehensive and contemporary and is likely to be of interest to students, researchers and clinicians (not just psychologists) working in rehabilitation fields.

Oxford University Press; 2015; Pb £29.99

Reviewed by Dr Shirley Thomas who is a Lecturer in Rehabilitation Psychology, University of Nottingham

Experiencing CBT from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workbook for Therapists

James Bennett-Levy, Richard Thwaites, Beverly Haarhoff & Helen Perry

Experiencing the CBT Inside Out is the very first and one of a kind self-reflective guide based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Self-reflective practice is a cornerstone of applied psychology, however it is not as closely associated with CBT compared with other therapeutic approaches. This book makes it evident that self-reflection is an essential and valuable quality for a CBT practitioner. The title of the book highlights that self-reflection (inside) influences the therapist's exchanges with the client (outside) during CBT sessions.

The book is well structured and is in two parts: detailed steps to identify old ways (Part 1) and to create new and helpful ways of being (Part 2). The worksheets included are clear and simple to use. The authors have chosen three case studies, which run throughout the book as examples and help the therapist reader to work on the tasks better. Most importantly at the end of each module there are set of reflective questions to answer, which sets the reflective mode of thinking in the reader. The authors have been mindful about the road blocks that a reader can experience while doing the activities and have included guidelines on essential topics such as taking care of oneself while applying the concepts or developing a personal safeguard strategy for oneself, should at any point the reader feel vulnerable during the process.

This book is an excellent resource for a trainee CBT therapist who has just embarked on the CBT path. He or she can gain from the rapid learning that can happen by applying and practising the concepts of the CBT to oneself.

Reviewed by Priya Kalyankar who is a graduate member of the BPS

Guilford Press; 2015; Pb £19.99