A handbook

Sommerbeck, Lisbeth (2003): The Client-Centred Therapist in Psychiatric Contexts: A therapists’guide to the psychiatric landscape and its inhabitants. PCCS Books. 

Pretherapy

Pretherapy developped by Garry Prouty. A form of client centered therapy  Beyond psychotherapeutic reach? An introduction to Pre-Therapy By Lisbeth Sommerbeck, Bornholm Psychiatric Center, Denmark 

Many of the most disturbed clients in the backyards of psychiatry have traditionally been regarded
as "beyond psychotherapeutic reach". They are apparently unable to cooperate in an ordinary course
of therapy (of any orientation). The reasons for this are most often listed as insufficient interest in,
or capacity for, 1) keeping a sustained focus, 2) communicate understandably to the therapist, 3)
relate critically to themselves and their situation and 4) receive input from the therapist. The
psychiatric diagnosis of these clients can vary, but they are most often diagnosed with some form of
psychosis or the other, frequently schizophrenia. Sometimes, however, they suffer instead from
severe dementia or mental retardation. Whatever their diagnosis, they seem to have one thing in
common: They are experienced as being "out of contact." Rarely do others have any idea of what
goes on in them, or the experience is that nothing goes on in them, at all. read more

Websites

Pre-Therapy International Network 

A Manual on pretherapy  

Pre-therapy: Reaching Contact Impaired Clients

This book presents the most complete and up-to-date formulation of Pre-Therapy philosophy, theory and practice. Previously only available in German, this important work has been updated and translated. It has been virtually impossible to get hold of any substantial writing on Pre-Therapy in the UK and this book rectifies the situation. Developed by Garry Prouty and his associates over 30 years, Pre-Therapy is a method for anyone wanting to work with people whose ability to establish and maintain psychological contact is impaired temporarily or permanently, by illness or injury, whether of organic or psychological origin. Pre-Therapy has changed the practice of psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, social workers, counsellors and carers in mainland Europe; now this book introduces its revolutionary ideas to English-speaking readers.