In stark contrast to the stereotypical Western therapist forever distracting the client from their stories about the world in order to ask “but how do you feel?”, the Other Centred therapist listens carefully to the stories themselves. Indeed, this book presents examples of client work in which the therapist asks the opposite question about a partner whose behaviour the client is complaining about: “but what was that like for him?”.

Clearly written, down to Earth and at times humorous, this book is a practical guide to working with teens and adolescents. It is bursting with real life examples of characters who howl, swear, make up fantastic stories and fall asleep throughout their sessions — but whom Bromfield portrays with respect and usually with affection.

Brazier reminds us that counselling often goes beyond offering a non-judgemental space in which the client can listen to and experience themselves, to actively encourage a kind of self-preoccupation which can actually make one more isolated and miserable.

This book works well as a manual for parents. It is clearly written, it has plenty of real life examples and regular eye-catching bite-sized summaries, and it convincingly explains the importance and the process of listening to your children’s feelings, thereby defusing arguments before they start. For many parents, it may be a godsend.