Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Wyn Bramley was Senior Psychiatric Sister at the Cassel Hospital (one of the first psychoanalytically oriented "therapeutic communities" in the UK). She then moved into Student Counselling. Over a fifteen year period, she set up and headed the counselling service at what is now the University of Westminster, before transferring to a similar role at University College, London. During this period she qualified (1976) at the Institute of Group Analysis and Family and Marital Therapy (now Institute of Group Analysis), whilst setting up in-service training programmes with colleagues, for what was to become the national Association for Student Counselling. In 1986 she moved to Oxford, working as a trainer and clinician in both the private and NHS sectors. In the mid 1990's she set up and then directed the Master's Programme in Psychodynamic Studies at Oxford University. In 1996 she published two books expounding her non doctrinaire view of psychodynamic therapy. Pertinent to 'Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered: How Couples Really Work' is her book 'The Broad Spectrum Psychotherapist' published by Free Association Books. Currently, she runs a small private practise in rural Oxfordshire.

Case Examples and Anecdotes -- Should you buy this book? What’s in it? -- Finding a mate: what are we looking for? -- Partner-seeking as job application -- How your infancy affects your marriage: separation and triangulation -- How your childhood affects your marriage: authority, gender, socialization, and adolescence -- Interlude: The abridged Oedipus and Electra myths in plain English -- The couple’s joint personality -- Imogen’s story: three basic modes of couple functioning -- The couple’s life cycle. The early years: Forming and Norming -- The couple’s life cycle. The early years: Storming and Performing -- The couple’s life cycle. The later period: middle years and beyond -- Major psychological forces affecting every couple -- Unconscious communication in domestic life -- Who needs therapy? -- What chance of success? -- Afterword -- Appendix I -- Appendix II -- Appendix III: Useful addresses