This is a selection of papers focused on the politics of psychotherapy and psychological discourses. These papers and chapters use a critical systemic lens through which to interrogate how discourses from other paradigms interfere with systemic social constructionist practice. These are practice based writings and explore examples of the complex political relationship between theory and practice in the fields of therapy, supervision, training and research. Gail is known for her innovative contributions to the fields of systemic therapy training and practitioner research. She leads the Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice at the University of Bedfordshire. Her clinical home is the Pink Practice in London. She offers supervision and runs online writing workshops for systemic and relationally reflexive practitioners.:::::: "The writings that Gail Simon selected and collected in this book are like the different faces of a prism; each of them deepens a theme, an aspect of the therapeutic practice, and all together they offer a coherent multifaced view of the systemic approach to psychotherapy. The readers will hear the echoes of words spoken by the masters of the systemic approach (relational mind, curiosity, linguistic systems, context, embodied knowing) elaborated by Gail Simon in a practice concerned with power relations in society. Both clients and therapists are considered as individuals in relation with their local system in the context of wider systems. From this position she connects to the people experiencing oppression and, moving away from theories that individualize problems, she proposes alternative ways of doing therapy which challenge dominant discourses and subvert restrictive and unjust practices." (Laura Fruggeri, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Parma and Centro Bolognese di Terapia della Famiglia, Parma and Bologna, Italy) .:::::::: "This is a fascinating book that brings together the full range of achievements of one of the foremost contributors to the development of systemic practice in the UK. Charting progressions in theory, practice and through to intersect with research, much of it presaged in the first publication to be included "Incitement to Riot" (1998) which builds a plea for an extended post-modern approach that recognises wider systems and thereby becomes a basis for collective political action. Gail's willingness to challenge and propose constructive extensions to current thinking consolidates in her celebration of 'transgressiveness' while at the same time incorporating a very wide range of influences. Throughout, the book makes a call to recognise and implement the capacity of systemics for activism. Most recently it takes human systems beyond current limitations to address transmaterial worlding, extending the call for widening the applications of systemics to the whole of the natural world. The compilation here clearly shows that Gail is one of the foremost current theoreticians of both practice and practitioner research. It stands as a unique and original contribution with powerful implications while integrating all into a call to make a difference. This book has so much to offer it should be widely adopted for training, practice and research where it will surely have a major impact." (Professors Peter Stratton and Helga Hanks, Leeds Family Therapy Research Centre):::::: " A life-giving book for systemic researchers and practitioners practising in complex system and uncertain world. Like her other writings, this book continues to blow me away in her ability to project systemic writing as a life-giving form that offers nurturing for anyone living or being in a complex situation, let alone not having the language to language their practice." (Maimunah Mosli, Principal Family Therapist and Academy Director, PPIS, Singapore)
