Dementia and Psychotherapy Reconsidered

"Rik Cheston is one of the pioneers of psychotherapy in dementia. This book integrates his clinical expertise and research, and is brought vividly to life by Rik’s personal reflections and case examples drawn from his vast experience […] this book will be one that I keep coming back to and share."
Dr Emma Wolverson, Clinical Psychologist, Senior Lecturer in Ageing and Dementia, Research Lead Dementia, UK

"This is a thoughtful and, at times, provocative book, providing knowledge and insights from theoretical and practical perspectives […] Cheston has set out to challenge you; which he does extremely well."
Professor Ian Andrew James, Innovations Team, CNTW NHS Trust and honorary professor at the University of Bradford, UK

"In this brilliant and timely book, Richard Cheston […] draws upon […] over 30 years of insightful clinical practice to discuss not only psychotherapy but a whole lot more. The book is lucidly written so can be valuable not only to specialists but to anyone whose work or personal life brings them into contact with dementia. Actually, that’s most of us."
Tom Dening, Professor of Dementia Research, Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Nottingham, UK

"This is a clear, accessible and beautifully written legacy of psychotherapeutic endeavour in dementia care […] This book is a seminal text for all who are committed to continually improving their practice in person-centred dementia care."
Esme Moniz-Cook Professor Emerita (Clinical Psychology, Ageing and Dementia Care), University of Hull, UK.  Founder Chair, now board member INTERDEM 

There is little opportunity for people living with dementia to talk about their experiences and what is happening to them. This often makes it harder for them to adjust to, and to accept, the diagnosis. Dementia and Psychotherapy Reconsidered introduces a new and distinctive way of thinking about dementia. 

Each of the four sections is augmented with examples from the author’s 30 years of clinical and research experience and offers an accessible approach from mainstream psychotherapeutic and psychological frameworks that:

• Places dementia into a psychological context of loss, threat and change
• Addresses the research and clinical evidence underpinning psychotherapy; whether this is delivered to individuals, couples or groups
• Sets out a model of adjustment to dementia and outlines how talking about dementia needs to be tailored to the stage of change
• Explores how psychotherapy and counselling can be adapted to accommodate the client’s cognitive changes and why we need to acknowledge that talking about dementia is not always possible or desirable
 
Dementia and Psychotherapy Reconsidered is applicable not only to psychotherapists and counsellors, but to clinicians and families who are supporting people living with dementia post-diagnosis and want to find new ways of talking about their experiences.

The Reconsidering Dementia Series is an interdisciplinary series published by Open University Press that covers contemporary issues to challenge and engage readers in thinking deeply about the topic. The dementia field has developed rapidly in its scope and practice over the past ten years and books in this series will unpack not only what this means for the student, academic and practitioner, but also for all those affected by dementia.

Series Editors: Dr Keith Oliver and Professor Dawn Brooker MBE.

Richard Cheston worked as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS before becoming Professor of Dementia Research at the University of the West of England, UK in 2012.