The Kleinian tradition for psychotherapists and counsellors: David Smart, Oxon, Routledge, 2023, 186 pp., £24.99 (Paperback), ISBN 9781032181202.

"The Kleinian tradition for psychotherapists and counsellors" by David Smart is a well-written book that provides a coherent and accessible account of concepts such as projective identification, perversion, and countertransference in the context of their historical development. The book demonstrates how Kleinian thinking evolves in relation to other strands of psychoanalytic thinking and presents key papers that mark the key points of development in Kleinian thinking. It is intended as a handbook or introductory text for trainees in psychoanalytic/psychodynamic ways of working and is well-suited for this purpose. However, the chapter on 'Sexuality' strays into controversial territory and presents a partisan rehashing of standard criticisms, which may not be helpful in this highly sensitive area. The chapter on 'Difference' is brief but interesting, although it may not adequately consider the psychosocial context. Overall, the book is a helpful presentation of developments in Kleinian thinking and is recommended for those interested in the subject. [Extracted from the article]