Beyond the Psychology Industry: How Else Might We Heal?

This book provides a scholarly yet accessible approach to critical psychology, specifically discussing therapeutic practices that are possible outside of the mainstream psychology industry. While there are many books that deconstruct or dismantle clinical psychology, few provide a compendium of potential alternatives to mainstream practice. Focusing on five main themes in reference to this objective: suffering, decolonization, dialogue, feminism and the arts, these pages explore types of personal inquiry, cultural knowledge or community action that might help explain and heal psychological pain beyond the confines of the therapy room. Chapters focus on the role of cultural knowledge, including spiritual traditions, relational being, art, poetry, feminism and indigenous systems in promoting healing and on community-based-initiatives, including open dialogue, justice-based collaboration and social prescribing. Beyond the Psychology Industry will be of interest to researchers, clinical psychologists, therapists, academics in mental health, and cultural psychologists.

About the Author

​Paul Rhodes is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sydney and co-chair of the Critical and Post-Structural Psychology Special Interest Group at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. He has published over 75 peer reviewed articles related to family therapy, anorexia nervosa, developmental disabilities, the recovery movement, philosophy and other topics. He has a long practice and academic career as a family therapist, qualitative researcher and author, championing alternative modes of therapy to traditional models predicated on individualism.