Berne, E. (1961) Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy
Berne, E. (1961) Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy. New York: Grove Press.
Bollas, C. (1987) The Shadow of the Object
Bollas, C. (1987) The Shadow of the Object: Psychoanalysis of the Unthought Known. London: Free Association Books.
Bowen, M. (1978) Family Therapy in Clinical Practice
Bowen, M. (1978) Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. New York: Jason Aronson.
Carl Rogers
Carl Ransom Rogers (January 8, 1902 – February 4, 1987) was an American psychologist who was one of the founders of humanistic psychology and was known especially for his person-centered psychotherapy.
Carl Ransom Rogers (January 8, 1902 – February 4, 1987) was an American psychologist who was one of the founders of humanistic psychology and was known especially for his person-centered psychotherapy. Rogers is widely considered one of the founding fathers of psychotherapy research and was honored for his research with the Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1956.
Freud, S. (1912) - The dynamics of transference
Freud, S. (1912) ‘The dynamics of transference’, in Strachey, J. (ed. and trans.) The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Volume XII (1911–1913): The Case of Schreber, Papers on Technique and Other Works. London: Hogarth Press, pp. 97–108.
Freud, S. (1914) ‘On Narcissism: An Introduction’
Freud, S. (1914) ‘On Narcissism: An Introduction’, in The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Volume XIV. London: Hogarth Press.
Freud, S. (1915) ‘The Unconscious’
Freud, S. (1915) ‘The Unconscious’, in The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Volume XIV. London: Hogarth Press.
Freud, S. (1920) Beyond the Pleasure Principle
Freud, S. (1920) Beyond the Pleasure Principle. London: Hogarth Press.
Hillman, J. (1975) Re-Visioning Psychology
Hillman, J. (1975) Re-Visioning Psychology. New York: Harper & Row.
Jung, C.G. (1946/1966) ‘The psychology of the transference’
Jung, C.G. (1946/1966) ‘The psychology of the transference’, in The Practice of Psychotherapy: Essays on the Psychology of the Transference and Other Subjects. 2nd edn. Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Vol. 16. Translated by R.F.C. Hull. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Jung, C.G. (1959) Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self
Jung, C.G. (1959) Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self. Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 9, Part 2. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Jung, C.G. (1959/1968) The Archetypes and the Collective Unconsciou
Jung, C.G. (1959/1968) The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious. 2nd edn. Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Vol. 9, Part 1. Translated by R.F.C. Hull. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Jung, C.G. (1966) Two Essays on Analytical Psychology
Jung, C.G. (1966) Two Essays on Analytical Psychology. 2nd edn. Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 7. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Jung, C.G. (1968) The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious
Jung, C.G. (1968) The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious. 2nd edn. Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 9, Part 1. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Kernberg, O.F. (1975) Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism
Kernberg, O.F. (1975) Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism. New York: Jason Aronson.
Knox, J. (2003) Archetype, Attachment, Analysis: Jungian Psychology and the Emergent Mind.
Knox, J. (2003) Archetype, Attachment, Analysis: Jungian Psychology and the Emergent Mind. Hove: Brunner-Routledge.
Kohut, H. (1971) The Analysis of the Self.
Kohut, H. (1971) The Analysis of the Self. New York: International Universities Press.
Laozi
Laozi, also written as Lao Tzu, is the legendary Chinese philosopher traditionally credited as the author of the Dao De Jing, one of the foundational texts of Daoism. He is usually placed around the 6th century BCE, though historians are unsure whether he was a single historical person, a later symbolic figure, or a name attached to a collection of wisdom traditions. His teaching centres on the Dao, meaning “the Way” the natural, underlying order of life and he emphasised simplicity, humility, non-forcing action (wu wei), and living in harmony with nature rather than struggling against it. His thought deeply influenced Chinese philosophy, spirituality, politics, medicine and martial arts.
Macbeth
Macbeth is William Shakespeare's shortest and darkest tragedy. Written in the early 1600s, the play chronicles the Scottish general Macbeth and his wife, who, spurred by a supernatural prophecy and unchecked ambition, commit regicide to seize the throne ultimately spiraling into paranoia, tyranny, and their own destruction
Martin, C. (2016) - Mapping the Psyche
Martin, C. (2016) Mapping the Psyche: Volume 1: The Planets and the Zodiac Signs: An Introduction to Psychological Astrology. 2nd edn. Bournemouth: The Wessex Astrologer.
Maslow, A.H. (1943) ‘A theory of human motivation’
Maslow, A.H. (1943) ‘A theory of human motivation’, Psychological Review, 50(4), pp. 370–396.
Minuchin, S. (1974) Families and Family Therapy
Minuchin, S. (1974) Families and Family Therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Rogers, C.R. (1957) ‘The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change’
Rogers, C.R. (1957) ‘The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change’, Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(2), pp. 95–103.
Rogers, C.R. (1961) On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy
Rogers, C.R. (1961) On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching also written Dao De Jing is a short Chinese wisdom text traditionally attributed to Laozi. It is one of the central texts of Daoism and is made up of poetic, mysterious verses about the Tao, meaning “the Way” — the deep natural order behind life. It teaches that wisdom often comes through simplicity, humility, patience and wu wei, which means “non-forcing” or acting in harmony with the flow of life rather than trying to control everything. It is not really a rulebook; it is more like a spiritual-philosophical mirror, asking the reader to soften the ego, trust nature, and recognise that true power is often quiet, flexible and hidden.
The Graeae (or "Grey Sisters")
The Graeae (or "Grey Sisters") are a trio of ancient sea hags in Greek mythology who were born with grey hair and shared a single eye and tooth among them. They famously guarded the path to the Gorgons and were tricked into giving up this secret location by the hero Perseus.
The Three Fates (or Moirai)
The Three Fates (or Moirai) in ancient Greek mythology are three shadowy goddesses who personify destiny. They control the metaphorical thread of life for every mortal. According to tradition, Clotho spins the thread, Lachesis measures its length, and Atropos cuts it to end the person's life.
The Three Gorgons
In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were three monstrous sister deities (Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa) born to the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto. Famed for having venomous snakes for hair, golden wings, and a deadly stare, anyone who looked at them was instantly turned to stone.
The Three Witches
The "Three Marys" refers to the three prominent women named Mary who appear in the New Testament during the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Three Marys
The "Three Marys" refers to the three prominent women named Mary who appear in the New Testament during the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Unconditional Positive Regard
Unconditional positive regard, developed by psychologist Carl Rogers, is the act of accepting and supporting a person completely without judgment or conditions, regardless of what they say or do. It is a core component of client-centered therapy designed to create a safe space for personal growth and self-acceptance.
Family System
The wider emotional and relational structure around a person.
A family system is the wider emotional and relational structure around a person: loyalty, roles, expectations, alliances, silences and inherited patterns.
On this site, the phrase is used to describe how pressure can come not only from one individual, but from a whole network of family expectations.
Shame Tactics
Attempts to control someone through embarrassment or reputation damage.
Shame tactics are attempts to control someone through embarrassment, reputation damage, gossip or moral pressure.
They can make a person feel that returning to obedience is safer than standing in their own truth.
Tribal System
A wider family or community structure where loyalty may override autonomy.
A tribal system refers to a wider family or community structure where loyalty, honour and obedience may be valued over individual autonomy.
The term is used reflectively here to describe pressure, not to attack any culture or community as a whole.
Autonomy
The right to make adult choices and take responsibility.
Autonomy means the right to make adult choices, take responsibility, and live from one’s own conscience rather than fear or pressure.
Character Assassination
Repeated attempts to damage a person’s reputation.
Character assassination is the repeated attempt to damage a person’s reputation through exaggeration, distortion or selective storytelling.