Lars Madsen

Carey’s remarkably original book on the application of PCT to psychological problems proposes the simple idea that our perceptions are the only reality we can know, and that the purpose of all our actions is to control the state of this perceived world. Psychological distress results when there is a conflict between desired perceptions. In psychotherapy, people improve by becoming aware of this conflict and experiencing a process described as reorganisation. This notion represents a break from traditional interpretations of human behavior and radically differs from the principles that underlie current psychological treatment approaches. In this regard, the book brings a new perspective to a well-travelled literature, with Carey’s challenges to conventional and received wisdom being both serious and entertaining. A highly readable and thought-provoking book that would be of value to any psychologist or therapist working with people with psychological problems.