The Plural Self

Mick Cooper is Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton, where he is Director of the Centre for Research in Social and Psychological Transformation (CREST). Mick is a chartered psychologist, a UKCP registered psychotherapist, and a Fellow of the BACP. Mick is author and editor of a range of texts on person-centred, existential and relational approaches to therapy; including Working at Relational Depth in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2005, SAGE, with Dave Mearns), Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy (2011, SAGE, with John McLeod) and Existential Therapies (2nd edn, 2017, SAGE). Mick has led a series of research studies exploring the processes and outcomes of humanistic counselling with young people. Mick is the father of four children and lives in Brighton on the south coast of England.

• Introduction - Mick Cooper and John RowanSelf-Plurality: The One and the ManyPART ONE: THEORYThe Normal Development of Subpersonalities - John RowanThe Alter Ego and D[ac]ej[gr]a Vu Phenomena - James S GrotsteinNotes and ReflectionsIf You Can′t Be Jekyll Be Hyde - Mick CooperAn Existential-Phenomenological Perspective on Lived-PluralityLife inside Dialogically Structured Mentalities - John ShotterBakhtin′s and Volosinov′s Account of Our Mental Activities as out in the World between UsPostmodern Culture and the Plural Self - Leon Rappoport, Steve Baumgardner and George BoonePART TWO: RESEARCHThe Polyphony of the Mind - Hubert J M HermansA Multivoiced and Dialogical SelfThe Multiple Brain and the Unity of Experience - Brian LancasterMultiplicity in Cross-Cultural Perspective - Ruth-Inge HeinzeIndividual Differences in Pluralism in Self-Structure - John AltrocchiSubpersonalities and Multiple Personalities - Colin A RossA Dissociative Continuum?PART THREE: PRACTICEFacilitating the Expression of Subpersonalities - Mick Cooper and Helen CruthersA Review and Analysis of TechniquesThe Doorway into the Inner Deeper World Is the Instant of Peak Feeling in the Scene of Strong Feeling - Alvin R MahrerThe Internal Family Systems Model - Richard C SchwartzPathways between the Multiplicities of the Psyche and Culture - Mary WatkinsThe Development of Dialogical Capacities

`I thoroughly recommend this book. I found it challenging, provocative, exciting and full of delights. (It makes such a change to be told that ideal personality characteristics would include a Monty Pythonesque sense of humour and a tolerance of mood-altering drugs!) While reading it I often felt nourished and refreshed.... So I advise you to give the many selves you are a treat, and read this book′ - The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy `[This book′s] fundamental thesis is a rather challenging one - the idea that the unified, singular "self", which we all take for granted we possess, does not exist... fascinating and important.... I will certainly revisit the book... when you′re ready for a challenge, this book is certainly worth dipping into′ - Counselling News`A useful contribution to a field that is as important as it is impenetrable, the nature of lived experience′ - Counselling`The perspectives articulated in this book are important, the chapters are well written, and many of the ideas are intriguing. It is a useful book that should appeal to students and researchers in personality-social psychology, and therapists who are interested in relevant therapeutic techniques and their theoretical and empirical background.′ - Personality and Individual Differences`I thoroughly recommend this book. I found it challenging, provocative, exciting and full of delights. (It makes such a change to be told that ideal personality characteristics would include a Monty Pythonesque sense of humour and a tolerance of mind-altering drugs!) While reading it I often felt nourished and refreshed′ - The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy