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Fictional Formulations and The Paperback Psychologist
A reflection on reading, Compassion Focused Therapy, and taking psychological formulations out of the therapy room and into understanding literary characters A Guest blog post written for balancedminds.com I’m very proud to have been able to contribute to the Compassion Focused Therapy blog for Balanced Minds. It was a chance to step back and reflect…
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Video: Small Things Like These. A discussion of a psychological portrait
Join me as I talk through my recent psychological portrait of Bill Furlong, from Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These (Faber Books). In this video, I briefly present my formulation of Bill to accompany my psychological portrait. I have used a Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) based approach to consider the events that have shaped Bill…
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Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan: A Psychological Portrait of Bill Furlong
I wouldn’t consider myself the quickest of readers. I rarely read a book these days without my pen and notebook to hand, ready to note down anything significant that could be relevant for a psychological exploration. Approaching reading with a more curious and considered approach like this can prolong my time spent reading a book. …
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Poor Things, Alasdair Gray: A Psychological Portrait of Godwin Baxter
At the start of 2023, I had the opportunity to contribute to Poor Things: A Novel Guide, an exciting project from The Alasdair Gray Archive. The project is a celebration of Alasdair Gray’s work which gives audiences the opportunity to explore the book through essays, videos and creative responses. The digital project is timely as…
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The Whale, Darren Aronofsky & Samuel D. Hunter, A Psychological Formulation #11
As a fan of the films of Darren Aronofsky, I greatly looked forward to seeing The Whale. Like most, I watched with delight as Brendan Fraser was thrust back into the limelight and the hearts of audiences around the world, for his portrayal of Charlie, the protagonist at the centre of the story. The Whale…
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Paper Cup, Karen Campbell – A Psychological Formulation #10
In Karen Campbell’s Paper Cup, we meet Kelly, who is homeless and living on the streets of Glasgow. During our time with Kelly, we join her on her journey home to Galloway. Any pre-conceptions that a reader may have of someone who is homeless are promptly challenged by Karen Campbell’s gripping and tender writing. Throughout…
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Mayflies, Andrew O’Hagan – A Psychological Formulation #9
*This posts contains spoilers for Mayflies* Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan Andrew O’Hagan’s Mayflies is a beautiful exploration of friendship, life and death. It truly is a privilege to meet Jimmy and Tully on their journey through Irvine, Manchester and Switzerland. The first half of the book explores their coming of age as they make a…
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A Christmas Carol- A Psychological Formulation #8, CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Merry Christmas from The Paperback Psychologist Charles Dickens first introduced the world to Ebenezer Scrooge in 1843. His novella, A Christmas Carol tells the tale of Scrooge a tragic, lonely figure who is bitter at the world and focused solely on work and wealth. We are given glimpses into Scrooge’s life from the three spirits…
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Ginger and Me, Elissa Soave – A Psychological Formulation #7
“I’m going to tell you something Wendy,’ she said. ‘People don’t like it when girls are a bit different because then they can’t fit them into the only image they have for them… But it’s important to always be yourself whether they like it or not because that’s the best person you can be. It’s…
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Author & Publisher Feedback
When I started this blog, I hoped that a handful of people might find it interesting. I’ve been so surprised by the response and particularly so when an author has got in touch about my interpretation of their character. This has been a real highlight for me and keeps me inspired to keep working on…
The Paperback Psychologist
A book blog from the perspective of a Clinical Psychologist. Using psychological formulation to explore character & story.
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