Conversations with Jim Crawley

Abstract

Jim Crawley is a well-known psychotherapist, trainer and author approaching retirement after more than 40 years of practice. In 1985, Jim interviewed Australian family therapist Margaret Topham in this journal on her career and retirement. Jim is the author or editor of a number of books, including:

• ■ Grant, J. and Crawley, J. (2002). Transference and Projection: Mirrors to the Self. London, Open University Press. (Chinese Edition published 2010).

• ■ Shaw, E. and Crawley, J. (eds.). (2007). Couple Therapy in Australia: issues emerging from practice. Melbourne, PsychOz Publications.

• ■ Crawley, J. and Grant, J. (2008). Couple Therapy: the self in the relationship. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. (Spanish Edition published 2011)

He is also the author of 11 articles in the ANZJFT, published between 1980 and 2005, including:

• ■ Crawley, J. (1998). Couples Therapy: unravelling the strands; Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy; Vol. 19, No. 4.

• ■ Crawley, J. and Grant, J. (2005). Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Attachment Theory. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 26, No. 2.

Here Perth couples therapist and lecturer/trainer, Steve Lionello, interviews Jim to acknowledge a career that has impacted many, and to understand some of the history and experiences behind his synthesis of systemic and psychoanalytic ideas and practice. The interview is followed by a brief commentary from Jim's colleague and a former editor of the journal, Max Cornwell.