Fanita English A Therapist's life and work: From psychoanalysis to transactional analysis and Gestalt therapyPaperback, 27 September 2021

This book tells the exciting story of the life of 105 years and the work of Fanita English, an extraordinary woman, therapist, consultant and author. Born into a Jewish family in 1916, she grew up in Rumania und Turkey, was educated in Great Britain and France, then fled to America to escape from the Nazi regime. She worked as a child therapist and psychoanalyst until she discovered Transactional Analysis (TA) and Gestalt therapy. She was trained in TA by Eric Berne and David Kupfer and then went on to study Gestalt therapy under Fritz Perls. TA became the centerpiece of her life and work, and she greatly contributed to it with her essential ideas and concepts (these concepts are clearly explained in the book, as well as important terms used in TA). The book provides Fanita's perspectives on major therapeutic directions of the past century: psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy, TA and also covers family therapy and group dynamics. This biography is also the wonderful story of a woman´s development from a sad girl and unhappy wife to a strong, independent, creative and charming personality who retained her curiosity until the end of her life.